Signature of Benedict Arnold

What it is

This is a cropped image of Benedict Arnold's handwritten signature, taken from his oath of allegiance signed on 30 May 1778 at Valley Forge. It dates from the period of his command in Philadelphia, before his later betrayal.

Why it matters

An oath of allegiance was a formal pledge of loyalty to the American cause, something every officer was required to swear. Seeing Arnold's own signature on such a document is a reminder of how firmly he was once bound to the American side before he turned against it. It gives students direct contact with his handwriting rather than a later copy.

Look closer

• What does a flourished, confident signature suggest about the person who wrote it?
• Why might historians value a genuine signature as evidence, even without the rest of the document?
• How might knowing what Arnold did later change how you look at this oath of loyalty?