Benedict Arnold - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Benedict Arnold (January 14th 1741 - June 14th 1801) is a Général of the continental Armée during the Guerre with independence of the United States of America. It is especially known to have betrayed the the United States and to have wanted to deliver strong American of West Point to the English during the war of Independence. It is perhaps the most known Traître of the history of the United States.

Youth

Arnold was born in 1741, sixth of the seven children of Benedict Arnold III and Hannah Waterman King with Norwich, in the Connecticut. It receives the name of its great-grandfather Benedict Arnold, governor colonial of Rhode Island and of his/her brother Benedict IV, died before the birth of Benedict Arnold V. Seuls Benedict and his/her Hannah sister survive until the adulthood, the three other children of the couple succumbing to the Yellow fever during their childhood. By his/her maternal grandmother, Arnold goes down from John Lathrop, ancestor from at least four Presidents of the United States.

The Arnold family is prosperous until the father of Arnold does several bad placements which involve in debt the family. After that, the father turns to alcohol. Benedict must stop the school at fourteen years, its family not being able more to pay it to him. Not being able to work in the family company because of the alcoholism of his/her father and lost fortune, Benedict enters in training at two of his/her cousins, the Daniel brothers and Joshua Lathrop, thanks to the mediation of the family of its mother. The two brothers are prosperous Apothicaire S who also make trade of general goods in Norwich.

The Seven Year old war

Died of his/her parents

His/her mother, to which it was very close, dies in 1759. It takes the responsability to deal of his sick father and his younger sister. The alcoholism of his/her father worsens after the death of his wife: it is stopped on several occasions for intoxication on the public highway and the clergy refuses the communion to him. With died on his/her father, in 1761, Arnold, 20 years old, decides to restore the name of its family at the honourable level which it was formerly.

Pre-revolutionists activities

In 1762, with the assistance of Lathrop, Arnold is established like Pharmacien and bookseller with New Haven, always in the Connecticut.

Ambitious and aggressive, Arnold extends its business quickly. In 1763, it repurchases the family property that his/her father had had to sell to sponge his debts. The following year, it resells it with a comfortable benefit. In 1764, it signs a partnership with Adam Babcock, another young tradesman of New Haven. They use the profits resulting from the sale of the family home to buy three tradind ships and to establish a profitable trade with the the Caribbean. At that time, it takes along his Hannah sister to New Haven and installs it with pharmacy to hold it in its absence. He travels much within the framework of his work, through all the New England and of the Quebec to the the Antilles, often with the orders of one of his own vessels.

The Stamp Act of 1765 seriously restricts the trade in the colonies. Arnold does not take part in any demonstration first of all but, like many merchants, continues its business as if Stamp Act did not exist, thus becoming a defrauder. The night of the January 31st 1767, Arnold takes part in a demonstration denouncing the laws of the English Parlement and its oppressive colonial policy, lasting which the effigies of local officers of the crown are burned. With members of its crew, it passes to tobacco a man suspected of giving information on the defrauders. Arnold is stopped and pays a fine of 50 shillings for disorder of the law and order.

The February 22nd 1767, it marries Margaret, girl of Samuel Mansfield. They have three wire: Benedict, Richard and Henry. She dies the June 19th 1775.

The oppressive taxes raised by the Parliament put in bankruptcy of many tradesmen. Arnold itself is close being ruined, with 15.000 books of debts.

Arnold is in the the Antilles the March 5th 1770, the day of the Massacre of Boston, but he says thereafter “to be very shocked” and wonders “good god, the Americans are all deadened to give up with tender their freedoms, or are they all become philosophical, which they are not immediately avenged for such non-believers? ”

The war of Independence

In March 1775, a group of sixty-five residents of New Haven found the Second Company of Guards of Connecticut ( Governor' S Second Company off Connecticut Guards ). Arnold is selected to be their captain, and it organizes drives and exercises in preparation for the war. The April 21st 1775, when New Haven learns that the first battles of the war took place with Lexington and Concord, some voluntary students of the college of Yale are allowed in the guard to increase its manpower, and it is started towards the Massachussets to take part in the revolution.

On the way, Arnold meets the colonel Samuel Holden Parsons, a man of law of Connecticut. They discuss lack of guns in the revolutionary armies and, knowing the great number of guns of the Fort Ticonderoga on the Lac Champlain, approve that a forwarding should try to capture the fort. Parsons carries on its road towards Hartford, where it raises funds to organize a force under the orders of the captain Edward Mott. Mott has as instructions to rejoin Ethan Allen and its Green Mountain Boys with Bennington, in the Vermont. During this time, Arnold and its militia continue until Cambridge, in the Massachusetts, where Arnold convinces the Committee of Safety of Massachusetts to finance a forwarding to take the fort. It is named colonel of the militia of Massachusetts and is charged, with several captains under its orders, of raising an army in Massachusetts. While its captains raise troops, Arnold overlaps towards north to find Allen and take the orders of the operation.

