The most serious threat to West Point came in the fall of 1780 when Major General Benedict Arnold (at right, top. Thaddeus Kosciuszko at bottom) -- hero of Quebec, Valcour Island, Danbury, Saratoga, and then commander of West Point and the Hudson Highlands -- tried to sell the fortress to the British. General Sir Henry Clinton, now the British Commander-in-Chief in America, wanted West Point even though the position, partly because of Arnold's intentional meddling, was in a rather delapidated condition in 1780.*

[* Arnold reported to General Sir Henry Clinton that: Fort Arnold is built of Dry Fascines and Wood, is in ruinous condition, incompleat, and subject to take Fire from Shells and Carrcasses. Fort Putnam, Stone. wanting great repairs. Wall on the East side broke down, and rebuildng from the Foundation. At the West and South side have been a Chevaux-de-Frise: on the West side broke in many Places. The East Side open, two Bomb Proofs and Provision Magazine in the Fort and Slight Wooden Barracks.]

The fortified area was, however, still a major American position, and its capture would have improved the British strategic posture in America. After the recent British victories at Charleston and Camden, another British success might have cracked American morale. and broken the Revolution once and for all.

Arnold's drift to treason can be traced from his earliest actions in the war. In May 1775, after being commissioned by the Massachusetts Assembly to capture Fort Ticonderoga, he found himself in company of, rather than in command of, Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys who had also been commissioned to attack the British fortress. Forced to accept an unwanted, subordinate role, Arnold did little except irritate his fellow soldiers. Taking command after Allen left, Arnold soon found himself again subordinated to a new commander. Disgusted, he resigned, only to return to active service as a Continental Army colonel and to begin planning an invasion of Canada through the rugged interior of Maine. In November, after completing an incredibly difficult march up the Kennebec River to the Chaudiere River, Arnold approached Quebec. He could not capture it alone with his weakened soldiers, and therefore had to wait until December 31st to attack the city in coordination with the forces of Major General Richard Montgomery, who had marched'to Quebec from Montreal. After Montgomery was killed and Arnold fell wounded, the American assault failed, and the Americans had to content themselves with an imperfect siege of the British citadel.

Within a few weeks, Arnold, newly promoted to brigadier general and now in command of the American forces around Quebec, found himself replaced once again as the commander. Bitterly disappointed, he retired to Montreal where he nursed his wound and his grievances. Arnold next saw action in early 1776 when reinforced British forces attacked to drive the Americans away from Quebec toward Montreal. Later after retreating southward to Ticonderoga, Arnold built and commanded a small naval flotilla on Lake Champlain. There he hurled his crude little navy at the British as they advanced toward Ticonderoga. Suffering tactical defeat in a small deadly naval fight off Valcour Island, the Americans nevertheless stopped the advancing British and ultimately forced their return to Canada. After demonstrating superb combat leadership once again, Arnold burned his fleet and withdrew. .

From Valcour Island Arnold returned home to Connecticut where his list of grievances mounted. During the winter Congress angered Arnold by promoting five junior brigadier generals to major general ahead of him. Subsequently, he received his promotion to major general, but did not receive an adjusted date of rank, further rankling him. To make matters worse, some members of Congress charged him with misuse of public funds and would not accept his final accounting for the Canadian expedition. Furious about such treatment, Arnold submitted his resignation.

Battle saved Arnold one more time. In mid-July 1777, General Washington sent Arnold north to assist Major General Philip Schuyler in the campaign against Burgoyne. In the ensuing campaign, Arnold defeated the British in the Mohawk Valley, fought with distinction in the first Battle of Saratoga (Freeman's Farm), but then angered his new commander, Major General Horatio Gates, in a dispute over the conduct of the battle. Consequently, Gates relieved him of his command. Several days later, when the British attacked the American positions at Bemis Heights, Arnold galloped impetuously on to the field, led several charges directed at critical positions along the British line, and finally inspired an American victory.

Seriously wounded in the fight, Arnold reached the height of his martial glory at Saratoga. But he would not fight again for the United States. After Saratoga, Arnold's career and reputation deteriorated. Assigned to Philadelphia, he administered his command poorly and found himself censured by a court-martial and reprimanded by Washington. Although Washington barely slapped his wrists for his improprieties, Arnold never got over the reprimand.

Also while in Philadelphia, Arnold, a widower since 1775, met and married Peggy Shippen, ravishing young socialite, daughter of an old friend of Washington, and a known Tory sympathizer. It was about this same time that Arnold first contacted Captain John Andre, aide to General Sir Henry Clinton, and offered to turn his coat for money. Apparently, Arnold decided to change sides because of his bitter disappointment with Congress over rank and privileges and because of his court-martial. His personal bitterness, fueled by his desire for money to live and support his teenaged wife lavishly, led him to sell his services to the British.

A Plan for Treason

Soon after they had made contact, Andre informed Arnold that Clinton wanted West Point. With that news, Arnold began planning to obtain command of the key American position. He fixed the price for his treason: first he asked for £ 10,000 sterling; later he upped his fee to &$163 20,000, a considerable fortune in those days.

Jumbo Map of West Point Defenses 1780 (slow: 90K)

Ironically, just after Sir Henry agreed to his price, Arnold gained a $25,000 advance from Congress to return to field duty.

