Existing comment:
A hollow allegiance:
In signing his oath, Benedict Arnold swore his allegiance to the United States on May 30, 1778, at Valley Forge, with Brigadier General Henry Knox signing as witness. Just a year later, Arnold was spying for the British, feeding them information, and by August 1780, helping them in an unsuccessful attempt to capture West Point. His disloyalty was discovered, and he flew, narrowly escaping capture. Arnold defected to the British side, and by the winter of 1780 was fighting against the United States. With these acts, "Benedict Arnold" has made it into American vernacular meaning "traitor." |