Benedict Arnold: Life In The American Revolution Essay, Research Paper
Benedict Arnold: Life in the American Revolution
On January 14, 1741, Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Connecticut. (B Arnold) Arnold?s father, also named Benedict, had a drinking problem and his mother Hannah often worried. (B Arnold) Arnold received his schooling at Canterbury. (B Arnold) While away at school, a few of Arnold?s siblings passed away from Yellow
Fever. (B Arnold) Arnold was a troublesome kid that would try just about anything. (B
Arnold) As a rebellious 14-year-old boy, he ran away from home to fight in the French
and Indian War. (B Arnold) Later, Benedict Arnold deserted and returned home through
the wilderness alone to work with his cousins. (B Arnold) The army had excused him
without penalty because of his tender, young age. In 1762, when Benedict was just
twenty-one years old, he went to New Haven, Connecticut where he managed a book and
drug store and carried on trade with the West Indies. (B Arnold) In 1767, he married
Margaret Mansfield, a daughter of a sheriff of New Haven County. (B Arnold) They had
three sons together. (B Arnold) When the Revolutionary War was just beginning to
break out, Benedict Arnold became a prosperous ship owner, merchant, and trader. (Lake
Champlain) Within days, Arnold became very interested in the war once again and joined
the American Army. All of the battles Arnold commanded over showed immense courage
and bravery, but he was soon known as America?s greatest traitor due to his betrayal of
the American?s.
As the Revolutionary War broke out, Benedict Arnold decided to volunteer to
head over 1,000 men up to Maine. (Lake Champlain) He asked for additional men from
his companies to join the army. Arnold then became a captain in the Connecticut Militia.
General George Washington had his favorites, which Arnold was among the very few.
(Macks 118) So, Benedict Arnold was sent on a infernal 500 mile march to Maine by
Washington also known as ?The Rock?. (Macks 72, 118) There, he met up with General
Richard Montgomery. (Macks 72) The relentless Benedict Arnold and only about fifty
percent of his original soldiers made it to the St. Lawrence River where they met up with
General Montgomery. (Macks 72) Their plan was to attack the British Army by surprise
in Quebec City, Canada. (Lake Champlain and Macks 72) Both Montgomery and Arnold
arranged to start on the lofty mountain sides of Quebec. (Macks 72) Arnold and his
soldiers found themselves trapped by the British. A member of the British Army shot a
musket ball directly towards Arnold?s leg. (Macks 73) His leg was badly broken and he
had to be taken to a hospital bed almost a mile away from the attack. (Macks 73) The
courageous and brave Arnold relentlessly hollered orders from his bed, as his hard
working troopers were overthrown by the British Army. (Macks 73) The attack had
lasted fifty days and the secret journey resulted in a catastrophe for the volunteer soldiers
who marched away. (Lake Champlain) The conditions were horrendous. It was said that
almost fifty percent of the men froze, starved, and even made broth for nourishment by
boiling leather from their shoes. (Lake Champlain) Forty, of the fifty percent of the worn
out men died before returning home. (Lake Champlain) During this time, Arnold had
tremendous leadership and courage in those woods. Many people believed that they
would have all perished if it were not for dauntless and extraordinary field general-ship.
(Lake Champlain)
The Massachusetts Committee of Safety became suspicious of Arnold?s behavior
and conduct. Benedict was fed up so he resigned his commission at Crown Point, New
York. (M. Flynn) While Benedict was on his way back to Connecticut, he first dropped
by Albany, New York where he talked with the commander of the Northern Army, Major
General Philip Schuyler. (M. Flynn) Arnold tried to persuade the General into letting him
invade Quebec. Arnold understood that he would later face consequences with the
Massachusetts Committee because of his actions, but he prepared himself. (M. Flynn)
Benedict came up with a petition and accumulated over 500 signatures from Northern
New Yorkers. (M. Flynn) The petition showed the American?s appreciation of his
accomplishments and good deeds. (M. Flynn) The petition soon became useless.
Arnold?s wife had been sick with an illness for quite some time. (B Arnold) The news
soon made it to him that Margaret had passed away. (M. Flynn) Arnold proceeded back
to New Haven to bury his wife and sort through her belongings. (M. Flynn) He soon
returned to the same spot, but this time he had a new method of taking control of Quebec.
