Arnold's Birth and Early Life
CHAPTER II.
He begins his Military Career ï Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point
CHAPTER III.
Expedition through the Wilderness to Quebec
CHAPTER IV.
Operations in Canada ï Affair of the Cedars ï Retreat from Montreal
CHAPTER V.
Arnold censured for the Seizure of Goods at Montreal ï Appointed to the
Command of a Fleet on Lake Champlain ï Naval Combat
CHAPTER VI.
Stationed in Rhode Island ï Superseded in his Rank by Congress ï
Complains of Injustice and ill Treatment ï His Bravery in the Affair of
Danbury ï Commands at Philadelphia
CHAPTER VII.
Joins the northern Army ï The tragical Death of Jane McCrea near Fort
Edward ï Arnold commands an Expedition to Fort Schuyler ï Rejoins the
main Army on the Hudson ï The Battles of Behmus's Heights
CHAPTER VIII.
Takes Command in Philadelphia ï Proposes joining the Navy ï Charges
against him by the Council of Pennsylvania ï His Plan for a
new Settlement in the western Part of New York ï His Trial by a
Court-martial
CHAPTER IX.
His expensive Style of Living and pecuniary Embarrassments ï First
Ideas of betraying his Country ï Application to the French Ambassador ï
Marriage ï Takes Command at West Point
CHAPTER X.
Progress of the Conspiracy on the Part of the British Commander ï Major
John AndrÈ
CHAPTER XI.
Various Schemes for effecting an Interview between Arnold and AndrÈ ï
Their Meeting within the American Lines
CHAPTER XII.
Outlines of the Plan for surrendering West Point ï Major AndrÈ passes in
Disguise through the American Posts ï His Capture at Tarrytown
CHAPTER XIII.
AndrÈ makes known his true Character ï His Letter to Washington ï Escape
of Arnold to the Enemy ï Washington arrives at West Point
CHAPTER XIV.
Detection of Arnold's Treason ï AndrÈ removed to West Point and thence
to Tappan ï His Examination by a Board of Officers
CHAPTER XV.
Ineffectual Attempts to procure the Release of Major AndrÈ ï His
Execution ï The Captors of AndrÈ ï Joshua H. Smith ï Captain Nathan Hale
CHAPTER XVI.
Narrative of Arnold's Plot communicated by Sir Henry Clinton to the
Ministry ï Arnold in New York ï His Expedition against Virginia and New
London
CHAPTER XVII.
Arnold sails for England ï Anecdotes ï His Residence at St. John's, and
in the West Indies ï His Death
PREFACE.
It is the chief object of the following narrative to give an account of
the treason of Arnold, its causes, the plans for carrying it forward,
and its final issue. In executing this design, it was necessary to touch
upon the events of his previous life; and, as many of these have a real
interest in themselves, and others a direct bearing on the subject, it
is believed no apology for introducing them will be required.
The author has of course consulted all the printed books and documents,
which he could find; and among others he acknowledges his obligation
to M. de Marbois' Complot d'Arnold et de Sir Henry Clinton, published
several years ago in Paris, and soon afterwards translated by Mr. Walsh
for the second volume of the American Register. The parts of M. de
Marbois' book, which he wrote from personal knowledge and observation,
have a special value; some of the other parts would have been varied, if
his materials had been more abundant and exact.
Besides printed sources of information, the author has been fortunate
in procuring the use of a large number of original papers in manuscript,
which have not before been inspected. In the public archives of London
he was allowed to peruse the entire correspondence, between the British
commander in America and the ministry, concerning Arnold's defection;
particularly a very ample narrative of all the transactions, dated nine
days after the death of AndrÈ, methodically drawn up, and signed by Sir
Henry Clinton. This correspondence exhibits in a clear view the British
side of the question.
Among General Washington's manuscripts are also original materials,
including the papers that were laid before the board of general officers
to whom Andre's case was submitted, and the drafts of letters and
other papers left behind by Arnold when he escaped. Arnold's letters
to Congress are curious, and indicate the workings of his mind while
maturing his plot. The same may be said of some of his miscellaneous
letters, which have fallen into the author's hands.
For that portion of the narrative in which the agency of AndrÈ is
described, the principal authority has been the records of the trial of
Joshua H. Smith. This person was arraigned before a court-martial, upon
the charge of having been an accomplice with Arnold, but his guilt was
not proved. The trial lasted for nearly a month. Numerous witnesses were
examined, and among others the captors of AndrÈ. All the testimony
was taken down in detail, and the papers have been preserved. They are
voluminous and important.
Several gentlemen now living, who were personally acquainted with
circumstances attending the treason of Arnold, have made valuable
communications, either written or verbal, for the present work.
The author will only add, that he has everywhere aimed at strict
accuracy in his statements, and verified them whenever it was possible
by reference to manuscript authorities. If his labors should be found
to have contributed any thing to illustrate an interesting point of
history, his end will be answered and his wishes gratified.
