Benedict Arnold Kidnapped

Hey everyone, this is my first visit back since June when I retired from the Army and started my new job as a JROTC instructor in Lubbock, Texas. I have a new found respect for teachers! I have had no time to hang out on AH.com, I have dropped my latest story because I have no time to do the research and posting. I have missed it however, so I made the time to post an interesting story I read in a US Army publication. Please enjoy. The following story has been reprinted word for word from the October 2012 issue of the NCO Journal.

"Like many other Continental Army Soldiers in October 1780, Sergeant Major John Champe, a 28 year old serving in Major Henry Lee's "Loudoun Dragoons" cavalry unit, was utterly disgusted with Major General Benedict Arnold's desertion to the British side a month before. But when Champe's unit found itself encamped across the Hudson River from Arnold's headquarters in New York City, it found it had a singular opportunity to capture the infamous traitor.
General George Washington entrusted the mission to Lee, his most able cavalry officer, who in turn recommended Champe - a man "of tried courage and inflexible perseverance" - as the perfect double agent.
Champe set the plan in motion late in the night of October 20, when he crossed the Hudson to present himself to British officers as a deserter. Interrogated over and over again by British officers, he stuck to his cover story - that he was inspired by Arnold's defection and wanted to do the same. Impressed, Arnold made Champe one of his recruiters, which gave him almost unfettered access to Arnold's home.
Ten days later, unaware that Champe was about to kidnap him, Arnold moved his headquarters away from Lee's grasp. Champe was forced to go along, fighting for the British until he was able to escape back to Continental troops a few weeks later.
Though unsuccessful, Champe's "daring and arduous attempt" became famous among Continental troops, and Washington excused him from further war service. He later served as the Continental Congress' doorkeeper before retiring to Loudoun County, Virginia. He died there in 1798 at the age of 46. His exploits were later told in Lee's memoirs, republished by his son, General Robert E. Lee."

So, what if Champe had been successful in his attempt to kidnap Arnold and return him to Continental control? Please discuss.
 
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Does the lack of discussion mean that I am a pariah, or this topic has been done recently, or the forum is full of Benedict Arnold fans who could not imagine him being kidnapped?:D
 

Thande

Donor
It's certainly an interesting idea, though I doubt it would have much consequence in the long run. Unless he gets publicly executed in a revenge thing and it taints the early image of the USA or something.
 
Could be more important than the effects for Benedict Arnold and the butterflies caused by his execution could be the butterflies caused by having a true great hero in the person of John Champe, could be instead of dying at 46 years old he could pursuit a succesful military career even could be some interesting paper when a possible war against the United Kingdom begins in 1812 (or in another date if the butterflies could affect the path to a possible war against the British)
 

Thande

Donor
Could be more important than the effects for Benedict Arnold and the butterflies caused by his execution could be the butterflies caused by having a true great hero in the person of John Champe, could be instead of dying at 46 years old he could pursuit a succesful military career even could be some interesting paper when a possible war against the United Kingdom begins in 1812 (or in another date if the butterflies could affect the path to a possible war against the British)

Could be a Loyalist martyr I suppose. He was largely forgotten in OTL by anyone who wasn't American, died in exile in the UK.
 
Could be a Loyalist martyr I suppose. He was largely forgotten in OTL by anyone who wasn't American, died in exile in the UK.
As a martyr Arnold's reputation might be a bit better, if he does well with his last words.
 
A loyalist martyr... could be although the fact that he changed sides more because by rage to not get an important command than for a real will from the beginning to trust in the english king could made this loyalist martyr a figure easy to be criticised for the historians and the people, at the end you have a lot of people that joined british army from the beginning while Bennedict well only joined british army by well.. it could be said that definition of traitor is sadly adequated for Bennedict Arnold.
It is interesting that his campaign of Quebec in 1775 had been succesful is very probable that Benedict had been a famous general could be more famous than others including Washington,.. for Benedict the difference in to be an American heroe and an American traitor could have been very thin but at the end his decision in OTL to change sides was not for great ideals only by a question of rage and pride, a pity..
 
As a martyr Arnold's reputation might be a bit better, if he does well with his last words.

A tragic figure, rather than vilified as he is in the USA now. Not an ideal outcome, but better than OTL. His career went nowhere after the Peace of Paris, since the British never fully trusted him (and looked down on him as being a colonial). If he were to accept a command in India he might have made his mark; he was an able general, after all.
 
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