january january june general american revolutionary war originally fought defected british_army general american obtained command fortifications west_point new_york future site overlooking cliffs hudson_river british occupied new_york_city planned surrender british forces plan exposed september commissioned british_army brigadier general arnold born connecticut merchant operating ships atlantic_ocean war broke joined growing army outside boston distinguished acts intelligence bravery actions included defensive delaying tactics battle island allowing american forces time prepare new_york defenses battle connecticut promoted major general operations relief siege fort key actions pivotal battles suffered leg injuries ended combat career years despite arnold successes passed promotion officers claimed credit accomplishments adversaries military political circles brought charges corruption acquitted formal inquiries congress investigated accounts found congress having spent money war effort arnold frustrated bitter alliance france failure congress accept britain proposal grant self governance colonies decided change sides opened secret negotiations british july awarded command west_point arnold scheme surrender fort british exposed american forces captured british major carrying papers revealed plot learning capture arnold fled hudson_river british sloop war vulture narrowly avoiding capture forces george_washington alerted plot arnold received commission brigadier general british_army annual pension sum led british forces raids virginia connecticut war effectively ended american victory winter arnold moved london second wife received returned merchant business sons richard henry new_brunswick returned london settle permanently died years later quickly united_states treason betrayal betrayed leading british army battle men commanded earlier legacy recalled ambiguous nature memorials placed honor early life born second children connecticut january named great grandfather early governor colony rhode_island father grandfather older brother died infancy sister hannah survived adulthood siblings succumbed yellow fever childhood siblings order birth august april hannah december august mary june september april july elizabeth november september arnold descendant maternal grandmother ancestor presidents arnold father successful businessman family moved upper levels society arnold enrolled private school nearby canterbury expectation eventually attend yale deaths siblings years later contributed decline family fortunes father took drinking time fourteen money private education father alcoholism ill health kept training arnold family business mother family connections secured cousins brothers daniel operated successful general merchandise trade lasted seven years arnold attracted sound drummer attempted enlist provincial militia service french mother refused permission sixteen enlist connecticut militia marched albany french besieged fort william henry northeastern new_york indian allies committed atrocities victory word siege disastrous outcome led company turn arnold served days commonly accepted story arnold deserted militia service based uncertain documentary evidence arnold close mother died father alcoholism worsened death wife youth took responsibility supporting father younger sister father arrested occasions public refused communion church eventually died businessman arnold established business connecticut help successful able rapidly expand business money borrowed family homestead father sold deeply debt sold year later substantial profit formed partnership young merchant bought trading ships profits sale homestead established lucrative west_indies trade time brought sister hannah established manage business absence traveled extensively course business new_england quebec west_indies command ships arnold fought duel honduras british sea captain called damned yankee good manners gentleman captain wounded exchange gunfire apologized arnold threatened aim kill second sugar act stamp act severely curtailed trade colonies act prompted arnold join chorus voices opposition taxes led entry secret organization afraid use violence oppose implementation unpopular parliamentary measures arnold initially took public demonstrations like merchants continued trade stamp act exist effect defiance act arnold faced financial ruin falling debt creditors spreading rumors point took legal action night january arnold members crew watched crowd man suspected attempting inform authorities arnold smuggling arnold convicted conduct charge fined relatively small shillings publicity case widespread sympathy view probably contributed light sentence february arnold married daughter sheriff acquaintance membership arnold local son born following year followed brothers richard henry margaret died early revolution june arnold fort following capture household lived dominated arnold sister hannah arnold benefited relationship partner business position sheriff shield arnold creditors arnold west_indies took place march wrote shocked wondered good god americans asleep giving liberties turned philosophers don immediate vengeance early revolutionary war arnold began war captain connecticut militia position elected march company marched northeast following month assist siege boston followed outbreak hostilities lexington concord arnold proposed action seize new_york knew poorly defended issued colonel commission immediately rode west arriving disputed present day vermont time participate men capture followed action bold raid fort saint jean river north connecticut militia force arrived june arnold dispute commander control fort resigned massachusetts commission way home learned wife died earlier june authorized invasion quebec urging arnold passed command expedition arnold went cambridge massachusetts suggested