246 years ago today, three patriots SAVED the Revolutionary cause by stopping Benedict Arnold's betrayal. On this day, 246 years ago, Major John Andre was captured in Tarrytown, New York.
Arnold, angry after being passed over for promotions, struggling personally and professionally, decided to betray the Cause. He would give up West Point to the British -- and with that, effectively destroy the Patriots military campaign in NY and possibly change the course of the war for the worse.
Arnold enlisted Andre to carry his plans down to the British on horseback.
Just 20 miles from the British lines, Andre stumbled upon three local militiamen, John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart. Paulding was wearing a Hessian coat, and so Andre revealed he was a British soldier, thinking he was amongst friends.
The trio informed him they were actually patriots. Andre tried to recant his claim, but the militiamen were skeptical. They searched Andre and were about to let him go when they decided to ask him to remove his shoes for one last check.
Andre took his shoes off and out fell the plans to betray the Cause. Andre was arrested, and later hanged across the river.
Williams, Paulding, and Van Wart are American heroes whose names are often forgotten but if not for them, we could have very well lost the war.