The Benedict Arnold Conspiracy
The name Benedict Arnold is synonymous with the word traitor in the United States, and for good reason. At the time he betrayed his country his reputation was that of America’s foremost soldier. He suffered several grievous wounds in battle and was renowned as the hero of Saratoga, which was America’s greatest victory to date. Lesser known to the American troops was his financial situation, his behavior as Military Governor while in Philadelphia (which bordered on malfeasance) and his contempt for the Congress which he believed had treated him shamefully.
When Arnold was serving in Philadelphia he married Peggy Shippen, the daughter of a wealthy loyalist who supported the British during their occupation. Peggy had been on more than friendly terms with British Major John Andre prior to her marriage to Arnold. As early as May, 1779, Arnold was in communication with Andre, using a Philadelphia merchant as a go-between. That summer Arnold was sending Andre, who was serving as the British Army’s Chief of Intelligence, summaries of the strength of Washington’s forces in return for cash.
Arnold was court-martialed in Philadelphia over his mishandling of funds and attempted profiteering, but the trial was at his request to clear his name. Other than conviction of relatively minor charges he was cleared, although he earned a written reprimand from Washington. Then Congress demanded a repayment of $1,000 for overcharges on Arnold’s expenses during the Quebec expedition. The documents which supported the expenses had been lost during the retreat from Quebec and the demand for repayment enraged Arnold.
By July 1780 it was evident that Arnold would receive command at West Point in the near future, and through the use of intermediaries he began moving his money to London. In August Arnold took command at West Point, which he had already offered to the British, and was engaged in negotiations over the price of his betrayal and his future rank in the British Army. Arnold began to disable some of the formidable defenses of the American post while he negotiated with British General Sir Henry Clinton through Andre. Several meetings were scheduled between Andre and Arnold but not until late September were they able to meet face-to-face.
Andre was caught returning from that meeting, in civilian clothes and carrying incriminating papers. Arnold fled to the British. Washington offered to trade Andre for Arnold but Clinton demurred, and Andre was hanged as a spy. Although Arnold served with the British Army, notably in Virginia, he was not held in high regard by the British officers. After the war he lived in England and Canada. Peggy Shippen’s true role in the conspiracy remains debatable among scholars, but all agree that she certainly knew more about the plot than she let on to Washington and his officers on the day her husband’s treachery was revealed.