(M. Flynn)
Arnold met with General Washington once again and informed him of his plan to
invade Quebec City for the second time. Both Arnold and General Philip Schuyler, a
well-educated man from the upper class, would take different routes up to Canada. (M.
Flynn) Arnold would go up the Kennebec River into northwest Maine and would then
travel through the woods, while Schuyler would head directly north. (M. Flynn)
Washington thought Arnold?s plan was brilliant and told him to go ahead with it but under
two conditions. (M. Flynn) First, Arnold had to talk to the Massachusetts Committee of
Safety in regards to previous accusations. Second, Benedict had to obtain General
Schuyler?s permission to accompany him on the invasion. (M. Flynn) Once these two
circumstances were met, Arnold would become a colonel and serve in the Continental
Army. (M. Flynn) After meeting with the Massachusetts Committee of Safety, Arnold
was dismissed of any errors. (M. Flynn) While patiently waiting for Schuylers decision,
Washington ordered Arnold to stay on campus until the word came through. Arnold
didn?t bother to listen to anything Washington had to say so he left for a close-by journey
to Watertown. (M. Flynn) He soon found out that General Philip Schuyler would be
setting out to attack Montreal on August 30. (M. Flynn) Arnold was overjoyed with the
news.
Colonel Arnold and General Washington validated sixteen thousand men on
September 2, 1775 before heading off to Canada. (M. Flynn) Arnold ended up choosing
a little under one thousand men to take with him on the attack. (M. Flynn) Washington
had additionally added three hundred more soldiers from Pennsylvania and Virginia to
proceed with Arnold. (M. Flynn) Arnold carefully followed a map to the mouth of the
Kennebec River. He soon realized that the map had been altered by British authorities
before it had been printed. (M. Flynn) Arnold also found out that the man he chose to
replicate the map was an undercover Tory. (M. Flynn) The man had changed the map
around even more and handed them out to all of Arnold?s men. (M. Flynn) Now, Arnold
was facing an extra two hundred and twenty miles to march. The weather soon became
horrendous. There were raging rainstorms and strong winds, almost like a hurricane. (M.
Flynn) Part of Arnold?s men backed out and returned home with most of the Army?s
food. (M. Flynn) The left over men were subdued to eating tree bark, leather from their
shoes, Newfoundlander dogs, and anything that could be digested. (M. Flynn) The men
were spread out and it was difficult for Arnold to keep count. (M. Flynn) The first men
to arrive at the St. Lawrence River in Quebec were only a week and a half late, even with
the extra miles added on. (M. Flynn) Montreal ended up surrendering to General Richard
Montgomery on November 13th. (M. Flynn) Montgomery had replaced Schuyler for an
unknown reason. (M. Flynn) The British were completely aware of Arnold?s plan to
attack Quebec once again. (M. Flynn) Arnold had written General Schuyler a letter
updating about the soldiers advancements. (M. Flynn) Benedict gave the letter to a well
trusted Indian so he could bring it to Schuyler. (M. Flynn) The Indian betrayed Arnold
and Schuyler?s trust by handing over the letter to the British. That?s how Arnold?s plan
was discovered by the enemies. (M. Flynn) On New Year?s Eve, in the middle of a
snowstorm, Montgomery and Arnold started their attack on Quebec City. (M. Flynn)
Within minutes, the British were alerted. (M. Flynn) Montgomery was killed by a cannon
ball. (M. Flynn) Without a leader, Montgomery?s forces headed off. Arnold was quickly
made Brigadier General by Congress and Washington?s approval. (M. Flynn) An
additional two thousand and five hundred soldiers were sent up due to the low number of
men left. (M. Flynn) About two hundred and ninety men were taken hostage as prisoners,
thirty-five were hurt, and fifty had died. (M. Flynn) A new British Army from England
disembarked and ended the invasion. (M. Flynn) The war was successful. Arnold was
the head of the evacuation of Montreal. Arnold was the last person to leave the Canadian
border to head down south. (M. Flynn) Benedict?s return back to the colonies with his
soldiers started in June of 1776. (M. Flynn) Arnold discovered exactly how much his
home country had changed since he was away. For example, Virginia became independent
and his church had been arrested because they were British spies. (M. Flynn) The war has
ended. American?s said, ?Arnold showed himself as the most enterprising man among the
rebels?. (M. Flynn)
Arnold was determined to fight near Valcour Island, which is comfortably up
against the shoreline of New York. (Lake Champlain) In June of 1776, while the Battle
of Valcour Island just began, Arnold had hurt himself badly. (Lake Champlain) Despite
his pain, Arnold managed to lead his soldiers the rest of the way to Lake Champlain.
