Benedict Arnold
WHO HE WAS: Benedict Arnold has a very complicated story. He started out the Revolutionary War as a patriot, but by the end of the war he had switched sides and become a loyalist. He was once a general in the Continental Army, trusted by George Washington himself. He betrayed that trust when he chose to pass secrets to British.
Why did change sides? It was said that he did it because of his great disappointment about being passed up for promotion. He had this to say in a letter to General George Washington written on February 27 of 1776.
¨The severity of the climate, the troops very illy clad, and worse paid, the trouble of reconciling matters among the inhabitants, and lately an uneasiness among the New York and some other officers, who think themselves neglected in the new arrangement, while those who deserted the cause and went home last fall have been promoted ; in short, the choice of difficulties I have had to encounter, has rendered it so very perplexing, that I have often been at a loss how to conduct matters.¨He was also influenced by his British wife, Peggy Shippen, who thought that Benedict Arnold would have more opportunities if he were in the British Army.
After his treachery was discovered, he did join the British Army.
He issued the following proclamation in an attempt to convince other soldiers to leave the Continental Army and join the British as well.
WHAT HE SAID: In addition to the quotation above, he explained that a person's rank in joining up would be based on how many men he was able to bring with him. If someone wanted to be a infantry colonel, he had to bring 75 men with him. He also tried to convince the Continental army soldiers that they had a right to doubt their leaders:
"To the officers and soldiers of the Continental army who have the real interest of their country at heart, and who are determined to be no longer the tools and dupes of Congress, or France ... I rejoice in the opportunity I have of inviting you to join His Majesty's Arms."