george_washington second expedition attack wilderness route present day maine arnold received colonel commission continental_army expedition left cambridge september men arnold arrived november difficult passage men turned died route men joined small army participated december assault montgomery killed arnold leg shattered chaplain carried makeshift hospital arnold promoted brigadier general role reaching quebec maintained siege city replaced major general april arnold traveled montreal served military commander city forced retreat advancing british army arrived quebec presided rear continental_army retreat reported person leave british arrived directed construction fleet defend defeated october battle actions saint jean played notable role delaying british advance actions arnold number friends larger number enemies army power structure congress established decent relationships george_washington commander army command army dispute moses commander 2nd boiled court martial summer action gates arnold superior prevented arrest leveled disagreements lower level officers political connections resulted ongoing suggestions brown particularly vicious publishing claimed arnold money man god sacrifice country general washington assigned arnold defense rhode_island following british seizure newport december militia poorly equipped consider attack british arnold took opportunity visit children near home spent winter boston unsuccessfully courted young named february learned passed congress promotion major general washington refused offer resign wrote members congress attempt correct noting good officers lost persisted making politically motivated promotions arnold way philadelphia discuss future alerted british force marching supply depot connecticut organized militia response connecticut militia general led small contingent militia attempting stop slow british return coast battle wounded left leg arnold continued philadelphia met members congress rank action coupled death wounds sustained action resulted arnold promotion major general restored promoted amid negotiations issue arnold wrote letter resignation july day word arrived philadelphia fort fallen british washington refused resignation ordered north assist defense arnold arrived camp new_york july august dispatched force relieve siege succeeded use ruse lift siege arnold indian messenger sent camp british brigadier general news approaching force larger closer actually convinced indian support abandon forcing effort arnold returned hudson taken command american army retreated camp south distinguished battles general gates removed field command battle following series escalating disagreements disputes culminated shouting match fighting second battle arnold operated gates orders took battlefield lead attacks british defenses severely wounded left leg late fighting arnold said better chest instead leg surrendered days second battle october response arnold restored command arnold interpreted manner act sympathy wounds apology recognition wrong arnold spent months recovering injuries allowing shattered left leg set leaving inches shorter right returned army valley forge applause men served participated recorded soldiers sign loyalty united_states british withdrew philadelphia june washington appointed arnold military commander city americans philadelphia arnold began planning capitalize financially change power engaging variety business deals designed profit war related supply movements protection authority schemes exactly uncommon american officers arnold schemes frustrated powerful local politicians eventually amassed evidence publicly air charges arnold demanded court martial clear charges writing washington having service country little expected meet returns arnold lived philadelphia prominent figure social scene summer met year old daughter judge loyalist business british occupied city courted british major british occupation philadelphia arnold married april circle friends found methods staying contact battle lines despite military communication enemy communication effected services philadelphia merchant plotting change sides early signs arnold unhappy situation country future november general wrote general told general arnold unpopular days later received letter arnold arnold lamented situation country particular moment citing currency army internal fighting congress country problems predicting impending ruin things soon change time early arnold met testimony british commission apparently erroneously placed meeting arnold june said went secretly new_york tender arnold services sir ignored instructions arnold involve plot crossed british lines went new_york loyalist working colonial governor new_jersey son franklin introduced major named british spy chief beginning secret correspondence arnold wife willing culminated year later arnold change sides secret communications conferred general clinton gave broad authority pursue arnold offer drafted instructions arnold initial letter opened discussion types assistance intelligence arnold provide included instructions communicate future letters passed women circle aware letters contained instructions written code invisible ink passed july arnold providing british troop locations strengths locations supply depots negotiating compensation asked losses given services continental_army general clinton pursuing campaign gain control interested plans information defenses west_point defenses hudson_river began insist face face meeting suggested arnold pursue high level command october negotiations ground halt furthermore patriot arnold family threatened arnold rebuffed congress local authorities requests security details laws court martial court martial consider charges arnold began meeting june delayed december general clinton capture new_york throwing army activity react number members panel judges