military career military career consisted service british_army arnold changed sides september plot surrender key continental_army outpost west_point exposed spending rest recruiting loyalists new regiment called sent men late december general sir virginia instructions raid richmond establish strong fortification portsmouth landing virginia january raided richmond day raiding nearby communities returned portsmouth troops established fortifications remained late march reinforcements led general arrived phillips took command forces arnold served resumed raiding operations aimed potentially establishing permanent presence richmond fought spirited militia defense late april timely arrival continental forces prevented taking richmond phillips continued raid ordered effect junction general marching north_carolina phillips died fever arnold briefly command arrived week later arnold returned new_york suffering french american movements apparent general clinton sent arnold raiding expedition early september connecticut attempt draw american resources away virginia arnold raided port detachment troops involved bloody fort operation command arnold held december general released parole surrender sailed england command british troops arnold command great deal respect officers actions virginia connecticut criticized allegations primarily interested money circulated new_york arrival england unable acquire new commands army resumed business trade activities died london background born family port city british colony connecticut interested military affairs early age serving briefly seeing action colonial militia french indian war embarked career businessman opening shop engaging overseas trade owned operated ships sailing west_indies europe began impose taxes colonies arnold businesses began affected resulting violent opposition eventually joined married local woman children died infancy died arnold left children care sister hannah home continental_army service arnold distinguished early war participating capture leading raid fort saint jean near montreal led small army cambridge massachusetts expedition wilderness present day maine wounded climactic december leading siege quebec april took military command montreal directed american retreat arrival british reinforcements forces formed rear guard retreating continental_army headed south arnold organized defense led fleet defeated october battle actions arnold number friends larger number enemies army power structure congress established decent relationships george_washington commander army command army different times dispute moses commander 2nd boiled court martial summer action gates superior prevented arrest leveled disagreements lower level officers political connections conflict resulted ongoing suggestions brown particularly vicious publishing claimed arnold money man god sacrifice country december washington sent arnold coordinate defense rhode_island british occupied newport inadequate supplies militia training offensive action possible february arnold passed congress promotion major general route philadelphia discuss matter stopped visit family fought rearguard battle british raiding party left leg injured philadelphia arnold threatened resign issue rank learned fallen sent north assist defense hudson_river valley helped lift siege fort august played key roles battles september october stripped command battle dispute come arnold competitor rank glory midway second battle rode battlefield led troops spirited attack british suffering injuries leg arnold recovered injuries walked cane rest life washington gave military command philadelphia british withdrew city actions increased political opposition inquiries affairs began loyalist married daughter man shortly opened negotiations general sir major offering services resigning philadelphia command anger poor treatment congress local opponents sought acquired july command west_point key continental_army base hudson_river plans taking easier british systematically weakened defenses plot exposed september capture american forces major arnold fled new_york given commission brigadier general british_army major hanged spy greatly british british_army service british gave arnold brigadier general commission annual income pounds paid plus annual pension plot failed wife settled new_york loyalist eventually overcome charm arnold began recruiting new loyalist regiment young sons unit paper general clinton assigned arnold lead expedition chesapeake_bay force began shape november december rumors city officers refusing serve british soldiers new_york held arnold responsible death popular major arnold preparations chesapeake_bay expedition interrupted scheme hatched george_washington kidnap arnold plan lee sergeant major staged lee unit new_jersey british lines new_york late october convinced arnold senior officer supposed contact covert working new_york work kidnap arnold observing arnold habits plan developed executed night december arnold ordered troops including embark transports december scuttled attempt participated start expedition finally managed escape weeks later return lee unit washington lee rewarded richly convinced retire military service risk hanging role affair captured virginia arnold force troops arrived virginia january landing troops january captured richmond surprise went virginia destroying supply houses mills activity brought virginia militia led colonel initiating arnold return portsmouth hold port relative inactivity holding port led arnold request change command reinforcements arrived march led served took command clinton issue orders recalling arnold accompanied phillips new raiding expeditions virginia countryside force advanced defeated militia force led battle late april arrival richmond continental troops sent oppose arnold prompted phillips begin making way portsmouth route ordered commander british southern army return join force phillips fell ill way died fever arnold commanded army arrived colonel wrote clinton arnold officers wish general command disregarded advice arnold locate permanent base away coast later surrender shortly arrival arnold suffered severe attack returned new_york arnold time virginia things happened negative impact reputation wrote letter lord british colonial secretary criticizing clinton conduct war word communication reached clinton arnold met return new_york reception assignments perform administrative tasks arnold attempted writing find letter given extremely sorry second incident dispute naval counterpart captain distribution prizes captured expeditions arnold attitude refused leave port respond reports transports carrying troops bay incident widely known arnold got new_york prompting officer write arnold hurt discovering fondness cash attached acquisition arnold stint virginia demonstrated target patriot wrath revenge virginia governor issued large reward capture washington gave orders hang arnold captured arnold phillips went join phillips died arnold tried open communications letters returned washington wrote conduct meets refusing correspond arnold conversation officers sent prisoner exchanges arnold said asked happen captured response cut leg wounded country service hang rest boot monument honoring role includes representation arnold left boot new london return new_york june arnold variety proposals continuing attack economic military targets including west_point order force americans end war clinton interested arnold aggressive ideas arrival new troops led authorized expedition port connecticut near arnold childhood home september long birth second son arnold force men raided burned captured causing damage estimated british casualties high nearly quarter force sent fort killed wounded rate clinton claimed ill afford victories arnold reported killed wounded official report unofficial casualties occurred claim like expedition capture included american allegations british attackers slaughtered surviving garrison surrendered garrison numbering killed seriously wounded arnold position influence fort remained new london observed action fort river somewhat blamed sides affair later years surrender october arnold requested permission clinton england lord thoughts war person word surrender reached new_york arnold renewed request clinton granted december arnold family left new_york england london aligned advising king george iii renew fight americans house_of_commons expressed hope government arnold head british army sentiments true honor british officer holds life afflicted arnold anti war gotten upper hand parliament forced resign government lord north falling long arnold applied accompany general going new_york replace clinton commander chief request went attempts gain positions government years failed forced reduced pay non wartime service reputation came criticism british press especially compared major celebrated patriotism particularly harsh critic said arnold mean mercenary having adopted cause sake convicted charge turning posting wrote satisfied purity conduct think case power country suddenly place situation aim despite repeated attempts gain command positions british_army saw military duty resumed business activities engaging trade based new_brunswick london died london buried military honors
Military career of Benedict Arnold, 1781