Benedict Arnold Superiority

Prior to his act of treason, Benedict Arnold was highly regarded as America's greatest Revolutionary general. Due to his high rank and excellent performance on the battlefield it seemed most unlikely that Arnold would defect to the other side. "Arnold has betrayed us. Whom can we trust now?" asked George Washington who now felt that no one could be trusted once Arnold had betrayed his country of which he had shown so much love for beforehand. Arnold had been a die-hard patriot who at the Boston Massacre asked if the Americans were asleep, waiting tamely to be robbed of their liberty. Yet he has gone down in history books as a villain of America, a despised turncoat instead of the hero he was for both America and England in the same war. His
Once again it was not him who received the sword of the surrendering General Burgoyne, but his hostile rival General Gates. After surrounding the retreating British army, an honorable surrender was arranged. The victory at Saratoga turned the tide in the favor of the Americans for the first time. The Northern Continental Army had won the greatest victory of the American Revolution as of yet. They had put 5,000 enemy troops out of the war and captured enormous stores of guns of all sizes, ammunition, supplies and equipment (Alderman 98). There was no longer a threat from Canada. The victory also injected new heart and confidence into those colonists for the American cause. Last but not least, it was a strong factor in swinging France over to join up with the Americans as their allies. Gates of course received all credit despite Arnold's tremendous efforts and sacrifices. It was Arnold who led Gates' men, who favored Arnold, on a second charge against the Brunswickers and Hessians and forced them to retreat. It was Arnold who rode and was wounded seriously in the leg that had been injured before at Quebec whilst assaulting and surrounding the retreating British army so that the British army could not escape. But in the end, General Gates, Arnold's superior officer who was in command was given the credit for the win at
He had fought so gallantly and twice been wounded in combat, fighting for a cause he felt so strongly for. How did he justify his conduct as a military traitor? Was it the scandalous manner in which Congress had often treated him with? Did he feel that the British would more justly reward his great qualities as a combat general? Was it because of his growing debts? All of these setbacks compelled Arnold to switch his loyalties but most importantly, to justify his act of treason. Perhaps if America had taken a closer look at Benedict Arnold, they would have realized that he was a man in need of pride, glory and money, all of which he had been deprived of. Instead of words of praise, promotions and his monthly salary, Arnold was receiving court charges with heavy fines and slander to his name. Benedict Arnold therefore really is not deserving of his spiteful scorn. He had been lured by the seductive grants the British had to offer him. He was hungry, and when America neglected him, he turned to the British. He had not betrayed his country; his country had betrayed