The battle of Ticonderoga

The army is made up at the beginning of May. The 10, Fort Ticonderoga is attacked at the dawn and taken without fighting, the colonial forces having surprised the English garrison by far lower. Forwardings with Crown Not and Fort George are they also crowned success, just like the offensive on Fort St Johns (today Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with the Quebec). But this fort must be abandoned in front of the arrival of British troops coming from Montreal. Throughout the countryside, Arnold and Allen dispute the supreme command. Allen withdraws finally its troops, leaving Arnold alone to the head of the garrisons of the three forts. However, 1.000 men of Connecticut arrive then, with at their head the colonel Benjamin Himan, who has as an order to take the head with Arnold like subordinate. This act of the continental Congrès made enrager Arnold, which with the impression that its efforts for the revolution are not recognized. He gives up his commission and turns over in Massachusetts.

The forwarding of Quebec

Shortly after the constitution of the continental Armed in June 1775, the major general Philip Schuyler, ordering Department of North, erects scaffolding a plan aiming at invading the Canada by the grounds starting from Fort St Johns, at the northern end of the Lac Champlain, while descending the Rivière Richelieu until Montreal. The goal is to deprive the Loyal supporters of an important base camp from where they can attack New York. The command of this force is given to the general Richard Montgomery.

Arnold proposes that one second force, acting in.liaison.with that of Schuyler, attacks by going up the river Kennebec, in the Maine, then descends the Chaudière to the town of Quebec. He believes that once fallen Montreal and Quebec, the French-speaking colonists of Canada will rejoin the revolution against the English. The general George Washington and the continental Congrès approve this amendment and name Arnold continental colonel of the Army. He must conduct the attack on Quebec.

Right before its departure for Maine, Arnold learns death from his Margaret wife. It makes halt with New Haven to see his children. His/her Hannah sister accepts her request to be used to them as adoptive mother.

The 1.100 embarked recruits with Newburyport (Massachussets) the September 19th 1775 arrive at Gardiner the 22. Arnold had concluded an arrangement with the major Reuben Colburn to build 200 boats, having to be used to transport the troops on Kennebec and Dead River, then along the Boiler to Quebec. A long stage of bearing is necessary to cross the the Appalachian Mountains between the higher courses Dead River and of the Boiler.

The English know that Arnold approaches and destroy the major part of the naval armaments available (boats, ships, drain-holes, etc) on southern bank. Two men-of-war, the frigate Lizard (26 guns) and the Sloop Hunter (16 guns), make a constant patrol to prevent very crossed river. Even thus, Arnold can get naval armaments enough and manages to cross and pose the foot on the side of the town of Quebec the November 11th. It carries out whereas its troops are not enough important to take the city and sends messengers to Montgomery, asking him reinforcements.

In same time, the brigadier general Richard Montgomery leaves Fort Ticonderoga towards north with the head of approximately 1.700 militiamans the September 16th 1775, and seizes Montreal the November 13rd. He rejoins Arnold at the beginning of December and attack Quebec with the head of their united forces the December 31st 1775. The colonial forces undergo a disastrous defeat vis-a-vis the general Guy Carleton, governor of Canada and ordering English forces. Montgomery is killed by conducting an attack and Arnold is wounded. Many others are killed or wounded, and several hundreds are made prisoners.

The survivors, reduced to approximately 350 volunteers and from now on ordered by colonel Arnold, continue an useless seat of the city until spring 1776, when reinforcements carried out by the brigadier general David Wooster arrive. Raised of its command, Arnold is withdrawn in Montreal with what remains of its troops.

Promotion

Arnold is promoted Brigadier general after the invasion of Quebec, and receives the task to block the English invasion of the valley of the Hudson starting from the Canada via the Lac Champlain. During the summer 1776, Arnold builds a flotilla of small men-of-war and drain-holes which control the lake. The English counteract by building a flotilla much more important. The English destroy the vessels of Arnold during the Bataille of Valcour Island in October. But, the winter having already started, the English invasion is cancelled: the defensive strategy of Arnold is a success.

The same year 1776, Arnold meets and courts Betsy Deblois, girl of a well-known loyal supporter of Boston, described as being “the queen of Boston”. It pushes back it systematically, even after it had sent an engagement ring to him.

Department of the East

With the end of the year 1776, Arnold becomes Deputy Commander Department of the East of the continental Army, under the orders of the major general Joseph Spencer. The December 8th, an important British army ordered by the general lieutenant Henry Clinton seizes Newport, in the Rhode Island. Arnold, which had not seen its family since more than one year, spends one week with it to New Haven and arrives at Providence the January 12th 1777 to carry out the defense of the Rhode Island. The continental forces in Rhode Island are then reduced to 2.000 men, of the detachments having been sent to Washington for its attack on Trenton, in the New Jersey. Arnold having to deal with 15.000 English, it remains on the defensive.

