Last Updated on September 16, 2022
Before he turned traitor, Benedict Arnold was an American hero. In upstate New York, he fought for the control of a chain of lakes and rivers. In this war, Arnold’s men hacked together little warships, took extraordinary risks, and sailed against the British fleet. You could read his account of the war here. Now that you know why he turned traitor, you can decide for yourself if he sold his soul for British cash.
Benedict Arnold sold his soul for British cash
While the general’s actions and character were debatable, it is not hard to discern that Benedict Arnold sold his soul for British cash. Before the war, he was an incredibly successful businessman and valued by George Washington and his men. His traitorous actions subsequently made him synonymous with traitors. His actions, however, have been sanitized to fit a particular narrative about right and wrong.
After the war, he resorted to British arms and began his new life as a British soldier. The general was never trusted by the British, however, and many soldiers refused to fight alongside him. Instead, he moved to London, England, where he suffered a humiliating public reputation. In the end, he was buried in a stately tomb in the year 1800.
Benedict Arnold married a Loyalist sympathizer
The life of Benedict Arnold was a complicated one. Born into a wealthy and well-connected family, Arnold married Margaret Mansfield, a Loyalist sympathizer, in 1761. Although he was paid well for his services, he was not fully trusted by the British and was often passed over for military command. During the American Revolution, when the British began to surrender in New York, Benedict was granted leave to return to England. He was thirty-four when the war ended, and he went to England with his family to begin a new life. He would later marry a Loyalist sympathizer, Margret Mansfield, shortly after the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
There were several possible reasons for Arnold’s treasonous actions. Some of them are related to the mounting debt of the American Revolution, greed, and resentment of his fellow officers. Others suggest that he turned traitor because he wanted to be free of his financial obligations. However, there is no proof that he married a Loyalist, so the decision is largely speculation.
Benedict Arnold’s wife stayed at West Point after he turned traitor
Peggy Arnold stayed at West Point after her husband Benedict Arnold turned traitor. The Arnolds had been planning to defect, and they had written to Andre and Clinton to get him to defect. However, when news of the plot to take West Point reached Philadelphia, Peggy fainted. This story is not as tragic as you might think, and it is worth reading.
After Arnold was charged with corruption at the military command in Philadelphia, he approached the British command through his wife. He offered to hand over the Hudson River defenses at West Point in exchange for money. The British agreed. Despite this, Peggy stayed at West Point and supported her husband’s defection. In 1780, his wife remained at West Point, but he eventually turned traitor.
Benedict Arnold was a patriot officer
The American revolutionaries viewed Benedict Arnold as a hero, but the people of America were not so fond of him. A patriot officer, Arnold was severely wounded during the Battle of Quebec and spent four months in hospital in Albany, NY. His wife, Peggy Shippen, was an incredible beauty, but stories about her are simply not true. But his actions were unworthy of his name.
Despite his heroic actions, Benedict Arnold would ultimately turn traitor, serving the British against his former countrymen. He would lead the British troops into the state of Virginia in December 1776, capture Richmond, and lay waste to the countryside. It was this military manoeuvre that would ultimately cost him his life. After the war, Arnold would never return to America. He died in England in 1801.
Benedict Arnold’s legacy to communication
The most famous aspect of Benedict Arnold’s life was his connection to the American Revolution. As a result, he was often mentioned in historical novels related to the American Revolution. In particular, Kenneth Roberts’ Arundel series portrays him positively and covers his many military campaigns. While living in London, Arnold lived at 62 Gloucester Place. His grave is at St Mary’s Church, Battersea, England. The building contains an exhibit of original letters that Arnold wrote.
Although he was a valued member of the Continental Army, Benedict Arnold was notorious for his prickliness, oversensitivity to slights, and inability to work with others. This was especially true considering that his actions in the American Revolution delayed the British from taking Fort Ticonderoga. However, his legacy to communication is far-reaching. In fact, his inventions have been used in various industries and sectors today.
About The Author
Pat Rowse is a thinker. He loves delving into Twitter to find the latest scholarly debates and then analyzing them from every possible perspective. He's an introvert who really enjoys spending time alone reading about history and influential people. Pat also has a deep love of the internet and all things digital; she considers himself an amateur internet maven. When he's not buried in a book or online, he can be found hardcore analyzing anything and everything that comes his way.