The Notorious Benedict Arnold

Arnold basks in glory and admiration in the wake of the Battle of Valcour. At a fancy party in Boston he meets local beauty Betsy DeBlois and begins to court her. At the same time, Arnold starts to receive some less positive feedback about his exploits, both from other generals and from a Congress wary of military celebrities. When General Washington submits a request for new generals—recommending Arnold for one of the slots—Congress ignores all his suggestions. Arnold takes his as a personal insult and a backhanded way of requesting his resignation. He surmises that slanderous rumors spread about him by his enemies influenced Congress' decision. To make matters worse, Arnold is spurned in love by Betsy DeBlois, who marries another man instead. 

Arnold and 500 volunteers stage a counter-attack on a large British force slashing and burning its way toward Danbury, Connecticut. In the skirmish, Arnold kills a British soldier and he narrowly escapes through a swamp after his horse is shot. Arnold's bravery impresses Congress so much that they promote Arnold to major general. However, the generals promoted before him still outrank him; moreover, slanders against Arnold's character continue to circulate. Arnold goes to Philadelphia, armed with a recommendation letter from General Washington, to lobby Congress to restore his seniority and honor. He is not successful and submits his resignation letter.

George Washington fears that a British invasion of New York from Canada may succeed in cutting the colonies in two. He recommends that Congress disregard Arnold's resignation and send him at once to aid the Northern Army. They do so. After consulting with Washington and other generals, Arnold leaves to fight British commanders John Burgoyne and Barry St. Leger. 

While headquartered near Fort Stanwix, Arnold meets a young man named Hon Yost who has been condemned to death for Loyalist-leaning activities. Arnold decides to use him for the American cause. He sends Hon Yost to the fort to talk up the size of Arnold's forces to the British and their Indian allies, whereupon they all flee in panic and desert the fort.  

After a long-term feud between Generals Gates and Schuyler, Congress decides in favor of Gates, making him commander of the Northern Army. Gates sees it as the chance to improve his social condition and achieve fame and glory. Gates and Arnold have a rivalry of their own, one both personal and professional, based on a difference of opinion about how to fight the upcoming battle in Saratoga. Gates favors a defensive position, and Arnold an offensive one. 

The Battle of Saratoga begins with exchanges of cannon fire and musketry and continues with hand-to-hand combat. Arnold shows both bravery and recklessness in his fighting. Arnold asks Gates for reinforcements, which he refuses until finally relenting. At the end of the battle, the British under John Burgoyne have lost more than twice as many men as the Americans. Burgoyne concludes that the British lost the battle because “Arnold chose to give rather than receive the attack” (174). Gates is happy with the outcome of the battle, as the British position is weakened. 

British General William Howe, instead of aiding Burgoyne at Saratoga, decides to capture Philadelphia. John André prepares to travel south to fight with him. But before that, he participates in a mission conceived by General Grey to teach the Americans the price of rebellion. Using only bayonets, the British force charges into the American camp at Paoli, Pennsylvania during the night and slaughters at least 200 Americans, continuing to do so even after surrender. André expresses satisfaction in the part he played in what has become known as the Paoli Massacre. 

The friction between Arnold and Gates continues. Gates sends Congress a report on the Battle of Saratoga in which he fails to mention Arnold's contribution. He then removes one of Arnold's favorite fighting partners, Daniel Morgan, from his division. Finally, he announces that he is replacing Arnold with another major general, reasoning that Arnold has technically resigned from the army. These actions are motivated by equal parts fear and jealousy on the part of Gates. 

The battle commences, and Gates attempts to lock Arnold out of the action. An infuriated Arnold disobeys Gates's orders and leads a regiment to charge the Breymann Redoubt. Arnold is seriously injured from a gunshot to his left leg. From the ground he shouts encouragement to his men, who continue the charge and win a decisive and long-awaited victory. 

Arnold is driven to a military hospital in Albany to treat his wounds. He dismisses the doctor's suggestion of amputation. Instead, the doctors immobilize his leg inside a tight wooden frame for several months. 

