Benedict Arnold: Patriot or traitor? In the American Revolution, Arnold played both. From his bravery at Ticonderoga to his treason at West Point, his own fort, his career was a controversial one. As an American military major general and a British military genius, Arnold had a great influence on the Revolutionary War.
Benedict Arnold was born in Norwich, Cnnecticut on January 14, 1741. In his early life, he was apprenticed to an apothecary, or druggist. In 1761, at the age of 20, he moved to New Haven, Connecticut, after his father's death.
Benedict Arnold was quite a soldier. He began his military career as a militiaman in the French and Indian War. His second military appearance was in .
the Revolutionary War. He and Ethan Allen led a campaign up to the Fort Ticonderoga in New York. The weather conditions were very harsh; many of.
their troops died due to exposure and starvation. .
.
Those who did survive did so by eating their own shoes and ammunition cases. When the battle did take place .
surprisingly it was a great success. Fifty cannons and some much-needed ammunition were obtained. Oxen dragged these supplies 200 miles to Boston where General Washington's ill-equipped were stationed. .
Arnold then led a campaign on Lake Champlain. It was a very ill-fated mission. The British were very well equipped with Man-O-Wars, frigates, and some smaller vessels, while the Americans had a small fleet of ships mostly rowboats and canoes. Needless to say, Arnold was defeated by the British naval attack, but his delaying tactics thwarted an enemy drive to New York City, which would have divided the colonies. This won him a belated promotion to the rank of major general. .
Later, another battle took place at Saratoga on Lake Champlain, this one by land. Although it was a victory for the Americans, many were killed or .
wounded. Benedict Arnold himself was wounded during this battle. His horse was shot from beneath him, and when the animal fell, it pinned Arnold's leg .