Shortly thereafter Arnold sought out Washington at Peekskill. The American commander, hoping to attack Clinton in New York City, told Arnold of his plans for the conspirator to command the American left wing during that campaign. Shocked, Arnold begged off the assignment, pleading that his wounds were still disabling. Washington was mystified by Arnold's uncharacteristic desire to pass up a combat command, but finally gave Arnold what he wanted: command of West Point and the surrounding Highland positions.

Once in command in the Highlands, Arnold regained communication with Sir Henry through new local contacts. In the meantime he went through the motions of "improving" the West Point defenses. Finally, on 21 September 1780, Arnold met Andre secretly at Dobbs Ferry, near Haverstraw, after Andre had come ashore from HMS Vulture, a sloop of war anchored just south of Verplanck's Point. After a long conference, the two men stayed the night at a nearby house. Unexpectedly and to the great dismay of Andre, as dawn broke the American commander at Teller's Point shelled the Vulture and forced Andre's transportation to withdraw southward. Now the British officer was in a terrible fix.

Stranded ashore in his scarlet regimentals, Andre removed his uniform and donned civilian dress. He then pocketed a pass signed by Arnold and crossed the Hudson by boat, beginning a thirty mile ride south to British lines near White Plains. After spending another hair-raising night within the American zone, Andre finally neared friendly troops. But just short of safety, three American "volunteer militiamen," probably bent upon plunder, accosted the British major and forced him to halt. The three Americans searched Andre after he admitted to being British and discovered maps and papers concerning the fortifications at West Point concealed in Andre's boot. Bribery failed to do more than convince the Americans that they were on to something of greater value than the contents of his purse.

In search of a reward, the three militiamen took Andre to Lieutenant Colonel John Jameson at New Castle. Jameson immediately sent a message to his commander, Arnold, informing him of Andre's capture and reported the whole incident to Washington, including in his report the maps and papers found on Andre.

Events unfolded thereafter with incredible slowness. The message concerning Andre's capture reached Arnold at his quarters (the Beverly Robinson House on the eastern shore across from West Point) in the early morning of 25 September. The message to Washington missed the general at Danbury, Connecticut: Washington and his party had already departed that place and arrived in the West Point area. Two officers in Washington's party had ridden ahead and had joined Arnold for breakfast. Receiving word of Andes capture in the midst of his meal, Arnold excused himself and went upstairs to tell his wife the news. After their hasty conference, Arnold announced that he had to go to West Point to prepare for Washington's arrival. Riding at the gallop, he raced to his barge and ordered his crew immediately to row him downstream to the Vulture. Climbing to safety aboard the British ship, Arnold turned his oarsmen over to the British as prisoners of war, and sailed to infamy.

Washington arrived at the Robinson House about thirty minutes after Arnold had ridden off. Disappointed that Arnold was not there, the general immediately crossed over to West Point to find Arnold and to inspect the fortifications. At West Point, the local commander informed Washington that Arnold had not been there all morning. Puzzled, Washington proceeded with the inspection, discovering to his dismay, that the fortifications had fallen into a deplorable state. Washington thereupon arranged a conference with West Point officers and his own staff to correct the many deficiencies.

Crossing back to the east shore, Washington returned to the Robinson House. There in the late afternoon, messages finally arrived which explained Arnold's strange behavior. The Commander-in-Chief finally understood: Benedict Arnold had deserted after discovering that Andre had been captured.

Washington tried to overtake Arnold, but all his efforts failed because Arnold was safely aboard the Vulture by that time. Unsure of British intentions, the general ordered defensive forces in the Highlands alerted to protect West Point. But this was unnecessary, for Clinton was not preppared to attack. As the crisis subsided, Washington directed that Andre be brought to West Point and on 29 September he ordered a board of officers to investigate the case and to recommend a suitable punishment for the British officer.* [*The board of officers was a distinguished one. Major General Nathanael Greene presided. and Major Generals Lord Stirling, von Steuben, Lafayette. Robert Howe, Arthur St. Clair and Brigadier Generals James Clinton. John Glover. Edward Hand, John Stark, Samuel Parsons, Henry Knox, Jebediah Huntington and John Patterson formed the board.]

After serious deliberation at the American commander's headquarters in Tappan, the officers recommended that Andre be hanged as a spy. Washington approved the sentence, and although Clinton tried to bargain for the release of Andre, Washington was unrelenting. He offered to trade Andre for Arnold. This time Clinton refused, and the young major's fate was decided. Even though Andre asked to be shot, as befitting an officer, Washington was adamant: Andre had been captured as a spy, and he would die as one.

On 2 October 1780, the dashing John Andre, whose principal mistake had been to take off his scarlet regimentals, died a brave man. After be had blindfolded himself and adjusted the noose about his neck, the wagon lurched forward, dropping him earthward. His partner, Arnold, went on to serve England as a brigadier general, leading a devastating raid through Virginia. Later, he was joined by his darling Peggy, and they lived out their lives in London, pensioned by the Crown for their treachery.

More History of West Point

Introduction
1775: Constitution Island
1776: Twin Forts of the Popolopen
1777: Defeat in the Highlands
1778: Fortifications of West Point
1779: Stony Point
1780: Treason
1781-83: Yorktown to Peace
1802: US Military Academy