The defeat of the British at Saratoga ends with a series of courteous ceremonies between the victor (Gates) and the vanquished (Burgoyne). Gates receives most of the credit for the battle, including an honorary medal from Congress. Congress also restores Arnold's seniority—but without mentioning his role at Saratoga. Arnold continues to recover slowly from his wounds, uncertain whether he will ever walk again let alone fight in battle. 

John André and the British army march triumphantly into Philadelphia. There André settles into a comfortable life, enjoying social and cultural activities and meeting Peggy Shippen, Arnold's future wife. Peggy is the intelligent, beautiful daughter of a Loyalist judge who has been severely tested by the Revolution. The British conquest of Philadelphia makes it more comfortable to Peggy and her father to live there. 

Meanwhile, just 25 miles away, General Washington's army freezes and starves at Valley Forge. They are an easy target for General Howe, yet he shows no inclination to leave the comforts of Philadelphia. André decides to throw a huge party for Howe. 

After five months of recovery, Arnold is well enough to leave the hospital and return home to New Haven, where he is given a hero's welcome. He attempts to woo Betsy DeBlois again, with no success. 

Meanwhile, Andre organizes in Philadelphia a Meschianza, or elaborate series of festive entertainments including tournaments, fireworks, and dancing. 

Arnold visits Washington in Valley Forge, where he learns of the hellish winter Washington and his troops have endured. In brighter news, the American victory at Saratoga has convinced the French to support the Revolution with arms. Washington offers Arnold the job of military governor of Philadelphia once the British leave the city for more strategically important New York. The British duly pull out of Philadelphia, and the American army returns with Arnold as the new leader of the city.

As Philadelphians return to a city full of filth and mass graves, Arnold—who is now able to walk with a cane—settles in to the luxurious Penn mansion, making conspicuous displays of his wealth. This and Arnold's often rude behavior—partly occasioned by the pain he continues to experience from his wounds—irritates many. 

Some of his critics begin to wonder how he came by all his money. A little while previously, Arnold had conducted a deal with a merchant to sell goods from a ship docked at Philadelphia so as to prevent the British or American armies from raiding them. To unload the ship, Arnold used wagons belonging to the state of Pennsylvania. Arnold and the merchant made a huge profit on the goods. Although these dealings are ethically questionable, Arnold feels that his sacrifices in the war entitle him. 

These and other activities of Arnold's, like entertaining Loyalist-leaning guests at parties, draw suspicion from the Pennsylvania leaders. One of the Loyalist women he entertains is Peggy Shippen; Arnold meets her at a ball and quickly falls in love with her. 

As Arnold courts Peggy, he is drawn into an increasingly heated relationship with the Pennsylvania Executive Council. The situation is made worse when James Reed, who is very hostile to Arnold, becomes leader of the council. He and his allies publish anonymous attacks on Arnold's character in newspapers. Finally, the council issues a list of formal charges against Arnold, including illegal use of public wagons and disrespectful treatment of militiamen and the Pennsylvania leadership. Arnold responds with bitter invective. When he visits George Washington at camp, Washington declines to take sides in the brawl and advises him to return to Philadelphia and deal with the problem himself. 

Andre works at the British army headquarters in New York City as the closest aide to General Henry Clinton. He succeeds in breaking through Clinton's cold exterior and is promoted to major, then chief of intelligence. Many other officers resent Andre's rapid rise, as he is only 28. He realizes that in order to maintain his footing, he must pull off some great feat. 

Arnold marries Peggy in a brief ceremony in the Shippen mansion. Meanwhile, Arnold is quickly running out of money to pay for his extravagant lifestyle and must begin borrowing. 

Arnold's legal battle is now front-page news across the colonies. The Pennsylvania Council passes the case on to Congress, which dismisses the more frivolous charges and passes the others on to George Washington to try in a military court. Washington postpones the trial as Arnold begs him to save him from his predicament. In the meantime, the Arnolds initiate negotiations with a Loyalist-leaning Philadelphia china dealer named Joseph Stansbury.