WI: West Point surrendered

What if Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender the Fort at West Point to the British went off without a hitch? How would that effect the war? What about American morale now that a prominent and skilled general just jumped ship?
 
I'm pretty sure the morale effect wouldn't be that much different than the failed plot, but the West Point offers new advantages to the British since a recapture would be unrealistic.

Funny thing, if Gates was made supreme commander 3 month before (which a cabal tried to do), then Congress would likely have gotten fed up and look for someone like... Arnold to lead. While he was plotting to betray the patriots and join the loyalist cause.
 
Well it's not just about surrendering the base, it's about surrendering the base while Washington and Lafayette were there, doing an inspection.
 
I'd imagine washing would be able to make a getaway by the tired and true Patriot strategy of putting down arms and dressing as a civilian, which I think is a war crime if you intend to pick up arms later in the conflcit
 
Would the British still get Lafayette, then?

I'd say 75% chance. Some unlikely things can happen. in the Crimean War, a British cavalry unit, the heavy brigdate, charged a unit three times as big as them and won. The Light brigade charged an artillery battery the wrong one) across a mile with no cover and with an artillery battery to one flank and for 100 meters, batteris on both flank. The charge overran the battery they were charging before being forced back.

Likewise, in the war of Austrian succession, one officier braved seven days behind enemy lines before reaching friendly territory... after losing a battle.

most likely, the most probable thing happens and Lafayette gets captured, or perhaps a stray bullet hits him if the defenders try to shoot the British (before realizing they are hopelessly outmatched) and the British shoot back
 
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