In the small town of victory in New York a school prepares to take the children from their elementary

school on a fieldtrip just thirteen miles off to one of the most important places in American history. The

children get on the bus each with their parents and drive over to the Saratoga National Historical Park. At

the visitor center a brochure was given to each of the students showing all of the sights. One child there

noticed something called a “Boot monument” which sounded as such a strange name and wanted to visit

that one after having seen the Masonic Saratoga Obelisk as well as not being interested in visiting General

Philip Shuyler house as it was just an “old mans” home. His father seeing his excitement over it agreed.

Going there, It was found in a shaded area surrounded by foliage and trees making it out of the way and

almost hidden. The two going up to it noticed the monument itself was not a man at all. It was just what it

had been named, a boot. There was not a name on any square inch of it. Both the child and father

bewildered saw that the front side was blank without inscription wondering why anyone would have a

monument for someone's shoe or leg. “I don’t get it dad. Where is the rest of the monument?” said the

child. There was no good answer for the boy as that was the whole monument. On the back of the

monument the father found text inscribed reading ​“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.” The

father thought it strange to put up a monument to remember someone while leaving out anything

to differentiate them and remember them as an individual. With nothing more to see the father

and child left going back to visitor center to get back on the bus. While waiting for all the other

children to come back the father went over and decided to ask an employee at the shopping

section about the monument. What he learned was that it was a dedication to Benedict Arnold. A

man always forgotten yet infamously remembered. It was all that was left of the man whose

name was just another definition of the word traitor.

The purpose of this paper is to give a more clear understanding of what happened for Benedict

Arnold to become the famous American Revolution traitor. People do not just change without

reason and purpose. I am going to shed light on the purpose and motives behind the man and

what he was and did before and after the changes that occured.

All of it started when Benedict joined the continental army. From that point onward he would

begin his military career.

One of the biggest contributors to the development of Benedict Arnold was his wife Margaret

Shippen Arnold. “Peggy” contributed greatly to her husband's decision to become a traitor

against America. Her father, Edward Shippen ​IV,​ was a wealthy merchant as well as a lawyer

holding governmental office. His son had shown a lack of skill at understanding business and so

Edward decided to teach Peggy instead. Peggy learned quickly and by age fifteen was helping

her father with accounting, investments and more(​Willard Randall ​historynet.com).Peggy often

listened in as her father discussed politics while dining with George Washington, Benedict

Arnold and many others. Her father often dined with many political figures as he was quite

esteemed. Being as such he often invited guests of many different political ideas to debate and

discuss politics. With very strong listening skills Peggy was able to hear and learn much about

politics at a very early age. She was an educated intellectual with beauty on her side and as such

she could easily manipulate many men. Her father taught her almost everything she knew and

this was no exception. Edward Shippen ​IV had things he disagreed with and chose to say nothing

over. One of these was Thomas Paine's famous pamphlet “Common Sense”. As such he never

voiced his beliefs with fears of mobs and a loss of business. Peggy learned that a strong opinion
may have harsh criticism and outwardly sharing such must be avoided. Peggy wished for british

to win the war.

The other contribution was the revolution itself. The American Revolution was a war that was

fought against a country far wealthier than America. It was extremely neglectful of many things.

The Confederate States of America lacked supplies and the currency issued was useless. It had

no way to force taxes and was extremely underfunded. This lead to it having to focus on just

staying afloat as it fought against the military superpower. In doing so it was neglectful of many

other things. Many of those that enlisted were under terrible conditions during war. Soldiers were

often fatigued and hungry. Debt rose in the confederacy and the confederacy could do nothing

about it. It was an unstable government fighting a well established one. This lead every battle to

be an uphill one where if not handled carefully could easily let the british win.
Unease filled the air. Along the bay lined ships with soldiers ready and waiting. Hastily put

together was the defense that would soon battle a military force far greater than its own. The

British were bringing ships with twice the number of power and men onboard. This was of no

concern as it would be typical of any battle against the British. To fight them was a never ending

uphill struggle. Benedict Arnold was in command of this small navy. He had caught wind that

the British would sail down Lake Champlain and had decided Valcour bay as the battleground as

it was not a wide channel. The channel kept the British from surrounding the american ships with

their superior numbers. This strategy,however, was a double edged sword. The ships in the bay

were sitting ducks if enough ships got through to outnumber theirs. There would be no quick

escape if the attacks failed. In the distance, the british flag could be seen waving in the air. Two

ships were sent out to draw their attention. The ships lost horrendously. The british squeezed

ships through the channel. There was no chance of victory against the british’s naval warships

guns. One night a fog had come down making it the perfect opportunity for an escape. Through a

mile gap between british lines and valcour island the patriots escaped heading towards Fort

Crown Point. The british next morning gave chase. Along the way, any ship that was getting

caught up by the british was ordered to be pulled into shore and burned. Reaching the fort he

ordered it burned as well. He then retreated with his men to Fort ​Ticonderoga. It was not a

success in any regard, but it stalled the british strategically long enough for winter to heed them

from further pushing american forces.

