Benedict Arnold

In April 1776 Benedict Arnold, commanding at Montreal, placed a detachment at the Cedars after rumors of British and Indigenous preparations west of Montreal.

Limited combat occurred in May 1776 at and around the Cedars, west of Montreal, between American troops and a British-led force of Haudenosaunee warriors and Canadian militia.

American reinforcements traveling to the Cedars were captured after a brief skirmish on May 20, 1776.

After retreating from Quebec, Americans fortified Ticonderoga and Crown Point and built ships to augment Arnold's small fleet.

Expecting the British to sail, Arnold retreated to Valcour Island on September 30, choosing a narrow strait to neutralize British advantages.

Carleton had requested prefabricated ships from Europe; the British built at Saint-Jean and launched a 33-ship fleet that outgunned the Americans.

Arnold drew the British into his chosen position; after passing Valcour Island's northern tip, the fleets engaged, and by sunset the battle had gone against the Americans.

That night Arnold slipped the fleet past the British through a mile-wide gap, beginning a retreat toward Crown Point and Ticonderoga.

Most American ships were captured or destroyed, but the lake defense stalled British plans; Carleton withdrew to winter quarters as snow fell.

The British expedition was a tactical success, but the Patriot pursuit of the raid galvanized support in Connecticut.

Tryon's British force landed at Compo on April 25, 1777, and marched to Danbury, opening the Connecticut raid.

Burgoyne attacked the Continental Army at Freeman's Farm on September 19, 1777, winning a tactical victory at the cost of heavy casualties.

Historians disagree over whether Benedict Arnold remained at Gates' headquarters or actively directed troops during the battle.

Responding to a threat, Arnold requested more forces and Gates allowed him to dispatch Ebenezer Learned's brigade of Massachusetts regiments.

Burgoyne attacked the entrenched American position on October 7, 1777, but was defeated and lost his earlier gains.

Surrounded by a much larger American force and denied timely relief, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army to Gates on October 17, 1777.

British and Indigenous besiegers abandoned the siege on August 22, 1777, deceived by Arnold's ruse into expecting a much larger American force.

Benedict Arnold approached with reinforcements and used a deception to persuade the besiegers that a much larger American force was arriving.

In May 1778 Benedict Arnold rejoined the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, welcomed with applause by veterans of Saratoga.

Washington appointed Arnold military commander of Philadelphia after the British withdrawal in June 1778.

Arnold's court-martial on profiteering charges began meeting on June 1, 1779, in Philadelphia.

The court-martial was delayed until December 1779 after Clinton's capture of Stony Point forced army activity.

On January 26, 1780, Arnold was cleared of all but two minor charges despite ill-disposed judges.

Arnold obtained command of West Point on August 3, 1780, positioning himself to facilitate a British takeover of the forts.

In September 1780, Arnold secretly negotiated with Major John André, offering to turn over control of West Point to the British.

André, traveling through American territory in civilian clothes, was captured by American militiamen carrying papers that revealed Arnold's plot.

After the plot was exposed, Arnold fled to the British lines in September 1780.

British forces under Arnold attacked Fort Griswold in Groton, engaging militia forces led by Ledyard.