The chronicles of Western history are no doubt filled with examples of crosses and double-crosses, of shifting alliances and sneak attacks. Among all of those, two in particular stand out: first, during the Roman era the, murder of Julius Caesar by his supposed friends (from whence we get the term “backstabber”), and the second during the Revolutionary War when General Benedict Arnold, a decorated war hero, offered to surrender his position to the British.

On this day in 1780, American General Benedict Arnold met with his counterpart in the British Army,  Major John Andre, offering to hand over his fort West Point to the enemy in exchange for a lump sum of money and a high position in the British army.

Arnold distinguished himself in several early battles during the Revolutionary War, leading the capture of Fort Ticonderoga and the charge into British-held Quebec. But his enemies conspired to keep him from advancing in rank further, and five other men in lesser positions were advanced ahead of him. Meanwhile, his new wife was spending all his money to lead a lavish lifestyle, forcing him to accumulate sizable debt. Both the bitterness at his station and the need for money motivated the former Patriot to betray his country.