Arnold was accused of mismanaging the withdrawal of his Lake Champlain fleet and also of inappropriate conduct during the retreat from Canada. Among other charges, he was faulted for allowing smallpox to spread through the American camp outside Quebec, "depriving" the army of its needed rations,"interfering and countermanding" the orders of superior officers in the Canadian theatre, and "plundering" the inhabitants of Montreal. He was even accused of issuing "cruel and bloody orders, directing whole villages to be destroyed."
Arnold became aware of these charges slowly over time, and they would only intensify. Unfortunately for him, they were not limited to military matters alone. Rarely drawing wages for his services, he was forced to earn a living through business pursuits carried on concurrently with his military obligations. Not surprisingly, this opened the door to additional criticism of his judgement and character.
By now, Arnold had become a frustrated soldier in the American cause. Still in pain from his leg wound in Quebec, Arnold felt that he had to fight for American liberty without adequate support from Congress and amidst the jealousy of his peers and superiors and the constant sniping by critics.
Nevertheless, he continued his service, bravely distinguishing himself once again in a series of engagements in Connecticut in early 1777. Congress promoted him to major general.
By the time of the Saratoga campaign, Arnold and Gates were rivals. Gates decried Arnold as a "pompous little fellow," and clashed repeatedly with him, finally assigning him to headquarters, away from the fighting. Arnold would not be so easily dispatched. He took to the field during the second battle at Freeman's Farm without authorization. He began issuing orders, and soon found himself leading a critical charge on Breymann's Redoubt. It was in that engagement that Arnold suffered a second and equally serious leg wound. And had he died that day, in spite of his increasingly controversial reputation, America's Hannibal would have died a national hero. It was not to be.
George Washington awarded the wounded Arnold with the command of American forces in Philadelphia. The assignment was a prestigious one, and allowed for the general's convalescence. It proved to be a mistake. Arnold was increasingly an embittered man, resentful of his critics - the number of which were growing -- and disdainful even toward Congress for not promoting him more quickly and to even higher rank. Arnold immersed himself into the social life of the city, holding lavish parties, building personal and professional relationships with leading Philadelphia citizens, and engaging in questionable financial ventures. Arnold fell into debt and his business activities came under scrutiny.