Benedict had heroically bought time for Americans to gather more supplies and troops for the

battles to come past winter. He did not receive any public recognition for this valor. Only a few

months past this was he overlooked for a promotion in the army. All five that were appointed

were his juniors. This was a dishonor to him that cut so deep he promptly resigned. General

George Washington personally came to him strongly asking him to change his mind after

learning of this decision. With no choice but to reconsider as the person asking was the legend

George Washington , he rejoined in 1777(History.com). The battles leading up to the Battle of

Saratoga had Benedict under the command of General Horatorio Gates. He and Benedict did not

see eye to eye and held a sort of disdain only tolerating each other. Before the Battle of Bemis

Heights, Arnold had been relieved of his duty and the troops he commanded. Ignoring this,

Benedict took troops to the british lines confusing the British forces helping tremendously in the

victory of the battle. General Horatorio took credit for the victory of the battle leaving Benedict

neglected again.

During his work in the Battle of Bemis Heights Benedict injured his same leg he had previously

injured in Quebec. He became the governor of Philadelphia in 1778(History.com) and from then

on his life was going to change. With the contempt he felt with his lack of respect and

appreciation for his service he began to flirt with the idea of loyalists. Not only did he flirt with

loyalist ideals because while governor he married Margaret Shippen. By 1779 his desires for

more had lead him become friendly to loyalists and as well as using public wagons for his own

financial gains. Word spread of him being involved in shady affairs and as such he was either to

resign or face a court martial. He chose to resign. He from there met Major John Andre who had
for a time known and talked often with Margaret Shippen leading them to Benedict. Major Andre

was a british officer and together they created a scheme to for Benedict to finally get his

appreciation. What the british got out of this was West Point. West Point was an important Fort

that if gained control of would greatly advantage the british in the war. Benedict was to give

information to Major Andre like weakpoints, stock, and other information that could help to find

an opening in it. Having resigned and no longer a military officer Benedict received his

information from Washington as they were still very close friends. He then relayed that

information to Andre over paper. If the plan succeeded he would receive 20,000​£ which in 1780

was worth many times over what it is now. He would also receive a high military rank on the

british side.

The plan was found out and Andre hung for it. Washington feeling betrayed ordered him to be

kidnapped and brought to made a public example, although the plot failed. He received a portion

of the money promised as well as a position, but his public figure was destroyed. Benedict was

seen by all who had known him on the American side as a snake and a dog that bit its master. He

was scum to them lower than any garbage they saw on the side of the road. To the british officers

he wasn’t popular either. With Andre dead they felt he was to blame. He never had any

successful battles on the british side and ended up after the war going back to being a merchant.

There he and his wife would live a mundane life leaving Benedict without the glory he had

always craved.
The common misconception is that Benedict was fighting this powerful nation known as the

british and in a way it's like he thought joining them would be easier to do. Benedict was a strong

brave man who could have continued until either victory or death to fight the british. His lack of

being valued and honored at that time truly are what lead to his decision. It must have been

extremely frustrating to be risking ones own life in battle bullets whizzing commanding and

contributing without any recognition shown. If Benedict had never believed in the American

cause he would not have joined in the first place. To be out on a dangerous battlefield would be

stupid if there was no strong belief behind it. Benedict is nothing short of human. As all humans

are out for their own wellbeing he had decided his treatment would be better if he was on the

other side of the fence. It is definitely understandable as to why he is viewed as a terrible traitor

among Americans, but that does not make him any less human. Humans are never one

dimensional. As beings with feelings and viewpoints that can change around events and time

they often are not predictable. Benedict Arnold becoming a traitor had many reasons and things

that lead up to it. It was never a simple quick decision that simply happened. His name has been

erased from history, although his contributions have not. That is why his leg stays, but his name

does not. He is a magnificent character thats life was never truly what he wanted. That is the

story of Benedict Arnold.

Sources:

Battle of Valcour Island Facts & Summary. (2019, October 15). Retrieved from

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/valcour-island​.

History.com Editors. (2009, October 27). Benedict Arnold. Retrieved from

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/benedict-arnold#section_2​.

Peggy Shippen Arnold, The Real Traitor? (2019, January 16). Retrieved from

http://curioushistorian.com/peggy-shippen-arnold-the-real-traitor​.

Randall, W. S. (2019, April 1). Mrs. Benedict Arnold. Retrieved from

https://www.historynet.com/mrs-benedict-arnold.htm​.