ill disposed arnold actions disputes earlier war arnold cleared minor charges january arnold worked months fact washington published formal arnold behavior early april week congratulated arnold march birth son commander chief occasion officer rendered distinguished services country present case sense duty regard declare considers conduct convicted actions improper shortly washington congressional inquiry expenditures concluded arnold failed fully account expenditures incurred quebec invasion owed congress largely unable document significant number documents lost retreat quebec angry frustrated arnold resigned military command philadelphia late april offer surrender west_point early april approached arnold possibility giving command west_point discussions washington subject borne fruit early june arnold reopened secret channels british informing proposals including assessment conditions west_point provided information proposed french american invasion quebec arnold know proposed invasion ruse intended divert british resources june arnold inspected west point way home connecticut care personal business sent highly detailed report secret channel reached connecticut arnold arranged sell home began transferring assets london new_york early july philadelphia wrote secret message clinton july implied appointment west_point assured provide drawing works west_point loss major returned victorious siege charleston june general clinton immediately caught news clinton concerned washington army french fleet join rhode_island fixed west_point strategic point capture spies keeping track arnold verify movements excited prospects clinton informed superiors intelligence coup failed respond arnold july letter arnold wrote series letters clinton expected response july letter july letter complained british appear trust threatened break negotiations progress july wrote making explicit offer surrender west_point price rose addition losses payment delivered response letters delivered philadelphia businessman british command west_point august arnold obtained command west_point august received coded letter clinton final offer losses difficulties getting messages lines knew days agreement offer arnold letters continued detail washington troop movements provide information french reinforcements organized august finally delivered clinton agreement terms washington assigning arnold command west_point gave authority entire american controlled hudson_river albany british lines outside new_york_city route west_point arnold renewed acquaintance arnold knew sides owned house near western bank hudson miles south west_point established west_point arnold began systematically weakening defenses military strength needed repairs chain hudson ordered troops distributed arnold command area west_point furnished washington request washington complaints lack supplies writing wanting time tried drain west_point supplies siege likely succeed subordinates long time associates arnold unnecessary distribution supplies eventually concluded arnold selling supplies black market personal gain august arnold sent letter accepting clinton terms proposing meeting member thought trust comic twist went new_york unaware significance letter offered services british spy took letter connecticut suspicious arnold actions delivered head connecticut militia general parsons laid aside seeing letter written coded business discussion days later arnold sent letter similar content new_york services wife prisoner war eventually meeting set september near ferry meeting thwarted british river fired boat having informed impending arrival plot exposed arnold finally met september smith house morning september colonel charge outpost point fired ship intended carry new_york action sufficient damage retreated forcing return new_york overland arnold wrote passes able pass lines gave plans west_point captured near saturday september named papers exposing plot capture west_point found sent washington arnold intentions came light washington examined convinced commanding officer delivered colonel send arnold west point major member washington secret service insisted order prisoner intercepted brought reluctantly recalled lieutenant delivering arnold custody sent lieutenant messenger arnold arrest arnold learned capture following morning september received message custody papers carrying sent arnold received letter waiting washington planned breakfast shore ordered row anchored took new_york ship arnold wrote letter washington requesting given safe passage family philadelphia request washington granted presented evidence arnold activities reported washington remained calm investigate extent suggested negotiations general clinton fate major willing exchange arnold suggestion clinton refused military tribunal hanged new_york october washington men new_york attempt capture arnold plan nearly succeeded failed arnold changed living quarters prior sailing virginia december arnold justified actions open letter titled published newspapers october letter washington requesting safe passage wrote love country present conduct appear inconsistent world seldom judge right man actions switching sides british_army service british gave arnold brigadier general commission annual income pounds paid plus annual pension plot failed december arnold led force troops virginia orders clinton captured richmond surprise went virginia destroying supply houses mills activity brought virginia militia led colonel arnold eventually retreated portsmouth evacuated reinforced pursuing american army included orders washington hang arnold captured reinforcements arrived late march led served phillips led raids virginia including defeat baron death fever arnold commanded army lord arrived southern army took colonel wrote clinton arnold officers wish general command ignored advice arnold locate