Who was Benedict Arnold

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A.� He was both a hero and traitor in the American War of Independence. He started as a patriot, but will be remembered by most Americans as the man who tried to hand over a fort to the British enemy.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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Q.� Early life

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As the money dwindled, Benedict was withdrawn from school. He soon got into trouble until cousins Daniel and Joshua Lathrop took him in as an apprentice to their apothecary business. His mother died in 1759, his father two years later. Arnold went into business as an apothecary with his sister Hannah as assistant. He travelled widely and his business dealings drifted into smuggling ... in contempt of the British customs laws. He married Margaret Mansfield in 1767. They had three sons.

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Q.� And his army career

A.� Arnold became a captain in the Governor's Second Company of Guards before hostilities broke out. He was eager for action and marched off with his troop as soon as news was received of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Their aim was to capture Fort Ticonderoga. Another group - the Green Mountain Boys led by Ethan Allen - had the same idea. They were both victorious, but Arnold got little credit. It was a theme that was to dog him for the rest of his life. He was a hot-headed soldier who felt unappreciated and spurned by the civil authorities.

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Later, as a colonel, he was involved in the invasion of Canada, when his name was put forward by George Washington. Arnold reached Quebec with 600 men but the assault was a failure. Terrible weather and illness took its toll, Arnold was wounded and his men besieged. Nevertheless, he was promoted to brigadier-general, even though he fell foul of the authorities soon after when he was accused of plundering stores in Montreal.

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Q.� So he had a habit of falling out of favour with his bosses

A.� Very true. In 1777, he was under the leadership of General Gates. They disagreed strongly over tactics when the Battle of Freeman's Farm began in September. Arnold wanted to press his forces into action; Gates favoured waiting. Arnold was relieved of his duties for insubordination.

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Pacing up and down his tent, he realised there was only one way to act. He would take his men into action. He charged into battle, even though he had no official command. This sight invigorated the troops and they rallied around him and after two assaults, the British collapsed. On the point of victory, though, his horse was shot from under him and he injured the same leg again - this time severely. He was crippled.

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Q.� A bitter blow for a man of action

A.� Precisely. He was a bitter man - and still possessed a talent for annoying people of influence. The next year Arnold married again - his wife Margaret having died a few years earlier - to Peggy Shippen, a boisterous 18-year-old, 20 years younger than him and with good family connections. It brought him huge social status, which he could ill afford, They began living beyond their means and Arnold resorted to some shady dealings, including property speculation and personal use of government supplies. He was court-martialled and found guilty on two charges. Only bad would follow.

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Q.� How

A.� By May, 1779, Arnold began bargaining with the British. He planned to surrender them the American West Point fort. The price of his treason A British commission - and �10,000. Arnold had persuaded George Washington to give him command of West Point. Secretly, he hoped its fall would spark the collapse of the American cause that he felt had let him down so.

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He wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander. The intelligence chief, John Andre, plotted the scheme - but it failed when he was captured and executed. Arnold fled and was given �6,000 by the British, plus the rank of brigadier-general. Arnold served George III with the same skill he had shown for the Americans. In 1781 he led devastating strikes on supply depots: In Virginia he looted Richmond and destroyed munitions and grain; in Connecticut he burned ships and warehouses.

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Q.� So he became a trusted Briton

A.� No. He was despised as the man who committed treachery for personal gain. As well as the pay-off, he was given land in Canada, pensions for himself, his wife and his children (five from Peggy and three from his first marriage). But he was never completely trusted. They moved to London, but he could find no work. Then they moved to Canada, then returned to London. When war broke out with France, he tried to join up - but was refused. Various shipping ventures failed and he died in 1801, virtually unknown - and a man without a country.

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Steve Cunningham