Arnold, a young firebrand, clashed with the stolid, traditional Gates, even though the men were friends. Arnold's "rash,
thoughtless" actions may have won the battle whose victory is often attributed wholly to Gates' maneuvers. The contrast between the two tactical styles points up a transition in American military culture from old European formalism to new guerrilla-style tactics, a result of both the character of America's forces, and the generals like Benedict Arnold who commanded them.