(Lake Champlain) July 7, 1776, Benedict and his men headed to Lake Champlain. (Lake
Champlain) They found refuge at the southern end of the lake. It turned out that Arnold
led his men into the exact spot they wanted to be in, which was Fort Amherst on Crown
Point. (Lake Champlain) They were all glad that the their travels were over. Benedict
and his soldiers rowed just about one hundred miles to reach their destination. (Lake
Champlain) It was a long and stressful journey. While Arnold had previously fought in
Canada, he picked up strategies to win wars just by watching every little move of the
British soldiers. (Lake Champlain) The British were powerful and compelling. Arnold
knew there was no possible way to defeat the Northern Army, at least not in 1776. He
told his fellow officers that the only thing America could hope for was to delay the
Northern Army. (Lake Champlain) Arnold?s ongoing energy and positive enthusiasm
kept his men on their toes. (Lake Champlain) A tiny group of fifteen boats finally formed
by late September. Arnold urged, prayed, badgered, and pleaded to Washington to put
together a navy of about five hundred men. (Lake Champlain) Arnold did not care
whether the men were unskilled or half-naked, he was desperate. (Lake Champlain)
Washington approved Arnold?s needs, he sent the boats up north. Arnold sailed the boats
on the Richelieu River, which was near a British preparation site. (Lake Champlain)
Arnold ordered his men to fire the cannons to let the British know they were there. (Lake
Champlain) Although Arnold lost the Lake Champlain battle, he never gave up. He alone
created a far reaching ?victory? for his country. (Lake Champlain)
In 1776, Benedict Arnold was associated with a number of different summer
battles. (B Arnold) These battles were involving any kinds of war, they were legal
matters. (B Arnold) Arnold was taken to court for stealing goods from numerous stores
in Montreal after a battle. (B Arnold) In Arnold?s defense, he accused Officer Hazen of
not taking command. After that, Arnold felt as if he was the one who had to take control.
(B Arnold) Hazen was brought into the court. Arnold and Hazen started a vicious
argument that became hot. (B Arnold) The court was in favor of the officer and they
demanded Arnold to apologize to Hazen. Arnold was furious and refused to apologize to
anybody. (B Arnold) To get revenge, Arnold decided to challenge the court. In
retaliation, the court demanded to arrest Arnold. (B Arnold) On Lake Champlain in
New York State, was an important place during the Revolutionary War. (Kenneth 65) It
was an easy access route by water for the invasion of Canada. (Kenneth 65) A group of
Americans put together an expedition to take over Fort Ticonderoga. (Kenneth 65) The
group included Ethan Allen, a Vermont colonial leader and Benedict Arnold, a colonel
from Connecticut. (Kenneth 65) Arnold trained his own militia force for the capture of
the fort. (Kenneth 65) Arnold and Allen met up in Bennington. (B Arnold) 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. (Kenneth 65) The capture was successful. Not a single person from
Arnold and Allen?s troops had died while taking over the fort. The Green Mountain Boys
celebrated their victory by breaking into rum stores and getting drunk. (B Arnold) The
Green Mountain Boys and Allen basically ignored Arnold during and after the capture of
Fort Ticonderoga. (B Arnold) 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. (B
Arnold) Arnold was even spotted spending time with the officers from the other side
instead of his fellow soldiers. (B Arnold) Soon enough, Arnold eventually gained some
status by his knowledge about sailing ships. (B Arnold) Easton returned from
Massachusetts where he went to announce the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. (B Arnold)
At this time, Allen and Benedict were making a plan to invade Quebec City, Canada. (B
Arnold) 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. (B
Arnold) 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.
