Benedict Arnold could have had cities named after him. Before he became a traitor, he was one of the top three generals in the Continental Army. He helped capture Fort Ticonderoga, he led an epic campaign to Quebec, he fought an amazing naval battle using a makeshift gleet, and then came Saratoga. Although he was second-in-command to the inferior Gen. Horatio Gates, it was Arnold who led the decisive assault that won the victory. In the process of leading his men from the front, he was wounded in the leg and limped the rest of his life. His victory was the turning point of the Revolution as France allied with the Colonies. But not for the first time, Arnold was not given the credit he deserved and was not promoted to a level equivalent to his accomplishments and talents. And he was not the type to take disrespect lying down. He threatened to resign, but Washington talked him out of it, unfortunately. Washington had a soft spot for Arnold and commiserated with his ill-treatment. Because of his wound, he was appointed military commander of Philadelphia. There he met the vivacious Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a leading Tory. Before meeting Arnold, she had been friendly with British officers, including John Andre. It was not hard for Peggy to move her husband from resentment to revenge. She convinced him he had no reason to remain loyal to ingrates. Her father put him in touch with Gen. Clinton and he negotiated the turning of his coat for a Brigadier Generalship and a lot of money. (Peggy was expensive and Benedict liked to live large.) When Arnold was given the command of West Point (at that time a key fort on the Hudson River), he was able to promise to help the British to capture the fort. The arrangements were made through John Andre, but the gig was up when Andre was caught dressed as a civilian behind enemy lines with plans for West Point in his boot. Arnold had just enough warning to flee to British lines and assume his generalship. Meanwhile, the negligee-clad Peggy distracted Washington, who had just arrived at West Point to visit his friend. Washington offered to exchange Andre for the most wanted man in America, but the British refused. Arnold was given command of a motley crew of Loyalists and deserters and given some dirty jobs like capturing Richmond, Virginia and attacking New London, Connecticut. He was competent as usual, and disrespected, as usual. When the war ended, he and Peggy moved to England where they were treated as pariahs. Before he died, he requested to be buried in his old Continental Army uniform and expressed regret that he had abandoned it.
– Ayres 155-160
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