This Day in History: Benedict Arnold’s treachery exposed | Tara Ross

During this week in 1780, British Major John André writes a letter to George Washington. He’d been caught with incriminating papers in his boots! His capture would ultimately expose Benedict Arnold as a traitor. Arnold had become resentful during the course of the war. He felt that he’d been passed over for promotions and wasn’t getting proper credit for his achievements. After the Battle of Saratoga, he’d married a Loyalist and been introduced to André. Now he was plotting with André to turn over West Point to the British. The two men arranged a potentially dangerous meeting. André boarded a British sloop, the Vulture, and awaited a rowboat sent by Arnold. The two men met on shore in the early morning hours, laying their plans. The meeting ended too late for André to return to the Vulture. He’d have to wait for nightfall. (See September 21 history post.) The delay didn’t work out too well for André. Americans saw and fired upon the Vulture […]

Source: This Day in History: Benedict Arnold’s treachery exposed | Tara Ross