The Incredibly Treasonous US General in ARTIST in TREASON

Imagine that during the Cold War, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was found to be a Russian spy. He tells his handlers his president's innermost thoughts over the Soviets and military disposition.

In the late 1700's and early 1800's the general commanding the small United States Army conducted an entire career while in the pay of the Spanish Crown.

General James Wilkinson told the Spanish, who controlled what later became the Louisiana Purchase, about American intentions. In that time, the future of the United States was not guaranteed, by any means. American territory bordered the Spanish-held territory from Canada down to the present state of Louisiana. Florida was also in Spanish hands.

When Wilkinson was ordered to build up forces in Southern Illinois, he not only warned the Spanish but advised them to counter by building a major stronghold at New Madrid, along the Mississippi River, across from the mouth of the Ohio.

His advice to the Spanish actually resulted in a military unit sent up in the Missouri River area to try to capture Lewis and Clark.

Oddly, four presidents from Washington to Madison were warned to beware of Wilkinson's double dealing and yet, for their own reasons, gambled on ultimately being able to work with him as the commander of the fledgling post-Revolutionary War army. Multiple investigations and accusations dogged him throughout his career, but he continued to sail along until after the War of 1812 when the military was drastcally reshaped by General Winfield Scott to reflect new, professional military values that were lacking during the war and he was dismissed along with numerous other military officers.

I first encountered this incredible rascal in a men's magazine article and welcomed the opportunity to acquire and read this book which recently became available. It is an amazing story about a military leader you never heard of who could've single-handedly brought down the government. That's not hyperbole because Wilkinson was up to his hips in　Aaron Burr's plans to grab Texas, invade Mexico, and set up a separate country with himself in charge. Luckily, Wilkinson proved more loyal to Jefferson than to Burr and the conspiracy collapsed.

A fascinating story about a traitor who ranks up there with Benedict Arnold, his one-time mentor during the Revolutionary War until Wilkinson double-crossed him.