Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-04
6tstortGal.
The Treason Of Arnold,

Benedict Arnold, Major General in the ar
my of the Revolution, native of Norwich, Con-
necticut, was as brave soldier as wore sword :;
but his laurels were all furnished by an act of
treason against his country. In the autumn of
ITS, he was sent up to the Kennebeck, with
body of 1900 or 1900 men, to march from the
head of navigation, through an uninhabited will
derness, to cooperate with Montgomery, in TAX
ing Quebec. The expedition was unfortunate;
but Arnold did all that man could do. In the
taking of Burgoyne he gained new honor; he
urged Gates to make the attack on the 9TH of Oc-
tober, and on that day as well as on the 10Th of
the proceeding month he fought like tiger
Like the Macedonian madman he had great
method in his fury. Anecdotes are told of his
valor, worthy of the most heroic ages After
this, his extravaganza and proAgacy brought him
to great straits and he took such extortionary
means to relieve himself, as brought on him the
severest animadversions of the citizens, and the
most cutting rebukes from the officers of the ar
my in consequence of which he meditated
deep and lasting revenge. The noble mind of
Washington was above suspicion, and he gave
Arnold an important command no less than that
of West Point Here he plotted his treason
and under the pretence that he had repented of
the part he had taken in the contest, he opened
a reasonable correspondence with Sir Henry
Clinton, commander of the British army then in
possession of New York city.
Although the correspondence with the enemy
was kept up nearly eighteen months, it had al
ways been under fictitious names by both parties
An eplstolary intercourse between Malo Andre
and Mrs. Arnold, begun before her marriage and
continued after that event, afforded convenient
medium of communication, which Arnold could
turn to his purpose without exciting the suspi-
cions even of his WIFE His advances were made
directly to Sir Henry Clinton, through the hands
of Major Andre; and in this channel the CORES
pondence was conducted to the end. Andre had
the entire confidence of his commander, and was
for time his aid-de-camp, till raised to high
er station. He affixed to his letters the sigma
ture of John anderson and Arnold assumed the
name of Gusta0uS. They also wrote in a dis
guised hand, and used other devices to prevent
detection Without giving any clue to his name
rank or character, Arnold expressed in his first
letters dissatisfaction with the French alliance
and touched upon other topics in such manner
as he thought would please the British COM
mander and attract his attention, He likewise
sent intelligence, which proved to be correct and
important. The same was repeated at different
times, till at length General Clinton's curiosity
was awakened, and he employed every method
in his power to ascertain the identity of the per-
son, who was opening himself thus freely, and
furnishing information of the greatest value. 1t
was obvious, from the nature of his communion
tons, that he was a person of consequence, who
had kowledge of the secret springs of Amer-
can affairs, and was on terms of intimacy with
the leaders. To prevent the possibility of de-
teection, however, should his letters fall into
other hands than those for which they were in
tended, the language was extremely guarded in
every thing that related to the situation or per-
son of the writer
At length, after putting together and weighing
!, a variety of circumstances, Sir Henry Clinton
was satisfied that his hidden correspondent was
General Arnold. He had no positive proof, but
the evidence was so conclusive in his own mind,
that the correspondence was continued upon
that supposition. The discovery was not made,
or rather this conviction was not settled till sub
sequently to Arnold's trial by a court martial
and being then under a sort of disgrace, and not
likely again to be employed, the British COM
mander did not look upon him to be of so much
importance, whatever might have been his mill
tary merits, that it was an object worthy of his
attention to bring him over merely as an officer
of rank, On the contrary, believing him to be
more useful as correspondent where he was
than he would BE when joined to the British ar.
+ my, no tempting encouragement were held out
$ to hasten his desertion.
Things remained in this posture for some time
when the person wrote that he should certainly
be soon employed again in the American service
and made direct offer to surrender himself, anC
in such manner as to contribute every possible
advantage to his Majesty's arms. In few days
Arnold took command at West Point, and the af
fair then assumed a magnitude and an inter
3 est, which it had not hitherto possessed
Gen. Clinton now saw prospect before him
and an opening for a successful operation, which
f claimed his immediate and asslduous care. TX
f get possession of West Point and its dependen
posts, with their garrsons military stores, cannon
!, vessels, boats, and provisions, appeared to hin
an object of such vast importance, that in attain
o ing it no reasonable hazard or expense ought t.
e be spared In the first place, it would bring un
u der his control the navigable waters of Hudson
n River, in some degree facilitate his ntercours
l. with the army in Canada, as well as essential
r derange the communication ofthe Americans be
t. tween the eastern and middle States.
f. at became necessary at this period" (say
d Sir Henry Clinton, in one of his letters to Lor
" George Germany "that the secret correspor
v dence under feigned names, which had so lon
ID been carried on should be rendered into certain
lie ty, both as to the person being General Arnol
of commanding at West Point and that in the mar
,e ner in which he was to surrender himself, tn
forts, and troops to me, it should be so conducte
N under a concerted plan between us, as that tn
OF Kings troops sent upon this expedition should
under no risk ofsurprise or counterplot; and
I'd was determined not to make the attempt but III
ny der such particular security
IS, "Many projects for meeting were forme'
II and consequently several attempts made, in all
ed which General Arnold seemed extremely desirol
OF that some person, who had my particular CON
IN dence, might be sent to him. some man, as he d
d, scribed it in writing, Of has Own mensurGtion
ha4 he to