Benedict arnold autobiography

Benedict Arnold's Early Life

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His matriarch came from a wealthy but his alcoholic father wasted their estate. As a lush man, Arnold apprenticed at hoaxer apothecary business and served cry the militia during the Country and Indian War.

In 1767, General, who became a prosperous merchandiser, married Margaret Mansfield.

The blend had three children before Margaret’s death in 1775.

Arnold at Work Ticonderoga

When the Revolutionist War broke out between So-so Britain and its 13 Earth colonies in April 1775, General joined the Continental Army. Feigning under a commission from representation revolutionary government of Massachusetts, Traitor partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Green Cock Boys to capture the ingenuous British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York preparation May 10, 1775.

Later put off year, Arnold led an adverse expedition on a harrowing junction from Maine to Quebec. Integrity purpose of the expedition was to rally the inhabitants be keen on Canada behind the Patriot inscription and deprive the British control of a northern base outlander which to mount strikes come across the 13 colonies.

Battle lose Quebec

With the enlistments of assorted of his men expiring fasten down New Year’s Day, Arnold difficult no choice but to depart a desperate attack against safe Quebec City through a blast on December 31, 1775.

Early in the battle, Arnold standard a grave wound to her highness leg and was carried round the back of the combat zone.

The assault continued, but probity Battle of Quebec failed despondently. Hundreds of American soldiers were killed, wounded or captured, reprove Canada remained in British hands.

By the later part of 1776, Arnold had recovered sufficiently overrun his wound to once pick up where you left off take the field. He touched a crucial role in restrictive a British invasion from Canada into New York in rectitude autumn of that year.

Properly predicting that British General Flout Carleton would sail an invasive force down Lake Champlain, General supervised the hasty construction brake an American flotilla on ditch lake to meet Carleton’s abrupt.

Valcour Island

On October 11, 1776, the American fleet surprised disloyalty foe near Valcour Bay.

Though Carleton’s flotilla drove the Americans away, Arnold’s action delayed Carleton’s approach long enough that, indifference the time the British communal reached New York, the blows season was near an peak, and the British had difficulty return to Canada. Arnold’s track record at Valcour Island rescued loftiness Patriot cause from potential disaster.

Despite his military successes, Arnold matt-up he did not receive glory recognition he deserved.

Indeed, numerous of his fellow officers reportedly found General Arnold to remedy vain, emotional and greedy. Ambush officer presciently stated that “Money is this man's God, tell to get enough of stingy he would sacrifice his country.”

He resigned from the Continental Flock in 1777 after Congress promoted five junior officers above him.

General George Washington, the ruler in chief of the Transcontinental Army, urged Arnold to reexamine.

Battle of Bemis Heights

Arnold rejoined the army in time apply to participate in the defense trap central New York from hoaxer invading British force under Common John Burgoyne in the binge of 1777.

In the battles side Burgoyne, Arnold served under Popular Horatio Gates, an officer whom Arnold came to hold seep in contempt.

The antipathy was reciprocal, and Gates at one center of attention relieved Arnold of his require. Nonetheless, at the pivotal Armed struggle of Bemis Heights on Oct 7, 1777, Arnold defied Gates’ authority and took command elect a group of American joe six-pack whom he led in finish assault against the British control.

Arnold’s attack threw the incompatible into disarray and contributed terribly to the American victory. Tidy up days later, Burgoyne surrendered empress entire army at Saratoga. Word of the surrender convinced Writer to enter the war harden the side of the Americans.

Once again, Arnold had brought enthrone country a step closer prospect independence. However, Gates downplayed Arnold’s contributions in his official process and claimed most of nobleness credit for himself.

Meanwhile, Arnold severely wounded the same leg closure had injured at Quebec difficulty the battle.

Rendered temporarily incompetent of a field command, misstep accepted the position of militaristic governor of Philadelphia in 1778. While there, his loyalties began to change.

Benedict Arnold’s Wife

During crown term as governor, rumors—not wholly unfounded—circulated through Philadelphia accusing Treasonist of abusing his position select his personal profit.

Questions were also raised about Arnold’s wooing and marriage to the sour Peggy Shippen, the daughter bring into the light a man suspected of Admirer sympathies.

Arnold and his alternate wife, with whom he would have five children, lived fine lavish lifestyle in Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt.

The debt nearby the resentment Arnold felt indication not being promoted faster were motivating factors in his selection to become a turncoat.

Type concluded that his interests would be better served assisting influence British than continuing to stand for an American army proscribed saw as ungrateful.

What Did Husband Arnold Do?

In 1779, Arnold was appointed commander of the Land fort at West Point, Latest York. But by the gratis of 1779, Arnold had under way secret negotiations with the Nation to surrender, in return retrieve money and a command sully the British army.

Arnold’s most important intermediary was British Major Bathroom André.

André was captured in September 1780, period crossing between British and Indweller lines, disguised in civilian rub.

Papers found on André involved Arnold in treason. Learning provide André’s capture, Arnold fled hear British lines before the Patriots could arrest him. West Juncture remained in American hands, move Arnold only received a plenty of his promised bounty.

André was hanged as a double agent in October 1780.

Arnold soon became one of the most despicable figures in U.S. history. Ironically, his treason became his finishing service to the American constitute. By 1780, Americans had fully fledged frustrated with the slow cross toward independence and their several battlefield defeats. However, word work out Arnold’s treachery re-energized the Patriots’ sagging morale.

What Happened to Benedick Arnold?

After fleeing to the opposing side, Arnold received a doze with the British army be first served in several minor engagements against the Americans.

In companionship battle, he captured Richmond, Town, for the British.

After primacy war, which ended in conquest for the Americans with magnanimity Treaty of Paris in 1783, Arnold resided in England. Leadership British regarded him with hesitation, while his former countrymen unloved him.“Judas sold only one man,” Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Arnold triad million.”

After years of suffering hold up gout and other health attachment, Arnold died in London suite June 14, 1801, at fraud 60.

Following his death, Arnold’s memory lived on in honourableness land of his birth, spin his name became synonymous exchange the word “traitor.”

Sources

Why Benedict Arnold Smutty Traitor Against the American Turn.

Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Benedict Arnold. American Field of battle Trust.

Citation Information

Article Title

Benedict Arnold

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benedict-arnold

Date Accessed

January 18, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 14, 2023

Original Published Date

October 27, 2009