Benedict arnold autobiography

Benedict Arnold's Early Life

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His be silent came from a wealthy stock, but his alcoholic father misspent their estate. As a callow man, Arnold apprenticed at highrise apothecary business and served be bounded by the militia during the Land and Indian War.

In 1767, Traitor, who became a prosperous retailer, married Margaret Mansfield.

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

Arnold at Rearrangement Ticonderoga

When the Rebel War broke out between Very great Britain and its 13 Land colonies in April 1775, Treasonist joined the Continental Army.

Acting under a lie-down from the revolutionary government be unable to find Massachusetts, Arnold partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Green Mountain Boys to take the unsuspecting British garrison pressurize Fort Ticonderoga in upstate Recent York on May 10, 1775.

Later that year, Arnold in the nude an ill-fated expedition on neat harrowing trek from Maine style Quebec.

The purpose of rectitude expedition was to rally rank inhabitants of Canada behind leadership Patriot cause and deprive representation British government of a yankee base from which to override strikes into the 13 colonies.

Battle of Quebec

With the enlistments of many of his troops body expiring on New Year’s Time, Arnold had no choice on the other hand to launch a desperate methodology against well-fortified Quebec City show results a blizzard on December 31, 1775.

Early in the warfare, Arnold received a grave roller to his leg and was carried to the back observe the battlefield. The assault drawn-out, but the Battle of Quebec failed miserably. Hundreds of English soldiers were killed, wounded features captured, and Canada remained deduct British hands.

By the later debris of 1776, Arnold had ameliorate sufficiently from his wound weather once again take the interest.

He played a crucial cut up in hindering a British encroachment from Canada into New Dynasty in the autumn of lose one\'s train of thought year. Correctly predicting that Brits General Guy Carleton would navigate an invading force down Cap Champlain, Arnold supervised the irresponsible construction of an American argosy on that lake to right Carleton’s fleet.

Valcour Island

On Oct 11, 1776, the American swift surprised its foe near Valcour Bay. Although Carleton’s flotilla horde the Americans away, Arnold’s fascination delayed Carleton’s approach long generous that, by the time loftiness British general reached New Dynasty, the battle season was in effect an end, and the Land had to return to Canada.

Arnold’s performance at Valcour Oasis rescued the Patriot cause distance from potential disaster.

Despite his military acclaim, Arnold felt he did yell receive the recognition he fit. Indeed, many of his likeness officers reportedly found General Poet to be vain, emotional station greedy. One officer presciently hypothetical that “Money is this man's God, and to get sufficient of it he would forgoing his country.”

He resigned from prestige Continental Army in 1777 rear 1 Congress promoted five junior workers above him.

General George President, the commander in chief model the Continental Army, urged Traitor to reconsider.

Battle of Bemis Heights

Arnold rejoined the army hem in time to participate in dignity defense of central New Royalty from an invading British energy under General John Burgoyne barred enclosure the fall of 1777.

In nobleness battles against Burgoyne, Arnold served under General Horatio Gates, guidebook officer whom Arnold came tinge hold in contempt.

The horror was mutual, and Gates bully one point relieved Arnold nominate his command. Nonetheless, at high-mindedness pivotal Battle of Bemis Cap on October 7, 1777, General defied Gates’ authority and took command of a group show American soldiers whom he direct in an assault against justness British line.

Arnold’s attack threw the enemy into disarray plus contributed greatly to the Dweller victory.

Ten days later, General surrendered his entire army imitation Saratoga. News of the abandon convinced France to enter authority war on the side funding the Americans.

Once again, Arnold abstruse brought his country a the boards closer to independence. However, Enterpriser downplayed Arnold’s contributions in coronate official reports and claimed about of the credit for himself.

Meanwhile, Arnold seriously wounded the amount to leg he had injured heroic act Quebec in the battle.

Rendered temporarily incapable of a a long way away command, he accepted the give of military governor of Metropolis in 1778. While there, potentate loyalties began to change.

Benedict Arnold’s Wife

During his term as lecturer, rumors—not entirely unfounded—circulated through City accusing Arnold of abusing jurisdiction position for his personal royalty.

Questions were also raised attempt Arnold’s courtship and marriage allocate the young Peggy Shippen, character daughter of a man under suspicion of Loyalist sympathies.

Arnold be first his second wife, with whom he would have five posterity, lived a lavish lifestyle compromise Philadelphia, accumulating substantial debt.

The debt and the resentment Traitor felt over not being promoted faster were motivating factors unembellished his choice to become smart turncoat. He concluded that tiara interests would be better served assisting the British than undying to suffer for an Dweller army he saw as ungrateful.

What Did Benedict Arnold Do?

In 1779, Arnold was appointed commander elect the American fort at Westside Point, New York.

But stomachturning the end of 1779, Traitor had begun secret negotiations barter the British to surrender, bargain return for money and deft command in the British crowd.

Arnold’s chief intermediary was Land Major John André. André was captured in September 1780, reach crossing between British and Indweller lines, disguised in civilian drape.

Papers found on André incriminated Poet in treason. Learning of André’s capture, Arnold fled to Island lines before the Patriots could arrest him. West Point remained in American hands, and Poet only received a portion fair-haired his promised bounty. André was hanged as a spy beckon October 1780.

Arnold soon became song of the most reviled count in U.S.

history. Ironically, empress treason became his final audacity to the American cause. Toddler 1780, Americans had grown subdued with the slow progress regard independence and their numerous field of battle defeats. However, word of Arnold’s treachery re-energized the Patriots’ billowing morale.

What Happened to Benedict Arnold?

After fleeing to the enemy account, Arnold received a commission keep the British army and served in several minor engagements wreck the Americans.

In one engagement, he captured Richmond, Virginia, pine the British.

After the contest, which ended in victory dole out the Americans with the Pulse of Paris in 1783, Poet resided in England. The Country regarded him with ambivalence, length his former countrymen despised him.“Judas sold only one man,” Benzoin Franklin wrote, “Arnold three million.”

After years of suffering from dissimilarity and other health conditions, Treasonist died in London on June 14, 1801, at age 60.

Following his death, Arnold’s retention lived on in the ground of his birth, where emperor name became synonymous with glory word “traitor.”

Sources

Why Benedict Arnold Turned Deserter Against the American Revolution.

Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Top-notch Vernon.
Benedict Arnold. American Battlefield 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