Overall, this is a good documentary which shows Arnold's side of the story. It short changes everyone else, however.
Yes, Arnold was a successful field commander but he was also full of pride and bitterness. The documentary makes it seem as if he was singled out by not being reimbursed for the money owed him but EVERY commander in the Continental Army was in similar circumstances, even George Washington.
Arnold's many personal quarrels are glazed over as a lack of understanding 'politics'. I think Arnold's personal problems were far deeper rooted. One of Arnold's biggest problems was his refusal to follow orders. While this proved a virtue in some of his encounters it is impossible to run an army with officers who behave the way Arnold did.
My guess is Ethan Allen, John Brown and General Gates all saw Arnold for who he was and he hated them for it.
The depth of his treason against George Washington isn't really presented fully. His West Point plot may well have ended with Washington captured or killed by the British. This was after Washington had championed him, again and again. This would've been a crushing blow to the Continental Army and could've directly led to America's defeat.
Arnold had been betraying America for almost a full year before he was caught. In that time he gave away detailed information about the Continental Army. This included troop and supply locations which probably caused many deaths. Then, once he joined the British, Arnold led raids against American cities, sacking them, leaving them in flames and plundered with many people killed.
Yes, Arnold made many sacrifices to the 'cause' but so did others. None of them betrayed their country. Arnold did. Ultimately, he was not the 'man of honor' he so desperately tried to present to the world. He deserves his place in infamy.
Yes, Arnold was a successful field commander but he was also full of pride and bitterness. The documentary makes it seem as if he was singled out by not being reimbursed for the money owed him but EVERY commander in the Continental Army was in similar circumstances, even George Washington.
Arnold's many personal quarrels are glazed over as a lack of understanding 'politics'. I think Arnold's personal problems were far deeper rooted. One of Arnold's biggest problems was his refusal to follow orders. While this proved a virtue in some of his encounters it is impossible to run an army with officers who behave the way Arnold did.
My guess is Ethan Allen, John Brown and General Gates all saw Arnold for who he was and he hated them for it.
The depth of his treason against George Washington isn't really presented fully. His West Point plot may well have ended with Washington captured or killed by the British. This was after Washington had championed him, again and again. This would've been a crushing blow to the Continental Army and could've directly led to America's defeat.
Arnold had been betraying America for almost a full year before he was caught. In that time he gave away detailed information about the Continental Army. This included troop and supply locations which probably caused many deaths. Then, once he joined the British, Arnold led raids against American cities, sacking them, leaving them in flames and plundered with many people killed.
Yes, Arnold made many sacrifices to the 'cause' but so did others. None of them betrayed their country. Arnold did. Ultimately, he was not the 'man of honor' he so desperately tried to present to the world. He deserves his place in infamy.
