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I New Haven
In April of 1775, following
the spark that ignites the Revolution at Lexington, Massachusetts,
Captain Benedict Arnold demands the gunpowder supply in New Haven, Connecticut
to take the fight to Boston. Upon being denied for not having
proper authorization, he barks a threat. “Regular orders be damned. Our friends and neighbors are being mowed down by
Redcoats. Give us the powder or we will take it. None but Almighty God shall prevent my marching.” His threat pays off.
II Ticonderoga
In May of 1775, the colony
of Massachusetts advances Arnold to the rank of colonel and
orders him to capture British cannon from Fort Ticonderoga
in upstate New York. At the same time, Ethan Allen is given
similar orders from Connecticut and gathers up the “Green Mountain Boys” of Vermont before Arnold does. Upon arriving
at the outskirts of Ticonderoga, Arnold demands to assume
command, but the men remain loyal to Ethan Allen. Arnold and Allen agree to share command in the attack and successfully take
the fort without firing a shot, but Allen takes sole credit for the victory. Arnold
makes the first of many enemies amongst his allies.
III Quebec
In August of 1775, Arnold proposes to march an army of men through the wilderness of
Maine in an attempt to blindside the British held city of Quebec
in order to make Canada the fourteenth
colony. George Washington grants him the mission and he sets off leading a thousand men into uncharted territory of raging
rivers and dense forests. Each passing day gets colder as autumn shrivels into winter and one-third of his men either turn
ill or turn back. With the remainder of his troops cold, tired, wet and miserable after the 200-mile trek, Arnold conducts his attack in a New Year’s Eve snowstorm, but a short way into the
battle, he takes a musket ball in the leg and his co-commander is killed. The Americans fail to penetrate the British stronghold
and fall to either capture or retreat. For his gallant effort, Arnold is likened to Hannibal crossing the Alps, proclaimed as a hero, and promoted to brigadier
general.
IV Valcour
Island
In April of 1776, Arnold proposes to build a fleet on Lake Champlain to intercept a British fleet, which is being constructed
to take control of the Hudson River and cut off New England from the rest of the colonies.
Confident in his ability, he is placed in charge of the construction and the attack. In October of that year, Arnold lures
the enemy into the shallow waters behind Valcour Island and manages to inflict significant damage on the enemy, firing many
of the direct hits himself, but by the end of the day, he loses half of his force and more than half of his ammunition. Although
surrounded, he maneuvers the rest of his ships through the night fog and escapes to the shore with the remainder of his men.
The British catch up with the fleet to destroy it, but an early snowfall stops them from continuing on and forces them back
to Canada for the winter, thus giving
the Americans precious time to lick their wounds and live to fight another day.
V Providence
In February of 1777, while Arnold is keeping an eye on the British fleet in New England,
Congress promotes five officers to the rank of major general, but Arnold,
although senior to them all, is not promoted. This is the first of a number of insults that he is to receive from Congress
that will eventually drive him to the dark side.
VI Ridgefield
In April of 1777, Arnold valiantly leads 500 Militia to drive off 2,000 British soldiers that have burned whole towns in
an effort to destroy American ammunition storehouses in the area of Ridgefield,
Connecticut. In the course of the action, his horse is shot out from under him,
being struck nine times, but Arnold receives not a scratch.
Congress reconsiders his heroic deeds and grants him the promotion to Major General … and a new horse.
VII Peekskill
In May of 1777, after Washington appoints Arnold to
serve as commander of the Hudson Highlands in upstate New York, Arnold
attempts to collect financial reimbursements from Congress that he has paid out during the march to Quebec. Unfortunately, the members respond with a balance due for advances made to him for
the expedition.
VIII Stanwix
In August of 1777, Arnold volunteers to conduct a rescue mission for Americans under
siege at Fort Stanwix, just west of Albany. After learning that the British outnumber him two to one, Arnold devises a ruse to scatter the red rats. He sends a messenger
to deliver an urgent warning to the enemy; Arnold is coming!
The British know what Arnold is capable of and ask about the
size of his force. The messenger gives them the impression that the British are outnumbered two to one, which causes them
to flee in a panic, leaving behind a stockpile of supplies that Arnold’s
men gather up with eager hands. Once again, he takes the fort without firing a shot.
IX Saratoga
In late September of 1777, Arnold leads several charges
against the British, but is held back from achieving a decisive victory. A shouting match between him and his superior officer
erupts over to how the battle should be fought, resulting in Arnold’s
removal from command. During a second battle in early October, Arnold
hears a report of the enemy advancing and defies his orders to remain out of commission. During one of his many displays of
uncommon valor, he is struck in the thigh, but the Americans carry on to take the field, rout the British, and eventually
win the first battle in the course of the war. Upon hearing of the conquest, France
pledges its support to America, making
it the turning point of the Revolution. Although his men consider Arnold to be the true hero
of Saratoga, his superior takes credit for the victory, to which Arnold adds another name to his list of allied enemies.
