Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-04-12
Number 20.
THR LArE Llrur. GssraAI AEsoLD.


| THR LATE LIEUT.. GxsERAr ARNOLD.
'l-"Lieutenant General James Robert
son Arnold died in London on Decem-
Der 9th. He was the second son Of
Benedict Arnold. by Margaret his wife,
daughter OF Chief Justice Shipper, Of
pennsylvania. He entered the corps of
Royal Engineers in 1898, and served
more than half a century. He married
Virginia. daughter of Bartlett Good
rlch, Esq, Of the Isle of Wight, and for
his military service was created a
Knight of Hanover, was appointed aid
de-camp to William ~, and was pre-
sented with costly sword"
/ The above nansci~ officer was the
oldest Of four children which Arnold's
second wife, Miss Shippen, of Philadel-
phia, bore. him, viz: James Robertson,
Edward, George, and Sophia. His first
wife bore three sons, viz: Benedict,
Richard, and Henry. Benedict, the
Oldest, was an officer of artillery in the
British army, and, it is believed, was
compelled to quit the services he died
young in the West Indies Henry en-
tered the Kings service after bis. fathers
detection, and was lieutenant Of caval-
ry in the American Legion. He ac-
eompanied his father to St. Johns, and
was employed IN his business. He
slept in the warehouse near Lower Cove
in that city, and lodged there the night
the building was burned. He lived
afterwards at Troy, New York, with his
aunt Hannah, and was engaged in mer-
camille pursuits. At subsequent pc
riod, he removed to Canada, where he is
now man of property. He received
half-pay and grant Of land from the
British Government. Richard: In 1899
he was also lieutenant of cavalry in
the American Legion, commanded by
his father. In most every particular,
his historyis identical with that of his
brother Henry. Persons are still living
at st. Johns who resided there when
Gen. Arnold's store was burned. The
impression was at the moment, and still
is, that the FIRE was caused by design,
and for the purpose of defrauding a
company in England, that had under
written upon the merchandise which it
contained, to an amount far exceeding
its worth. These persons differ as to
the fact, whether Arnold himself was at
st. Johns, or absent in England, at the
time of the FIRE; and hence the degree
Of blame which should be attached to
the two sons may be uncertain. That
both Henry and Richard slept in the
store on the night of the conhagration,
and that neither could give satisfacto-
ny account of its cause, seems, how
ever, to be certain.
James Robertson, whose recent death
is mentioned above, was the only son of
the four children, which the traitors
second wife bore him, that was born in
America. At the time of the treason
he was a child, and had Just reached
West Point from Philadelphia, with his
mother. He entered the British army
in 1898, and rose to the rank of Colonel
of engineers. He was stationed at
Bermuda from 1916 to 1918, and from
the last named year until 1923, was at
Halifax, and the commanding officer of
engineers in Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick.
While thus in command he was at
st. Johns, and on going into the house
built by his father, in King street,
(which is still standing, he wept like a
child. He was a small man, his eyes
were of remarkable sharpness, and in
features he bore striking resemblance
to his father. A gentleman who has been
in service with him, and was intimately
with him. speaks of him in
terms of high commendation, and re-
lates that he had often heard him ex-
press a strong desire to visit the United
States. Since the accession of Queen
Victoria he has been one of her Majes-
ty's aids-de-camp. In 1841 he was
transferred from the engineer corps, and
Major General, and Knight of
the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order.
Edward, the next son, was some
years ago in a clearinghouse in Eng
and. George, in 1916, was an officer
Of Dragons. Sophia--of her fate moth
ng is known. II may be added, that
.he first General Arnold's mother had
six children, of whom.he and his sister
Hannah alone lived to the years of ma
.urity. The sister adhered TO her
brother Benedict, throughout his event.
'ul and guilty career, and was true to
him in the darkest periods of his histo-
y. She died at Montague, in Upper
Canada, in 1903, and was, as is uni
ormly stated, lady of excellent quail.
les of haracter-BOston Atlas.