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A matter of character
Recently several books have been written which point out the similarities, as well as the stark differences between two men who had roles of vital importance to the American Revolution -- George Washington, the father of our country -- one of the most revered Americans of all time, and Benedict Arnold, one of the most reviled Americans ever.
Both Washington and Arnold grew up in pre-revolutionary America. Both became wealthy (by the standards of the day). Both were warriors in the French and Indian Wars. Both were leaders in the Revolutionary Army. For a time both men were also considered heroes of the revolution. But by the end of the war the positions of the two men had become decidedly different.
Benedict Arnold was born in 1741 to a well-to-do family. Actually, it was his mother who brought wealth to the family. His father was not a good money manager and when several of his ventures turned out badly he developed a drinking problem. Eventually, lack of money forced young Benedict to withdraw from school. Relatives of his mother agreed to take him as an apprentice in the Apothecary business
Arnold was drawn to the military from an early age. At 15 he joined with a Connecticut Militia as a part time soldier. He was with the Militia when they opposed a French invasion from Canada at the Battle of Ft. William Henry. After that battle the French failed to protect their British prisoners who were captured, and 180 of the British/Americans soldiers were slaughtered by the Indians, French Allies who were under French command. The incident left Arnold with a lifelong hatred of the French.
As a civilian, Arnold did well in the Apothecary business and by the time of the American Revolution he had set up his own Apothecary stores in New England and was doing well. However, he did not feel he was doing well enough, so he joined with several other merchants to buy three ships, which the group used to smuggle goods from the West Indies into the colonies, to avoid what Arnold perceived to be oppressive British tariffs.
Arnold was 34 years old, a widower with three children, when the Revolution began. He was operating his Apothecary Store at New Haven CT and also served as a Militia Captain when fighting erupted at Lexington and Concord. Thoroughly engaged in the Patriot cause, he was impatient with some of his countryman, saying, "Good God, are the Americans all asleep and tamely giving up their liberties?"
Later that year he convinced Colonial authorities to allow him to lead an invasion party to attack Fort Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, arguing that captured guns from Ticonderoga could be used to drive the British from Boston. The authorities were agreeable, but insisted he share the command with Ethan Allen. The invasion was a success, but Arnold and Allen quarreled violently---Arnold thought that he did not get the share of the glory that should have been his from the campaign.
By 1777 Arnold had distinguished himself as a brave and competent tactician, and secured favorable notice from Gen. Washington. He was promoted to Brigadier General and put in charge of Continental forces at the Battle of Saratoga. That expedition proved to be one of the turning points of the War of Independence. An entire British Army was captured, ensuring that there would be no invasion from Canada by the British. Ironically, Saratoga was the battle that brought the French into the war as an ally of the American forces -- over bitter protests from Benedict Arnold.
In the Battle of Saratoga Arnold received a severe leg wound. Doctors recommended that the leg be amputated, but Arnold refused. His wounded leg healed, but was two inches shorter than the other, resulting in a severe limp ever after. After Sarasota, Arnold played a leading role in the Battle of Quebec, where he again was wounded in his crippled leg. He was cited for repeated acts of bravery, but was also the target of a group of American officers who tried to get him removed from his command because "he repeatedly exceeded his authority."
After Quebec Arnold was appointed the administrative Commander of Philadelphia, while he recuperated from his wounds. Arnold was caught up in the social whirl of Philadelphia. He met, courted, and married an 18 year old Tory sympathizer. He got himself hopelessly in debt. His money troubles began to overwhelm him.
As far back as Ticonderoga Arnold had found himself at odds with the Continental Congress over his, what were perceived to be, inflated expense vouchers. Similar troubles continued with each of his victories, and he was increasingly at odds with the other American Generals, and the Continental Congress itself. He brooded over what he saw as slights -- slow promotions, not getting credit for his accomplishments and a continuing battle over his expense accounts. In a letter to Washington he complained, "Having…become a cripple in the service of my country, I little expected to meet such ungrateful returns".
Amazingly, until 1780 Arnold still had the backing of General Washington. He had his choice of assignments, and chose to be Commandant at the Fortress of West Point, on the Hudson River. It was here he seemed to lose his grasp of reality.
Ruined financially, chances of promotion slim, and disgusted with Congressional politics, Arnold entered into a plot with the British General Sir Henry Clinton, which would deliver West Point, with its force of 3,000 to the British Army, in exchange for a Brig. Gen. commission in the British Army, 20,000 pounds sterling ($1 million in today's dollars). This act would effectively give the British control of the Hudson River Valley, cut the Union in half, and (Arnold felt) cause the utter collapse of the American cause.
Arnold's go-between was captured with the incriminating documents. That courier was shot as a spy, but Arnold managed to escape to the British lines. The British honored his General's commission, but because of the botched job, cut his reward to some 6,000 pounds.
Arnold was a good General for the British, but they never really trusted him. He led daring and devastating raids on Patriot supply depots in New England. In Virginia he looted Richmond and destroyed munitions and grain meant for the American Army. In Connecticut he burned ships and warehouses and much of his home town of New Haven.
Benedict Arnold had great strengths -- courage, vision, boldness. He was creative, and could size up a situation and act quickly and decisively. But he was ambitious to a fault, and extravagant. He had a huge ego and craved fame, power, and financial rewards. He was brave himself, but he was also ruthless in risking the lives of others.
Arnold's moral failure lay not in his disenchantment with the American cause -- others did the same, but in his abuse of his position of authority and trust. He would betray West Point and if necessary the entire American war effort to secure (his) success.
He was hated in America -- "a consort of the Devil." In Britain, where he went after the war, he was treated with coldness, even contempt. Much later he attempted to rationalize his acts to Washington, but was rebuffed. He died as he lived, "A man without a country".
At Sarasota, the scene of his greatest triumph, Arnold is remembered with a monument -- just a boot, which reads, "In memory of the most brilliant soldier of the Continental Army, who was desperately wounded on this spot, winning for his countrymen the decisive battle of the American Revolution, and for himself the rank of Major General. There is no name. Officially, his name is erased from our history.
Source: "The Enigma of Benedict Arnold", by James Herretta. Wikipedia Encyclopedia