Benedict Arnold
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"Benedict Arnold" was a General officer/general during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental Army but Defection/defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fortifications at West Point, New York (future site of the United States Military Academy/U.S. Military Academy after 1802), overlooking the cliffs at the Hudson River (upriver from British- occupied New York City), and planned to surrender it to the Kingdom of Great Britain/British forces. After the plan was exposed in September 1780, he was commissioned into the British Army as a brigadier general.

Born in Connecticut Colony/Connecticut, Arnold was a merchant operating ships on the Atlantic Ocean when the war broke out in 1775. After joining the growing army outside Boston, Massachusetts/Boston, he distinguished himself through acts of intelligence and bravery. His actions included the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, defensive and delaying tactics despite losing the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776, the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut (after which he was promoted to major general), operations in relief of the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and key actions during the pivotal Battles of Saratoga in 1777, in which he suffered leg injuries that ended his combat career for several years.

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Great numbers of Canadians... are determined to join us whenever we appear in the Country with any force to support them.

If your great umbrage would care to meet my high dudgeon at 12 paces, I would be happy to entertain you at dawn.

We have a wretched motley Crew, in the Fleet; the Marines the Refuse of every Regiment, and the Seamen, few of them, ever wet with salt Water.