Arnold was hugely influential in the Battle of Saratoga, Americas first great win against England and a battle nearly forgotten by most. This battle stopped an invasion from Canada and the joining of two great English armies along the upper Hudson River. It would have cut off New England completely from the rest of the colonies. He was a hero of that battle.

Arnolds mortal flaw was that he was a petty, vindictive man who let his jealousies and avarice rule his logic.