X Philadelphia
In May of 1778, following
the evacuation of the British from Philadelphia, Arnold steps in as Military Governor of the city, where he is tasked with
restoring law and order. While in residence, he meets, courts, and weds a British sympathizer, who, although half his age,
is his emotional equivalent. To maintain his high lifestyle, he takes advantage of his position and a few financial opportunities
that eventually bring about charges from the state of Pennsylvania.
The British view this latest insult to his character as the golden opportunity to make him an offer that he cannot refuse;
pay and recognition for his services. In May of 1779, Arnold commences a covert correspondence
with the British Major John Andre`, to hand over America’s military
stronghold at West Point for 20,000 pounds.
XI West Point
In August of 1780, through a weave of manipulation, Arnold obtains the command at West Point and proceeds to weaken the forts’ defenses for the upcoming British invasion.
XII Garrison
In September of 1780, Arnold makes several attempts
to meet secretly with Andre`, but each meeting is thwarted by both the British and the Americans.
XIII Haverstraw
Arnold finally meets with Andre` to make the real estate
deal of the century, but further circumstances prevent Andre` from returning to his ship in the river. Stranded behind enemy
lines, Arnold arranges for Andre` to don a disguise, conceal
the plans, assume an alias, and travel to the British lines by horseback with the aid of a guide. Andre` is uneasy about this
new arrangement.
XIV Yorktown
Halfway along their journey, Andre` and his guide are stopped and cautioned to settle in for the night in order to
prevent from being robbed by bandits. They lodge for the night, but Andre` is unable to sleep.
XV Tarrytown
After breakfast, André’s guide gives him directions to continue on his own and they part ways. Just five miles
north of his destination, Andre` unintentionally implicates himself when three local Militiamen stop and question him. He
presents a pass from Arnold, but they disregard it and proceed
to strip search his person for money. When they discover the fortification plans of West Point,
he attempts to bribe them for his release, but they are not swayed and take him into custody.
XVI North Castle
Andre` is brought to the area commander, who is confused by the pass along with the plans from the legendary Benedict
Arnold. He orders Andre` to be escorted under guard to Arnold’s headquarters and the
papers forwarded on to Washington. When the area intelligence
officer learns of the circumstances by which Andre` was taken. He orders André to be returned for interrogation. Halfway to
Arnold’s headquarters, André’s entourage is turned around, along with his chances
of escaping with Arnold.
XVII South Salem
After being fed and refreshed, and figuring that Washington has received the papers by now, and knowing that the conspiracy
has been compromised, and confident that he has no chance of success, Andre` reveals his true identity.
XVIII Putnam
While Washington makes his way to Arnold’s headquarters
for a prescheduled breakfast meeting, Arnold receives a report
of André’s capture. Keeping a poker face, he informs his officers that he must prepare West Point for Washington’s reception, but shall return in one hour. Arnold jumps on his horse and charges towards his barge, where he orders his men to take
him down river. Washington arrives to learn that Arnold
is at the fort and decides to meet him there to inspect the defenses. He arrives to discover the fort in a shambles and Arnold is nowhere to be found. Upon returning to Arnold’s
headquarters, he learns of Arnold’s betrayal when André’s
papers arrive. He orders for Arnold to be intercepted, the fort to be reinforced, and Andre` to be brought in for interrogation.
Arnold manages to escape to André’s ship and sends a letter of admittance to Washington. André is interrogated by Washington’s
officers and transferred to Fort Putnam
atop West Point. Clinton writes to Washington
to release Andre` for reasons of being under Arnold’s
orders.
XIX Tappan
A board of American officers find Andre` guilty of espionage and sentence him to death. Clinton
makes further attempts to have Andre` released, but only one thing will satisfy the Americans’ quest for justice; an
exchange of Arnold for Andre`. Being against the rules of
war, Clinton is forced to decline and Andre` is forced to
expire. Arnold publishes an article appealing his motives to the inhabitants of America to be in the pursuit of peace and put an end to the
war. One week later he publishes an announcement to his former brothers-in arms to recruit them to the other side.
XX New York
In his own quest for satisfaction, Washington devises a plan to capture Arnold and bring him to justice. A mole is planted in the British Army
disguised as a deserter following Arnold and assigned to serve
under him. A reconnaissance of Arnold’s schedule reveals
an opportunity to kidnap him to stand before those that have fought and bled beside him for the glorious cause known as The
United States of America. On the day in which he was to be snatched and delivered, he is sent to his next assignment in Virginia. Once again, he escapes just in the nick of time. After the
war, he settles in London, England,
where he dies in June of 1801. Nine months later, America gives birth to a National Military Academy at West Point, which
bears the motto; “Duty, Honor, Country.” And the rest is history.
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