Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-11-22
Tho Tragedy OF Arnold.

The following facts relative to the treasona-
bic acts of Benedict Arnold, and the provden-
tial illustration of his nefarous designs, are co.
pied from speech delivered by Robert Dale
Owen. at New Harmony, Indiana
"The public events connected with Benedict
Arnold's ueachery are familiar to every one; but
the private detail. Of that story are in various
histories Of that period, either incorrectly given,
or essentially omitted The surrender at West
Point was but small portion of Arnolds plan.
He had projected the decoyipg thther and the
betrayal into Sir Henry Clnton's hands, Of
Gen. Washington himself, Of Lafayette, ard
of the principal staff officers. Had this plan
succeeded, how differently might have been the
story. history would have to tell!
A trfling circumstance caused It's failure. -
Arnold bad invited Washington TO breakfast
with him at West Point the very morning the
plot was discovered, and he promised to accept
the invitation. He was prevented from doing
60, by an urgent request made to him by an
old officer whose station he passed, that ne
would remain the night with bin, and next
morning inspect some works in the neighbor-
hood. Washington accordingly despatched an
aid from his suite to make his excuse to Arnold.
The messenger rode all night, and arrived next
morning at West Point. Arnold invited him
to breakfast. Whilst sitting at table, letter
to Arnold was brought from the post of the Of
fcer commanding the scouting parties to tho
American lines. As his eye fell on the sub
scription, the cup which he had raised to his
lips dropped from his hands, he seized the let
ter, rushed from the room, locked himself in
his bedchamber, and in few minutes was on
his way to an English sloop of war then in the
North River.
In the meantime, while Washington and his
staff, including Lafayette, were seated at a ta-
BILE at the quarters Of the officer whose invita-
tion had delayed the visit to West Point des-
patch was brought to the American General
which he Immediately opened. and laid down
without comment No alteration was visible
in his countenance, but he remained perfectly
silent. Conversation dropped among his suite
and after some minutes the General beckoned
to Lafayette to follow him, retired 10 an inner
apartment turned to Lafayette without uttering
syllable, placed the fatal despatch in his hands,
and then giving way to an ungovernable burst
of feeling, fell on his friends neck and sobbed
aloud The effect produced on the young French
Marquis, who was accustomed to regard the &C.
neral as devoid of the usual weakness of human
ity, may be imagined.-"I believe" said La
Fayette to me--tor it was from that venerable
patriots own lips, that obtained the narrative
that now relate-'T believe this was the only
occasion throughout that long and hopeless
struggle that Washington ever gave way, even
for a moment, under reverse of fortune and
perhaps was the only human being who ever
witnessed in him an exhibition of feeling so for
eign to his temperament. AS it was he reco.
vered himselfbefore had perused the commu-
nicalion that gave rise to his emotion, and when
he returned to his staff, no trace remained on
his countenance, either OF grief or desponden-
cy.'
So true it is. that of all human reverses, the
betrayal of confidence on the part of one who
has been implicitly trusted, is, to generous ma
ture, the hardest and bitterest to bear"