The April 26th 1777, Arnold goes to Philadelphia to meet the Congrès continental and made stopover with New Haven to re-examine its family. A messenger teaches him that 2.000 British soldiers, carried out by the major general William Tyron, military governor English of New York, unloaded with Norwalk, in the Connecticut. Tyron goes on Fairfield, Long Island, and Danbury, important ammunition dump for the continental Army, and sets fire to the two cities. It puts also fire at the port of Norwalk when its troops re-embark.

Arnold recruits in haste a hundred local volunteers. It is joined by the major generals Gold S. Silliman and David Wooster of the militia of Connecticut, which brought together with them two 500 volunteers in the east of Connecticut. Arnold and its subordinates move towards Danbury in order to intercept the retirement of the English and to badger them. The April 27th around 11 hours of the morning, the column of Wooster catches up with the rear-guard of Tyron and starts the combat. Arnold moves its troops towards a farm close to Ridgefield in an attempt to block the English retirement. Wooster is killed during the skirmishes which follow, and Arnold is wounded with the leg when its horse, victim of a shot, crumbles on him.

Philadelphia

After the raid on Danbury, Arnold carries on its way towards Philadelphia to meet the members of the Congress; it arrives the May 16th. The Schuyler general is also downtown, but share shortly after for his general headquarter with Albany, which leaves Arnold as officer more graded area of Philadelphia: it thus assumes the command of the troops there. But the continental Congress prefers, for political reasons, the brigadier general pennsylvanien recently promoted Thomas Mifflin. Earlier, of promotions granted to officers were tested and graded that Arnold, which increases its rancour. It gives up its commission the July 11th 1777. A little later the Washington general claims that Arnold is posted in the Department of North after the fall of Strong Ticonderoga to the hands of the English, which shows how much Washington believes in the talents of officers of Arnold. The Congress accepts this request.

Saratoga

Military command of Philadelphia

Mid-October 1777, Arnold enters a hospital of Albany, suffering of the received wound with Saratoga. Its left leg is in bad condition, but he refuses that it is cut down. Several months of a difficult convalescence leave its shorter leg of 5 cm than the line. He spends the winter 1777 - 1778 with the army with Valley Forge, recovering from its wound.

Washington names military Arnold ordering town of Philadelphia after the English withdrew in June 1778 from it. In June, he learns Franco-American alliance. Arnold is opposed to it with force, remembering its experiment lasting the Guerre Seven Year old. Ironically, it is the American victory with Saratoga, in which Arnold played a decisive part, which convinced Louis XVI to accept this alliance and to help the Americans.

Arnold consequently maintains rancour and bitterness with regard to the Congress not to have promoted it and not to have approved its military expenditure (Arnold must regulate itself almost all the expenditure during the forwarding of Canada). Arnold is interfered with the fashionable life Philadelphia, organizing great festivals and being involved in debt heavily. Its extravagance pushes it to follow suspect financial plans, and it falls in discredit to the Congress when this one examines its accounts. It must as face accusations of corruption followed by the civil authorities of Philadelphia with the instigation of a man related to the Congress as Arnold had deposed of its command with Ticonderoga.

The March 26th 1779, it meets Peggy Shippen, the girl of the judge Edward Shippen, 18 years old. She and Arnold marry quickly, the April 8th. She before was courted by the English major John André during the English occupation of Philadelphia.

June 1st, Arnold passes in martial Cour for Malfaisance. “Having become crippled by serving my country, I did not expect to undergo ungrateful reactions”, writes it in George Washington.

The treason of West Point

In July 1780, Arnold requires and obtains the command of the fort of West Point. It started already to correspond with the general Henry Clinton, then with New York, via the major André, and approached Beverley Robinson, commander of a regiment loyal supporter. Arnold offers to return the fort to the British against 20.000 books and the row of sergeant. In the event of success of this plan, the British would control the valley of the Hudson, dividing the colonies in two. But the plans of Arnold are bored up to date when André is captured with a word signed by Arnold and of the documents which reveal the plot and accuse Arnold.

Arnold learns the capture from Andre and flees on board the Vulture , an English ship which awaited it on Hudson, with the assistance of John Borns. It is made brigadier general, but receives only 6.000 books, its plot having failed.

English side

Arnold does not manage to gain the confidence of the English, although it takes an active part in the war. In December, under the orders of Clinton, Arnold carries out 1 6000 men in Virginia and captures Richmond, cutting the main artery which feeds in material the colonial troops of the south. It is said that of a captured American officer, Arnold would have required what the Americans would do if they captured it. The prisoner would have answered: “To cut your leg, to bury it with the military honors, and to hang the remainder”. With the south, Charles Cornwallis walk towards north and Yorktown, which it reaches in May 1781. During this time, Arnold is sent to north to take the town of New London, with an aim of distracting Washington de Cornwallis. The September 8th, Arnold seizes Fort Griswold. In December, Arnold is recalled in England with other officers, the Crown decreasing the importance brought to the American theater with the profit of others considered to be more important.

Benedict Arnold acquired interests in the maritime trade in Canada between 1787 and 1791, before moving in London. He dies in 1801, poor, sick and forgotten of all, and is buried with St Mary' S Church, Battersea, with London.

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