Benedict Arnold, a general during the American Revolutionary War, initially served in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. His most infamous act of betrayal involved a plot to surrender the crucial American fort at West Point, New York, to the British. This scheme, hatched in secret negotiations with the British, represented a significant threat to the American cause. The exposure of this plot in September 1780 marked a pivotal
moment in Arnold's controversial career and in the broader conflict, leading to his immediate flight and subsequent service with the British forces.
The Genesis of Betrayal and West Point Command
Arnold's decision to change sides in 1779 stemmed from growing frustration and bitterness. Despite his military successes, he felt overlooked for promotion by the Continental Congress, while other officers allegedly claimed credit for his accomplishments. He also faced charges of corruption and malfeasance, though he was acquitted in most formal inquiries. A congressional investigation into his accounts even found that he owed money after having spent much of his own funds on the war effort. These grievances led him to open secret negotiations with the British.
In July 1780, Arnold actively sought and successfully obtained command of West Point. His intention in securing this strategic post was not to defend it, but to facilitate its surrender to the British. West Point, located on the Hudson River, was a vital Continental Army base, and its loss would have been a severe blow to the American war effort. Arnold began to systematically weaken its defenses, complying with British plans to make its capture easier.
Exposure Through Capture: Major John André
Arnold's elaborate scheme was ultimately exposed in September 1780. The unraveling began when American forces captured British Major John André. André was found carrying incriminating documents that explicitly revealed the details of the plot to surrender West Point. These papers served as undeniable evidence of Arnold's treasonous intentions.
Upon learning of André's capture and the discovery of the documents, Arnold immediately fled. He made his escape down the Hudson River, heading towards the British sloop-of-war *Vulture*. His flight was a narrow escape, as he managed to avoid capture by the forces of George Washington, who had been alerted to the plot. André, the British major whose capture exposed the conspiracy, was subsequently hanged as a British spy on October 2, 1780, at Tappan, New York, a fate that greatly upset the British.
Arnold's Defection and British Service
Following his successful escape, Benedict Arnold officially entered the British Army as a brigadier general. He received a commission, an annual pension of £360, and a lump sum of over £6,000 for his defection. His new role involved leading British forces in various actions against his former countrymen. He conducted raids in Virginia and against New London and Groton, Connecticut. These actions occurred before the war effectively concluded with the American victory at Yorktown.
In the winter of 1782, Arnold moved to London with his second wife, Margaret "Peggy" Shippen Arnold. He was initially well-received by King George III and the Tories, though he was frowned upon by the Whigs. His name quickly became synonymous with treason or betrayal in the United States, a legacy that persists to this day. Despite his efforts to gain further command positions, he saw no additional military duty after the war, eventually settling into mercantile business and later returning to London permanently, where he died in 1801.
