Once Great Benedict Arnold example essay topic

... al leader and Benedict Arnold, a colonel from Connecticut. Arnold trained his own militia force for the capture of the fort. Arnold and Allen met up in Bennington. Arnold accompanied Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, also known as Vermont soldiers, before heading off to Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775.

(Kenneth 65) Benedict Arnold shared the command with Allen. Allen and Arnold led the Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack. Not a single person from Arnold and Allen's troops had died while taking over the fort. The Green Mountain Boys and Allen basically ignored Arnold during and after the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Benedict went to Colonel Easton to complain about the way he was treated.

The two ended up in an argument and nothing was ever solved. Arnold was even spotted spending time with the officers from the other side instead of his fellow soldiers. At this time, Allen and Benedict were making a plan to invade Quebec City, Canada. While in Massachusetts, Colonel Easton had just about destroyed any knowledge about Arnold's participation in the capture.

(B Arnold) Arnold was furious and once again the two engaged in an argument which further resulted in a physical fight. The British recaptured the fort in 1777, but abandoned it in 1780. The fort was left behind because the British gave up hope of using the invasion route in later years. At Saratoga National Historic Park in Stillwater, New York, rests a monument to Benedict Arnold's leg.

(BA's Leg) The monument sits on the exact spot of where Benedict was knocked down and wounded when the Battle of Freeman's Farm was in progress. Benedict Arnold's leg was pinned beneath his own horse. His leg was extremely wounded and bled immensely. Although Arnold's leg was badly broken, it survived the battle. While being appointed to command over the city of Philadelphia in 1778, Arnold met a young woman named Peggy Shippen. Peggy was a society girl and the daughter of an important Tory.

She had three daughters by her husband Edward Shippen who was a judge. Soon enough, Arnold and Peggy began to have a close relationship. The two were inseparable and Arnold asked Peggy for her hand in marriage. Peggy was only eighteen years old and Benedict was thirty-eight years old when they tied the knot, both were beginning their second marriage. Arnold began to receive high social status after marrying into the Shippen family. Congress always kept a close eye on Arnold because he had been accused of numerous accusations previous to his marriage.

(B Arnold) The executive council of Pennsylvania accused Benedict of Tory leanings and of using military soldiers as his own personal servants. He was soon brought to a marital court where he was found guilty on two different charges. He was guilty of issuing a pass to a ship he later invested money in and for using government owned wagons for his own personal use. The court ended up dismissing him without any wrongdoing, but General Washington scolded him for using poor judgment. He thought he deserved to be recognized for his money, rank, and glory. Only a year and a half after Arnold's heroic courage at Saratoga, he offered his services to the British Army.

Arnold convinced General George Washington to give him command over West Point, a fierce American fort in which he was soon to take over. (Macks 118 and BA's Leg) The West Point fort guards the Hudson River, which is north of New York City. In May of 1779, Arnold became in command of West Point, but he worked out a plan to surrender the fort to the British general, Sir Henry Clinton. Benedict had arranged to hand over the keys to West Point. He had been corresponding with the British for almost sixteen months. In September of 1780, a group of thieves trapped a traveler in the woods right outside of West Point.

American forces captured the man. He was turned over to the American Army where his true identity was revealed. The 'traveler' turned out to be Major John Andr&e acute; , who was part of the British Army. (Macks 118) He was Benedict Arnold's connection with the British. The scandalous scheme was quickly detected.

The American's found a map and many letters in his boot. The letters that were found implicated Benedict. Arnold's scheme to surrender West Point was fully uncovered. Before General Washington could arrest, then later capture and kill Arnold for being a traitor, he escaped from the American's and went to New York City where he became a Brigadier general in the British Army. The British sent a frigate called 'Vulture's o he could disappear without harm. Soon after his escape, Arnold began to conquer British forces.

Arnold demanded 20,000 pounds from the British for the losses he suffered in joining them. He received only 6,315 pounds. (Macks 70) Now a British officer, he led his new men on expeditions that burned Richmond, Virginia and New London, Connecticut, his native state. Thankfully, West Point was saved. The American Army soon hanged the British agent, Major John Andr&e acute; . The British lost the battle and Arnold became dismayed at the mistake of switching sides.

The once great Benedict Arnold was referred to as a 'businessman turned ruthless, ambitious soldier'. (Macks 70) King George recognized Arnold kindly when he went to England in 1781, but others there looked down upon him. In 1797, the British government granted him 13,400 acres in Canada. The land was of little use to him. Benedict spent most of his remaining years as a merchant in the West India trade, just like he had once done. His second wife Peggy was faithful to him through all of his troubles.

People believed that Peggy indeed played an extremely important role in knowing what was going on with her husband and the British. Peggy had been a close friend with Major John Andr&e acute; before she met Arnold. (B Arnold) It was said that during the winter of 1777 and 1778, the young woman held many parties in her Philadelphia home. By this time, Peggy had made many friends. Her parties and balls were strictly for people of high status. Lots of British officers and Tories attended.

It was thought that she may have encouraged him to become a traitor but it is not a proven fact. In Benedict Arnold's last days he was burdened with debt, became discouraged, and was basically distrusted by most people. Arnold soon passed away in England in 1801. He left behind a total of eight children. Five of the children were from Peggy's first marriage and the other three were from his first marriage to Margaret. His four sons then became members of the British military.

America now has their first despicable traitor! Bibliography

Bibliography

Benedict Arnold on Lake Champlain. The Battle of Valcour Island. Online. Internet. 7 March 2000.
Available: web Connecticut SAR. The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Online. Internet. 28 Feb. 2000.
Available: web Flynn, J. Michael. Benedict Arnold: The Traitor Who Saved America. Online. Internet. 18 March 2000.
Available: web Historic Valley Forge. Benedict Arnold. Online. Internet. 19 March 2000.
Available: web Kenneth, Dave C. 'Say You Want a Revolution. ' Don't Know Much About History. U.S. A: Avon Books, 1995.
Liberty. Chronicle of the Revolution. Benedict Arnold's Leg. Online. Internet. 7 March 2000.
Available: web Mack, Stan. 'Redcoats and Guerrillas. ' Real Life American Revolution. USA: Avon Books, 1994.