WI: Benedict Arnold Wasn't Actually a Traitor

Possible POD: George Washington was quite the spymaster. So what if he became aware of Benedict Arnold's discontent and convinced Arnold to appear to be a traitor but actually be a triple agent feeding the British disinformation and sabotaging some of their efforts once they made him a general in their forces? What if Arnold remained an American spy after the Revolutionary war? What if him being a triple agent remained a secret for over a century? How would this turn views of American history on their head? Would this be an interesting and plausible scenario?
 
Possible POD: George Washington was quite the spymaster. So what if he became aware of Benedict Arnold's discontent and convinced Arnold to appear to be a traitor but actually be a triple agent feeding the British disinformation and sabotaging some of their efforts once they made him a general in their forces? What if Arnold remained an American spy after the Revolutionary war? What if him being a triple agent remained a secret for over a century? How would this turn views of American history on their head? Would this be an interesting and plausible scenario?

It would be an interesting scenario, especially if Arnold's info helped out America in a big way (maybe the War of 1812?).
 
While it probably carry too much butterfly in the long term, I sorta wonder who would be the person most Americans would think up when ask about a historical traitor on a cultural level
 
Jefferson Davis?

Davis became unpopular enough on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line after the end of the war.

As to Arnold? No amount of loyalty (which frankly wasn't there to begin with as events turned out) to Washington could match that of his loyalty to his supremely Loyalist wife. Even butterflying that marriage away doesn't remove the inherent egotism and treachery of the man. And he died in 1804, so any influence on the War of 1812 is impossible. No one, not General Greene, not even the Marquis de Lafayette would have had sufficient loyalty to Washington to do this.

If there has ever been a triple agent who DIDN'T come to grief eventually, I am unaware of him/her.
 
Possible POD: George Washington was quite the spymaster. So what if he became aware of Benedict Arnold's discontent and convinced Arnold to appear to be a traitor but actually be a triple agent feeding the British disinformation and sabotaging some of their efforts once they made him a general in their forces? What if Arnold remained an American spy after the Revolutionary war? What if him being a triple agent remained a secret for over a century? How would this turn views of American history on their head? Would this be an interesting and plausible scenario?

How about he replaces Gates
 
I just have to absolutely disagree with the characterization of Benedict Arnold as egotistical and treacherous.

Agreed, the amount of crap he had to put up from his 'superiors' and the work he did for the revolutionary cause should be more well known. It's no surprise he switched sides considering the mount of backstabbing and treachery against him alone. There's only so much you can take and take and take before you just see the writing on the wall.
 
A traitor is a traitor ... if he hadn't been a traitor to the independence cause he would have been a traitor to the crown.
 
I think a defection on that high of a level would cause much more problems than it could possibly be worth for intelligence. OTL, the defection of Benedict Arnold caused outraged and galvanized the population more than anything, but if it came at the same time as a perception of losing or of the tide turning, the defection of someone so high up would be heavily demoralizing.
 
I just have to absolutely disagree with the characterization of Benedict Arnold as egotistical and treacherous.

A man is judged by his deeds. Treason > military service. His service in Quebec was a disaster, and whatever field exploits he enjoyed at Saratoga, such were the advantages enjoyed there by the Rebels that Gates was assured of victory anyway.

His treason not only was preparing to help sever the Rebels LOC between New York and New England, but would have given Arnold the opportunity to hand Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Lafayette over to the British.:mad:

Agreed, the amount of crap he had to put up from his 'superiors' and the work he did for the revolutionary cause should be more well known. It's no surprise he switched sides considering the mount of backstabbing and treachery against him alone. There's only so much you can take and take and take before you just see the writing on the wall.

SMICE, the acronym of Treason:

Sex: His newlywed Loyalist wife, who was in on his treason up to her pretty little eyebrows

Money: Oh yes

Ideology: No

Compromise: The moment he heard of Andre's capture

Ego: I think you made a pretty good argument for that yourself. Thank you.:)

That's four out of five. I'd say that's a good definition of a very UNrighteous traitor.

Remember that even the British were disgusted with him.

And as a life long native of Connecticut, I am well aware of how my fellow Nutmegger spent most of his British military career burning our own state to the ground.:mad: When he wasn't doing the same to Virginia. Being a British regimental colonel or brigadier of some garrison somewhere, or serving in a line command in New York is one thing. Turning fire, rapine, and pillaging upon your own once neighbors is another.:mad:

I think a defection on that high of a level would cause much more problems than it could possibly be worth for intelligence. OTL, the defection of Benedict Arnold caused outraged and galvanized the population more than anything, but if it came at the same time as a perception of losing or of the tide turning, the defection of someone so high up would be heavily demoralizing.

Hear-hear!
 
What if the point of divergance is:

One day an accident involving spilt ink causes Benedict Arnold to return home unexpectedly to get a change of clothes. The General catches his wife in bed with Major Andre. Infuriated Arnold kills Arnold and then goes to Washington and reveals the whole sorted tale.
 

Dirk

Banned
A man is judged by his deeds. Treason > military service. His service in Quebec was a disaster, and whatever field exploits he enjoyed at Saratoga, such were the advantages enjoyed there by the Rebels that Gates was assured of victory anyway.

Hear-hear!

His service in Quebec was a damned absolute success. His job was to stop the British getting into New England through the northern/Canadian border, and he succeeded very well without spending much money or material at all.

But treason against whom? In British eyes the entire Revolution was treasonous.

Isn't it sad that I did a double-take when I saw that wasn't "here here"? I'm not saying that you usually do it, just that I see it so often.

One day an accident involving spilt ink causes Benedict Arnold to return home unexpectedly to get a change of clothes. The General catches his wife in bed with Major Andre. Infuriated Arnold kills Arnold and then goes to Washington and reveals the whole sorted tale.

Sordid suicide.
 
I think a defection on that high of a level would cause much more problems than it could possibly be worth for intelligence. OTL, the defection of Benedict Arnold caused outraged and galvanized the population more than anything, but if it came at the same time as a perception of losing or of the tide turning, the defection of someone so high up would be heavily demoralizing.
Washington was only a man. A capable man, but he could still make a mistake or overplay his hand.

And to be fair, if the Continental Congress was more conscious of morale, than the issue of Arnold defecting wouldn't even have came up in the first place. :p

So does anyone know when George Washington's diaries were published publically? That would probably be the point where Arnold's double agent secret gets out.
 
Kinda technically he wasnt in the end....givent he fact the Colonies were the traitors tot he Crown and Country
 
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