LIFE AND TREASON OF BENEDICT ARNOLD
CHAPTER I.
Arnold's Birth and Early Life.
Among the first settlers and proprietors of Rhode Island was William
Arnold, a name of some note in the local annals of his time. He had
three sons, Benedict, Thomas, and Stephen. The eldest, that is, Benedict
Arnold, succeeded Roger Williams as president of the colony under the
first charter, and he was at different times governor under the second
charter during a period of fifteen years; a proof of the respect in
which he was held by his contemporaries.
The family spread out into several branches. One of these was
established at Newport, from which place two brothers, Benedict Arnold
and Oliver Arnold, emigrated to Norwich in Connecticut, the former about
the year 1730, or perhaps a little earlier, the latter several years
afterwards. They were coopers by trade, but Benedict discontinued that
occupation soon after his removal to Norwich, and engaged in commerce.
He made one or two voyages to England, but was principally concerned
in navigation to the West Indies, and was owner of the vessels he
commanded. Having accumulated means sufficient to enable him to change
this pursuit for one which he liked better, he became a merchant, and
for several years carried on an extensive business at Norwich. He was
a man of suspicious integrity, little respected, and less esteemed.
Prosperity deserted him, and by degrees he sank into intemperance,
poverty, and contempt.
In the mean time he had married Mrs. Hannah King, a widow lady, whose
name before her first marriage was Waterman. Her family connexions were
highly respectable, and she is represented as having been eminent for
her amiable temper, piety, and Christian virtues. The children of this
second marriage were three sons and three daughters. Benedict, the
eldest, died in infancy. The same name was given to the next son. Of
the six children, only he and his sister Hannah survived the years of
childhood.
Benedict Arnold, the second son above named, and the subject of this
notice, was born at Norwich, on the 3d of January, 1740. As his father's
affairs were then in a successful train, it is probable he enjoyed the
advantage of as good schools as the town or its vicinity afforded.
For a time he was under the tuition of Dr. Jewett, a teacher of
some celebrity at Montville. There is no evidence, however, that
his acquirements reached beyond those usually attained in the common
schools. While yet a lad he was apprenticed to two gentlemen by the name
of Lathrop, who were partners as druggists in a large establishment at
Norwich, and alike distinguished for their probity, worth, and the wide
extent of their business. Being allied by a distant relationship to the
mother of the young apprentice, they felt a personal interest in his
welfare, especially as no benefit to him was now to be hoped from the
example or guidance of his father.
It was soon made obvious to these gentlemen, that they had neither an
agreeable nor an easy task before them. To an innate love of mischief,
young Arnold added an obduracy of conscience, a cruelty of disposition,
an irritability of temper, and a reckless indifference to the good or
ill opinion of others, that left but a slender foundation upon which
to erect a system of correct principles or habits. Anecdotes have been
preserved illustrative of these traits. One of his earliest amusements
was the robbing of birds' nests, and it was his custom to maim and
mangle young birds in sight of the old ones, that he might be diverted
by their cries. Near the druggist's shop was a schoolhouse, and he would
scatter in the path broken pieces of glass taken from the crates, by
which the children would cut their feet in coming from the school. The
cracked and imperfect phials, which came in the crates, were perquisites
of the apprentices. Hopkins, a fellow apprentice and an amiable youth,
was in the habit of placing his share on the outside of the shop near
the door, and permitting the small boys to take them away, who were
pleased with this token of his good will. Arnold followed the same
practice; but, when he had decoyed the boys, and they were busy in
picking up the broken phials, he would rush out of the shop with a
horsewhip in his hand, call them thieves, and beat them without mercy.
These and similar acts afforded him pleasure. He was likewise fond of
rash feats of daring, always foremost in danger, and as fearless as he
was wickedly mischievous. Sometimes he took corn to a gristmill in the
neighbourhood; and, while waiting for the meal, he would amuse
himself and astonish his playmates, by clinging to the arms of a large
water-wheel and passing with it beneath and above the water.
Weary of the monotonous duties of the shop, and smitten with the
attractions of a military life, he enlisted as a soldier in the army
without the knowledge of his friends when he was sixteen years old, and
went off with other recruits to Hartford. This caused such deep distress
to his mother, that the Reverend Dr. Lord, pastor of the church to which
she belonged, and some other persons, took a lively interest in the
matter, and succeeded in getting him released and brought back. Not long
afterwards he ran away, enlisted a second time, and was stationed at
Ticonderoga and different places on the frontiers; but being employed in
garrison duty, and subjected to more restraint and discipline than were
suited to his restless spirit and unyielding obstinacy, and seeing no
prospect of an opportunity for gratifying his ambition and love of bold
adventure, he deserted, returned to Norwich, and resumed his former
employment. When a British officer passed through the town in pursuit
of deserters, his friends, fearing a discovery, secreted him in a cellar
till night, and then sent him several miles into the country, where he
remained concealed till the officer was gone.
