No other American is remembered quite the same as Benedict Arnold.
             He was a brave soldier, a patriot- and a traitor. Benedict was born in
             Norwich, Connecticut, on January 14, 1741. When he was 14 years old,
             Benedict ran away from home to fight in the French and Indian War, but he
             was brought back by his mother, who apparently was driven insane later in
             her life. If I had a son like Benedict, I might have gone insane too!
             After his mother insisted that he return home, he ran away for a second
             time. After he was finished playing boy hero for awhile, he learned the
             apothecary (pharmacy) trade and then in 1762, he opened a book and drug
             store in New Haven. Benedict was also involved with trade in the West
             Indies. By 1774, he was one of the wealthiest citizens in New Haven.
             It's a good thing that he had money, because he was one of those people
             who like to ride around in their Mercedes and wear expensive clothes, even
             if he couldn't afford them. Benedict then got hooked up with the
             sheriff's daughter Margaret Mansfield, and they hit it off. They decided
             to get married in 1774. But this marriage was short lived because the
             next year Margaret caught a disease and died. When the Revolutionary War
             began that year Arnold was already an experienced soldier. He had helped
             Ethan Allen capture Fort Ticonderoga. Then Benedict came up with a great
             idea to capture Quebec. This idea failed, but Benedict had already proven
             his bravery. He was then commissioned as a colonel in the patriot forces.
             He was one of General George Washington's most trusted officers.
             Benedict led his troops to the siege of Boston and Valcour Island
             and proved once again to be a bold and skilled officer. At the battle of
             Valcour Island he was wounded severely in his leg. His bravery won him
             the respect of many people. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier
             general. Arnold felt that his services were...