permanent base away coast advice later surrender return new_york june arnold variety proposals attacks economic targets force americans end war clinton arnold aggressive ideas finally authorized arnold raid port connecticut september long birth second son arnold force men raided burned captured causing damage estimated british casualties high nearly quarter force killed wounded clinton declared ill afford victories 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 failed gain positions government years forced reduced pay non wartime service reputation came criticism british press especially compared major celebrated patriotism particularly harsh critic said mean mercenary having adopted cause sake convicted charge turning posting wrote satisfied purity conduct think case power country suddenly place situation aim new business opportunities arnold son richard moved new_brunswick speculated land established business trade west_indies arnold purchased large tracts land area acquired city lots delivery ship lord sheffield accompanied accusations builder arnold cheated arnold claimed merely agreed ship delivered late voyage arnold returned london bring family lawsuit unpaid debt fighting away paying settle loan taken living philadelphia family moved arnold created series bad business deals petty lawsuits suit won business partner following townspeople burned house children watched family left return london december july arnold fought duel earl earl honor house_of_lords outbreak french revolution arnold outfitted continuing business west_indies hostilities increased risk imprisoned french authorities guadeloupe amid accusations british narrowly hanging escaping blockading british fleet guards helped organize militia forces british held islands receiving praise landowners efforts behalf hoped work earn wider respect new command instead earned sons land grant acres near present day ontario death january arnold health began decline suffered condition attacked leg point unable sea leg constantly walked cane physicians diagnosed having visit countryside temporarily improved condition died days june age legend deathbed said let die old uniform fought battles god forgive having story arnold buried mary church london england result clerical error parish records remains removed unmarked mass grave church renovations century later funeral procession boasted seven mourning coaches state carriages funeral military honors left small estate reduced size debts undertook clear considerable gifts illegitimate son grandson legacy united_states arnold contributions american independence largely popular culture synonymous traitor 19th century arnold began immediately betrayal public biblical themes invoked wrote sold man arnold millions described arnold actions black hell early biographers attempted describe arnold entire life terms morally questionable behavior major biography arnold life treason published historian particularly harsh showing arnold character allegedly formed childhood experiences authored series biographies mid-19th century began biography arnold traitor born social historian notes 19th century progressed story arnold betrayal portrayed near mythical proportions national creation story invoked conflicts increased years american civil war washington argument union life george_washington pointing unity new_england southern states led independence possible holding west_point southern leaders compared arnold explicitly idea treason published article describing confederate leaders men directing treason shines white saint fictional arnold carried strongly negative overtones children tale entitled cruel boy widely circulated 19th century described boy stole eggs birds nests pulled wings insects engaged sorts cruelty grew traitor country boy identified end story place birth given connecticut given depictions arnold negative theatrical treatments 19th century explored seeking understand connection arnold treason continued 20th 21st centuries episode bunch george washington peter assigned role arnold school play simpsons halloween specials arnold included jury damned figures like richard_nixon ownership soul owner national_basketball_association subtly invoked arnold upset announcement leaving team gilbert company lowered price posters bearing james likeness referring year arnold birth novels related american revolutionary war feature arnold character series treats positively covering military campaigns canada canadian historians treated arnold relatively minor figure difficult time new_brunswick led historians controversy resentment legal conclude disliked americans loyalists points arnold descendants ended establishing deep roots country leading settlers later lands west established settlements descendants adopted arnold surname spread canada long british scarlet military jacket buff lining continues owned descendants held reportedly passed generation eldest male family family marriage arnold sons later served british_army captain lieutenant raised family active british_army lieutenant lieutenant general lieutenant colonel captain tributes memorial arnold battlefield preserved mention donated civil war general inscription boot monument reads memory brilliant soldier continental army desperately wounded spot winning decisive battle american revolution rank victory monument occupied statues morgan fourth niche grounds west_point plaques commemorating generals served revolution plaque bears rank date major general born historical marker massachusetts commemorates arnold expedition quebec historical markers bearing arnold moscow maine western bank new_york maine house arnold lived central london bears plaque describing arnold american patriot church arnold buried england commemorative stained glass window added faculty club framed original letters written arnold hang walls
Benedict Arnold