From the September 21, 2021, We Are the Mighty "4 American traitors more destructive than Benedict Arnold" by Team Mighty.
James Wilkinson was one of the most trusted soldiers in American history, serving in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. He took on the role of governor of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and became one of the Army's most senior officers.
There were many problems with Wilkinson's service, but the foremost among them was that he had been spying for the Spanish most of the time.
When his role in Aaron Burr's own treason was discovered, he placed New Orleans under martial law and imprisoned anyone who might be able to prove Wilkinson was complicit in the plot.
Wilkinson was never caught in his own lifetime, but his papers were discovered in 1854, leading Theodore Roosevelt to say, "In all our history, there is no more despicable character."
--Brock-Perry
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