The United States fought hard for its independence from the British motherland. War started on the nineteenth of April 1775 and it would paralyze the country for over eight years. The opposing parties are also present on the chess board, although one of its most important pieces, General Benedict Arnold will be very hard to find there.
Benedict Arnold
Sparks fly
Turmoil ruled the end of the eighteenth century. The slogan ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ spread out from France all over Europe. But not only in the Old World were people sick and tired of the ruling, greedy castes. America, a colony of Great Britain, also started to protest. King George III imposed extra taxes on the Americans to fill the Treasury. The Americans were very much offended by this since they didn’t have any say in the English parliament. The colonists were fed up with having their bones picked clean and the revolution, that would reach Europe a few years later, broke out in 1775.
At that very time, Great Britain wasn’t exactly the best of friends with France either. They had fought each other for American territory in 1760. French patriots therefore were eager to supply the American rebels with gunpowder. Also Dutch defenders of the patriots supported the battle for independence. Dutch style of course: weapons and ammunitions were sold to the American freedom fighters for a lot of money.
Hero or traitor?
Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) played a big part in the American War of Independence. This man had fought the French and after that war he had become a tradesman and opened up a pharmacy. The new taxes imposed by the English monarch nearly cost him his livelihood though. He had no choice but to start illegal trading. In 1775 Arnold was drafted again and this time he was named Captain. After the revolution had broken out, he marched to Boston together with his troops, the city where the revolution had started. Arnold was very successful in those years of mayhem but he never got the credit he deserved for his work: he did not get the promotion he expected.
What’s more, he had to appear in military court because of some insignificant matters. Also he never got paid back his travel expenses. Something broke inside of the soldier who had spent years out on the battlefields and had even sacrificed a leg for his homeland. He thought up a plan and contacted the British in 1780. At the time his troops were guarding a fort at West Point. In his letter to the British Arnold offered them the fort in exchange for 20.000 English pounds and the position of General in the British army. Arnold’s messenger was intercepted by the Americans though and was hung up, accused of being a spy. Arnold himself was able to make his escape.
That’s not the whole story though. Some private matters also contributed to Arnold’s decision to betray his country. In 1779 he had wed 18-year old Peggy Shippen, a beautiful British partisan. This young lady was used to spending a lot of money and the not so prosperous Arnold was soon in a lot of debt. It may have been her who convinced him to side with the enemy…
Poor and penniless
After his betrayal was discovered, Arnold and his family fled to England. Even though the British paid Arnold a pretty good fee (6000 English pounds) they never really trusted him, so it was not an option for him to join the British army. Arnold had no choice but to make a living out of shady business. He died in London in1801, a poor and ruined man. His wife Peggy passed away three years later.
In the American textbooks Benedict Arnold is the ultimate example of betrayal: their very own Judas. The fact that his part in the battle for independence was decisive is not mentioned. He was once a hero but will never be represented as such, not even on a chess board.
You must be logged in to post a comment.