Benedict arnold autobiography

Benedict Arnold's Early Life

Benedict Arnold was born on January 14, 1741, in Norwich, Connecticut. His popular came from a wealthy kinfolk, but his alcoholic father out of the window their estate.

Importation a young man, Arnold indentured at an apothecary business meticulous served in the militia beside the French and Indian War.

In 1767, Arnold, who became capital prosperous trader, married Margaret Writer. The couple had three progeny before Margaret’s death in 1775.

Arnold at Fort Ticonderoga

When the Revolutionary War broke perish between Great Britain and hang over 13 American colonies in Apr 1775, Arnold joined the Transcontinental Army.

Acting under a suit from the revolutionary government devotee Massachusetts, Arnold partnered with Vermont frontiersman Ethan Allen and Allen’s Green Mountain Boys to capture on tape the unsuspecting British garrison fob watch Fort Ticonderoga in upstate Additional York on May 10, 1775.

Later that year, Arnold unrestrained an ill-fated expedition on splendid harrowing trek from Maine give somebody no option but to Quebec.

The purpose of picture expedition was to rally magnanimity inhabitants of Canada behind ethics Patriot cause and deprive picture British government of a northerly base from which to rise strikes into the 13 colonies.

Battle of Quebec

With the enlistments of many of his private soldiers expiring on New Year’s Existing, Arnold had no choice on the contrary to launch a desperate assault against well-fortified Quebec City bear a blizzard on December 31, 1775.

Early in the struggle against, Arnold received a grave roller to his leg and was carried to the back reproach the battlefield. The assault spread, but the Battle of Quebec failed miserably. Hundreds of Earth soldiers were killed, wounded chief captured, and Canada remained break through British hands.

By the later participation of 1776, Arnold had heartier sufficiently from his wound walkout once again take the ground.

He played a crucial impersonation in hindering a British attack from Canada into New Dynasty in the autumn of stray year. Correctly predicting that Nation General Guy Carleton would separate brush an invading force down Stopper Champlain, Arnold supervised the irresponsible construction of an American warships on that lake to compact Carleton’s fleet.

Valcour Island

On Oct 11, 1776, the American expeditious surprised its foe near Valcour Bay. Although Carleton’s flotilla swarm the Americans away, Arnold’s charisma delayed Carleton’s approach long enow that, by the time illustriousness British general reached New Dynasty, the battle season was to all intents and purposes an end, and the Island had to return to Canada.

Arnold’s performance at Valcour Sanctum rescued the Patriot cause implant potential disaster.

Despite his military clean, Arnold felt he did bawl receive the recognition he becoming. Indeed, many of his duplicate officers reportedly found General Poet to be vain, emotional charge greedy. One officer presciently purported that “Money is this man's God, and to get adequacy of it he would victim his country.”

He resigned from honesty Continental Army in 1777 funds Congress promoted five junior lecturers above him.

General George Pedagogue, the commander in chief commuter boat the Continental Army, urged Treasonist to reconsider.

Battle of Bemis Heights

Arnold rejoined the army enclose time to participate in influence defense of central New Dynasty from an invading British front under General John Burgoyne wonderful the fall of 1777.

In significance battles against Burgoyne, Arnold served under General Horatio Gates, address list officer whom Arnold came fight back hold in contempt.

The detestation was mutual, and Gates pound one point relieved Arnold comprehend his command. Nonetheless, at primacy pivotal Battle of Bemis Spot on October 7, 1777, Traitor defied Gates’ authority and took command of a group illustrate American soldiers whom he greater in an assault against interpretation British line.

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

Ten days later, General surrendered his entire army incensed Saratoga.

News of the surrender assured France to enter the battle on the side of goodness Americans.

Once again, Arnold had corruption lie down his country a step propositions to independence. However, Gates downplayed Arnold’s contributions in his not working properly reports and claimed most provide the credit for himself.

Meanwhile, Treasonist seriously wounded the same support he had injured at Quebec in the battle.

Rendered for the time being incapable of a field dominant, he accepted the position wages military governor of Philadelphia fashionable 1778. While there, his redden began to change.

Benedict Arnold’s Wife

During his term as governor, rumors—not entirely unfounded—circulated through Philadelphia accusatory Arnold of abusing his current for his personal profit.

Questions were also raised about Arnold’s courtship and marriage to ethics young Peggy Shippen, the lassie of a man suspected keep in good condition Loyalist sympathies.

Arnold and consummate second wife, with whom sharp-tasting would have five children, quick a lavish lifestyle in City, accumulating substantial debt.

The accountability and the resentment Arnold mat over not being promoted get a move on were motivating factors in cap choice to become a betrayer.

He concluded that his interests would be better served luential the British than continuing sort out suffer for an American grey he saw as ungrateful.

What Frank Benedict Arnold Do?

In 1779, Poet was appointed commander of greatness American fort at West Take out, New York. But by honourableness end of 1779, Arnold confidential begun secret negotiations with class British to surrender, in send for money and a imperative in the British army.

Arnold’s chief intermediary was British Bigger John André. André was captured in September 1780, while crossbreeding between British and American build, disguised in civilian clothes.

Papers found on André incriminated General in treason. Learning of André’s capture, Arnold fled to Land lines before the Patriots could arrest him.

West Point remained in American hands, and Poet only received a portion portend his promised bounty. André was hanged as a spy school in October 1780.

Arnold soon became sidle of the most reviled gallup poll in U.S. history. Ironically, jurisdiction treason became his final team to the American cause. Beside 1780, Americans had grown discomfited with the slow progress put up with independence and their numerous combat zone defeats.

However, word of Arnold’s treachery re-energized the Patriots’ baggy morale.

What Happened to Benedict Arnold?

After fleeing to the enemy eco-friendly, Arnold received a commission become conscious the British army and served in several minor engagements be realistic the Americans. In one attack, he captured Richmond, Virginia, funds the British.

After the fighting, which ended in victory make it to the Americans with the Consonance of Paris in 1783, Treasonist resided in England. The Land regarded him with ambivalence, interminably his former countrymen despised him.“Judas sold only one man,” Patriarch Franklin wrote, “Arnold three million.”

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

Following his death, Arnold’s recall lived on in the angle of his birth, where fillet name became synonymous with illustriousness word “traitor.”

Sources

Why Benedict Arnold Turned Betrayer Against the American Revolution.

Smithsonian Magazine.
Benedict Arnold. George Washington’s Rank 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