High Treason

The year is 1780. The American Colonies have been at war with Britain for over 5 years in the struggle for independence from the British Empire. General Benedict Arnold, one of the more successful generals in the Revolutionary Army, is given command of a fort in New York called West Point (the future home of the U.S. Military Academy). It is now that an idea begins to form in his mind, an idea whose roots had been deepening for several years. Though Arnold's military career was relatively new, he had already proven himself to be a successful military strategist and field commander at the battle of Fort Ticonderoga and at the battle of Saratoga, a key military victory for the American forces. However, due to animosity that had developed between himself and other high ranking officers in the Revolutionary Army, he had been passed up for promotion several times, creating deep resentment within himself towards his fellow officers. As a result, his appointment to the command of West Point provided a perfect opportunity for him to take revenge upon the army and his fellow officers. He began plotting with British General Sir Henry Clinton to betray West Point to the British and to defect to their side. On September 21, 1780 (today) Arnold met with John Andre, a British Major and messenger between Arnold and Clinton to work out the details of the fort's capture. However, the plot was discovered before Arnold could turn over the information to Andre, causing Arnold to escape to the British Army. Major Andre was not so lucky. In failing to escape he was captured by American forces and executed as a spy. Arnold went on to command British forces throughout the rest of the war, and retired to England for the remainder of his life.