Do Benedict Arnolds contributions to the American Revolution in any way mitigate, match or outweigh his betrayal?
Arnold was wronged by the congress, there is no doubt of this, yet this does not exhonerate him for the severity of the crime for which he is blamed. The Chain accross the Hudson River near what is now Bear Mtn State Park was essential to the communications between New England and the rest of the colonies. The chain prevented British warships from taking command of this river which woulld have negated the victory of Saratoga and split the colonies. West Point was the main fort to the north of this chain and if it fell to the British, all would have been lost, including perhaps the birth of the U.S. as an independent nation upon its successful completion of the War. Remember it was from Rhode Island that the French and American forces that surrounded the British at Yorktown marched. Under no circumstances should Arnold have committed treason. Lieutenant General Charles Lee often felt that he was overlooked by our founders who gave command of the troops at New York to the less experience
