Benedict Arnold was an effective Continental General and was considered a hero for capturing Fort Ticonderoga and for leading the charge at the Battle of Saratoga. He was also a helpful “right-hand man” to George Washington.
However, he was several times slighted by the military and felt underappreciated, especially when the Continental Congress declined to increase his pay. That attitude was strengthened by his wife (a loyalist to Britain) who was in contact with a British spy named John Andre. At some point Arnold decided to defect to Britain. He was by this time commander of West Point.
A plan was set up for Arnold to surrender the West Point military post during a battle to British General Henry Clinton. For this Arnold would receive the equivalent of a million dollars in today’s money.
Andre, dressed as a civilian rather than in British army attire, met with Arnold to finalize the plan and headed for British lines. Rather miraculously, three alert sentries stopped and thoroughly searched him. They found several papers and a map of West Point in his boot. The map gave information on where to attack the post.
Arnold immediately fled to England where he lived in obscurity the rest of his life. Andre the spy was hung, just as Nathan Hale had been hung by the British.
Follow the story details in the following two videos:
In today’s America, many in the COS Action organization feel that America is being betrayed by our leaders. We are less able to take direct and immediate action like that of George Washington against the scoundrels, but we are determined to put in force the power of Article V amendments to preserve our nation.
For more information about how state legislators can help us reign in the Federal Government, set term limits for Congress, and promote fiscal responsibility at the Federal level, go to: www.conventionofstates.com.
References
Susie Federer and William J. Federer, December 12, 2012, Miracles in American History: 32 Amazing Stories of Answered Prayer, Amerisearch, Inc., publisher, 62-66.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Convention of States Action, its staff, or affiliates.