(Kenneth 65)
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. (BA?s Leg) Benedict Arnold?s leg was pinned beneath his own horse. His leg
was extremely wounded and bled immensely. (BA?s Leg) Although Arnold?s leg was
badly broken, it survived the battle. (BA?s Leg)
While being appointed to command over the city of Philadelphia in 1778, Arnold
met a young woman named Peggy Shippen. (B Arnold and Macks 118) Peggy was a
society girl and the daughter of an important Tory. (Macks 118) She had three daughters
by her husband Edward Shippen who was a judge. (B Arnold) Soon enough, Arnold and
Peggy began to have a close relationship. (B Arnold) 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. (B Arnold) Both were
beginning their second marriage. (Macks 118) Arnold began to receive high social status
after marrying into the Shippen family. (B Arnold) That?s what Arnold had longed for his
entire life. He and his wife lived generously and extravagantly, and Arnold drew criticism
for living beyond his means. (Macks 118) Benedict found himself in debt most of the
time and was on the look out for scams that would entitle him money to spoil his wife.
(Macks 118) Only Arnold knew the two lived beyond what they could afford and
Benedict soon realized that his new social status was too difficult to pay for. (B Arnold)
Arnold was involved in some risky business involving him using government supplies for
his own needs. (B Arnold) 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. (Macks 118) He was soon brought to a marital
court where he was found guilty on two different charges. (B Arnold) 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. (B Arnold) The court ended up dismissing him without
any wrongdoing, but he was scolded for using poor judgment by General Washington.
(Macks 118) Soon, Arnold became enraged and irritated with his own country. He
thought he deserved to be recognized for his money, rank, and glory. (Macks 118)
Only a year and a half after Arnold?s heroic courage at Saratoga, he offered his
services to the British Army. (BA?s Leg) 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. (Macks 118 and BA?s Leg) 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. (BA?s Leg) 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. (Macks 119) American forces captured the man. He was turned over to the
American Army where his true identity was revealed. (Macks 119) The ?traveler? turned
out to be Major John Andr?, who was part of the British Army. (Macks 119) He was
Benedict Arnold?s connection with the British. (BA?s Leg) The scandalous scheme was
quickly detected. (BA?s Leg) The American?s found a map and many letters in his boot.
(Macks 119 and BA?s Leg) The letters that were found, implicated Benedict. (BA?s Leg)
Arnold?s scheme to surrender West Point was fully uncovered. (Macks 119) 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. (Macks 119 and BA?s Leg) The British sent a frigate called
?Vulture? so he could disappear without harm. (BA?s Leg) A frigate is a fast, medium
sized sailing war ship of the eighteenth century. 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. Now a British officer, he led
his new men on expeditions that burned Richmond, Virginia and New London,
Connecticut, his native state. (BA?s Leg) Thankfully, West Point was saved. The British
agent, Major John Andr?, was soon hanged by the American Army. (Macks 120 and
BA?s Leg) The British lost the battle and Arnold became dismayed at the mistake of
switching sides. (BA?s Leg) The once great Benedict Arnold, was referred to as a
?businessman turned ruthless, ambitious soldier?. (Macks 70) Arnold was recognized
kindly by King George III 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. Arnold?s wife was considered an innocent
person throughout Arnold?s betrayal. (B Arnold) People believed that Peggy indeed
played an extremely important role in knowing what was going on with her husband and
the British. (B Arnold) Peggy had been close friends with Major John Andr? 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. (B Arnold) 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. (B Arnold) 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. (BA?s Leg) He left behind a
total of eight children. (B Arnold) Five of the children were from Peggy?s first marriage
and the other three were from his first marriage to Margaret. (B Arnold) His four sons
then became members of the British military. America now has their first despicable
traitor! (Macks 120)
Bibliography
~?The Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.? Online. May
1775. 28 Feb. 2000. .
~?Benedict Arnold.? Online. 19 March 2000.
.
~?Benedict Arnold?s Leg.? Online. 7 March 2000.
.
~?Benedict Arnold on Lake Champlain. The Battle of Valcour Island.? Online. 7
March 2000. .
~Flynn, J. Michael. ?Benedict Arnold: The Traitor Who Saved America.? Online. 18
March 2000. .
~Kenneth, Dave C. ?Say You Want a Revolution.? Don?t Know Much About History.
U.S.A: Avon Books, 1995.
~Mack, Stan. ?Redcoats and Guerrillas.? Real Life American Revolution. USA:
Avon Books, 1994.