Final answer:
Benedict Arnold's actions at Saratoga were noteworthy for his significant military contribution and the profound sense of betrayal he felt when his efforts went unrecognized. His unauthorized participation in combat and subsequent injury marked the beginning of a path that led him to treason and infamy as America's most famous traitor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indeed, Benedict Arnold's actions at Saratoga were noteworthy. Despite feeling undervalued and overlooked, Arnold's insistence on engaging British troops under General Burgoyne contradicted General Gates's initial passive strategy. Arnold's proactive approach included sending out men who were the first to encounter and successfully engage Burgoyne's forces. However, this contribution went unrecognized in Gates's official reports to Congress. Following a heated dispute with Gates, Arnold was relieved of his command but would later join the battle unauthorised on October 7, resulting in a leg injury that sidelined him for months. The feelings of abandonment and resentment from these events contributed to his subsequent treasonous decision to defect to the British side.
Arnold's actions at Saratoga displayed both his military valor and the seeds of his tragic downfall. His strategic insights were proven correct at Saratoga, but it was the lack of recognition and his personal conflicts that eventually pushed him to betray the American cause he once bravely fought for. His marriage into a Loyalist family and his continual social and financial troubles only aggravated his discontent. Eventually, Arnold's notoriety would eclipse his earlier military contributions, culminating in the most infamous act of treason in American history.