One of the most fascinating figures in the history of the American Revolution is Benedict Arnold. Arnold is universally reviled as a traitor to his country today, but he has also been called, with some justice, "America's Hannibal."
He was certainly one of the most courageous and gifted commanders of the American Revolution.
A major factor in his decision to "turn traitor" in OTL was the influence of his Loyalist wife, Peggy Shippen, who he met and married in Philadelphia after the British abandoned the city in 1779. The former Miss Shippen encouraged Arnold to take the worst possible view of his treatment by the Patriot government, and also introduced him to Major John Andre (who had courted Miss Shippen himself while stationed at Philadelphia earlier in the war), through which he negotiated with the British.
But the reason Arnold was available to marry the beautiful Miss Shippen is that his first wife and mother of his children, Margaret, had died in June 1775. What might have been if Margaret had survived her 1775 illness and been with Arnold throughout the war (at least on those occasions when he was not on active duty out in the field)?
Would he have still turned traitor? And assuming he does not, what might have been his later role in the war and afterward? Possibly he gets command in the South after the defeat of Horatio Gates at Camden, instead of Nathaniel Greene? Perhaps even President Benedict Arnold?
He was certainly one of the most courageous and gifted commanders of the American Revolution.
A major factor in his decision to "turn traitor" in OTL was the influence of his Loyalist wife, Peggy Shippen, who he met and married in Philadelphia after the British abandoned the city in 1779. The former Miss Shippen encouraged Arnold to take the worst possible view of his treatment by the Patriot government, and also introduced him to Major John Andre (who had courted Miss Shippen himself while stationed at Philadelphia earlier in the war), through which he negotiated with the British.
But the reason Arnold was available to marry the beautiful Miss Shippen is that his first wife and mother of his children, Margaret, had died in June 1775. What might have been if Margaret had survived her 1775 illness and been with Arnold throughout the war (at least on those occasions when he was not on active duty out in the field)?
Would he have still turned traitor? And assuming he does not, what might have been his later role in the war and afterward? Possibly he gets command in the South after the defeat of Horatio Gates at Camden, instead of Nathaniel Greene? Perhaps even President Benedict Arnold?