Benedict Arnold IV

Aired in 1995, this A&E Biography recounts the life of American revolutionary war hero/traitor Benedict Arnold. One of the most ardent and courageous of the field commanders of the war, he gradually became disillusioned with the cause, and plotted to surrender West Point to the British in 1779.

Executive Producers: Graig Haffner, Donna E. Lusitana,
Producer: Eric H. Lindstrom
Segment Producer: Deborah M. Davis

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Benedict Arnold
• American Revolution
• Rev War
• George Washington
• Ticonderoga
• Burgoyne
• West Point
• Ethan Allen
• Peggy Shippen
• Saratoga
• John Andre

[woodbineRed]

Gates (commander of American forces) accepted Burgoyne's sword in surrender because it was the etiquette of war that the ceremony be performed between officers of the same rank. If Gates had sent Arnold, it might have been viewed as an insult. This is what Cornwallis tried at Yorktown, in sending a lower-grade officer to hand his sword over to Washington. Washington refused it, directing his 2nd-in-command to accept it instead.

[GoMidoriIsCool]

@woodbineRed gates was a redcoat actlley but nice facts! :)

[woodbineRed]

Yes, in his earlier days (during the French & Indian War), Gates served with the British army, as did Washington, Morgan, Charles Lee, and many of the older soldiers and officers who later became American revolutionaries. While Gates comes off rather badly in this biography, he was ahead of his time in one way--unlike Washington and Jefferson, Gates freed his slaves during his own lifetime, which was unusual in those days.

[danning1]

@woodbineRed Washington did free his slaves eventually, Jefferson never did. But why give Gates credit for freeing his slaves when a lot of our Founding Fathers (i.e. all the Adams, for example) never owned any to begin with?

[woodbineRed]

@danning1 Very true. Perhaps I should say, comparing Virginian Founding Fathers, since Washington, Jefferson and Gates all hailed from Virginia.

[danning1]

@catshavesouls The younger generation doesn't know enough about U.S. history as it is, sir. If the complexity of the issue of Benedict Arnold's treason gets people interested in the Revolution again then that to me is a good thing. At the very least the story is not simplistic, Arnold was partly driven to his treason and I sincerely believe he eventually regretted what he did. Even in "Amadeus" you feel a bit sorry for Salieri at the end, right?

[planetrockford]

I love the images.

[GUALLACOL]

@ED86023 I agree. Gen Benedict Arnold was in for Glory. He was not the only one, there were more officers who wanted glory for themselves too. He was not credited properly for Ticonderoga and Sarratoga. I believe he was fed up with the lack of recognition and that is why he went to the other side.

[1988scottcarey]

hitler was a bigger traitor he had everyone fooled when he attacked the soviet union

[catshavesouls]

So we celebrate traitors now. How come this country is going to hell again?

[BarryPuppetSoetoro61]

How many times do you have to get Shot to be a Hero?....