During the whole of his apprenticeship he gave infinite trouble to Dr.
Lathrop, in whose family he resided; and his conduct was a source of
perpetual anxiety and grief to his mother. He was her only surviving
son, her husband was lost to himself and to the world, and it was
natural that the maternal hopes and fears of a lady of her sensibility
and excellence should be powerfully wrought upon, by such wayward
exhibitions of character in one, to whom she was bound by the strongest
and tenderest ties, and on whom she relied as the support of her
declining years. Borne down with the weight of present affliction, her
forebodings of the future must have been melancholy and fearful. Heaven
relieved her from the anguish of witnessing her son's career of ambition
without virtue, of glory tarnished with crime, and of depravity ending
in infamy and ruin. She died before he reached the age of manhood.
After he had served out his apprenticeship, Arnold left Norwich and
commenced business as a druggist in New Haven. He was assisted by his
former masters in setting up his new establishment, which at first was
on a small scale; but, by his enterprise and activity, his business
was extended, and to the occupation of an apothecary he added that of
a general merchant. At length he took up the profession of a navigator,
shipped horses, cattle, and provisions to the West Indies, and commanded
his own vessels. Turbulent, impetuous, presuming, and unprincipled, it
was to be expected that he would raise up a host of enemies against him,
and be involved in many difficulties. He fought a duel with a Frenchman
somewhere in the West Indies, and was engaged in frequent quarrels both
at home and abroad. His speculations ended in bankruptcy, and under
circumstances, which, in the opinion of the world, left a stain upon his
honesty and good faith. He resumed his business, and applied himself to
it with his accustomed vigor and resource, and with the same obliquity
of moral purpose, hazard, and disregard of public sentiment, that had
always marked his conduct.
On one occasion, just after he had returned from a West India voyage,
a sailor who had been with him spread a report, that he had smuggled
contraband goods and got them ashore without the knowledge of a
custom-house officer. Arnold sought out the sailor, beat him severely,
and compelled him to leave the town and take a solemn oath, that he
would never enter it again. Within two or three days, however, the
sailor was found in the streets; and Arnold collected a small party,
seized him, and took him to the whipping-post, where about forty lashes
were inflicted upon him with a small cord, and he was conducted a
second time out of town. The affair was noised abroad, and excited the
indignation of the populace. The sailor came back, and the case was
submitted to Colonel Wooster and another gentleman, who, as Arnold said
in his public vindication, "were of opinion, that the fellow was
not whipped too much, and gave him fifty shillings damages only." He
grounded this summary mode of punishment on what he considered the
infamous nature of the offence, and its tendency to injure the community
by casting suspicion upon honest dealers and obstructing the course of
trade.
An exploit is remembered, which was characteristic of his rashness and
courage. While driving cattle on board a vessel, which he was freighting
for a voyage, a refractory ox refused obedience. He grew furious, ran
off, and set his pursuers at defiance. Arnold mounted a fleet horse,
overtook the ox, seized the enraged animal by a tender part of the
nostrils, and held him in that position till he was subdued and secured.
Arnold's father died about the time he settled in New Haven, and his
sister, Hannah Arnold, being the only remaining individual of the
family, joined him at that place. He was early married at New Haven to
a lady by the name of Mansfield. They had three sons, Benedict, Richard,
and Henry. The first died young in the West Indies. He was a violent,
headstrong youth, and it is supposed he came to an untimely end. He had
a commission in the British service after the revolution. There is a
letter written by Hannah Arnold, in which, after mentioning that this
nephew had gone to the West Indies, she says, "He went entirely contrary
to the wishes of his father; what has been his fate, God only knows, but
my prophetic heart forbodes the worst." All accounts agree in extolling
the accomplishments of this lady, her rare endowments of mind, her
refinement, delicacy, and other qualities of female excellence. Several
of her letters, which I have seen, fully justify this tribute to her
good name, which dwelt on the lips of those that knew her, and which the
voice of tradition has perpetuated. Her ardent and unceasing attachment
to her brother, at the same time that it proves the depth of her own
feelings, may argue the existence of better traits in his domestic
character, than would be inferred from his public conduct. His sister
was his devoted friend, his adviser, and a watchful guardian over his
family and his interests. She adhered to him through good and evil
report, and never forsook him, till he proved himself unworthy even of
a sister's love. She lived many years after the war, at one time in Troy
on Hudson's River, and afterwards near York, in Upper Canada, where it
is believed she closed her days. Her two nephews, Richard and Henry,
resided with her in Troy, and were employed in mercantile affairs. They
likewise removed to Canada, where they received lands from the British
government. The wife of Arnold died at New Haven about the time that the
war began.