ABSTRACT
Benedict Arnold had made a fine reputation in Canada and at Freeman’s Farm, and had been twice wounded. When he recovered he was put in command of the troops at Philadelphia. Arnold angrily demanded a court-martial. After some delay it was held, and he was declared "innocent of intentional wrong", instead of being triwnphantly acquitted as he expected. Nevertheless, he was made commander of the important fortress of West Point on the Hudson. In September 1780 he offered to hand this fortress over to General Clinton in return for £20,000. The unfortunate young man asked to be shot, but was hanged instead – though the Americans admired his courage and were reluctant to kill him. Arnold got the general’s commission he had hoped for in the British Army, and lived to harry Virginia in the early months of 1781.
