Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-25
n1isfailal1epils.
From the u s. Magazine.
BENEDICT ARNOLD.

this example more strikingly illustrated,
| than In the actions of the unfortunate
man whose name heads this article. The
career of Benedict Arnold fills one of the
most mournfuily Instructive pages Of his
tory and although he evinced great
bravery and wonderful powers of endur-
ance during the time he was an officer in
the Continental army, the close observer
will readily perceive that his whole action
was from animal instincts, and the wish
| for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
| From boyhood be exhibited the leading
traits of his character Reckless, pitiless,
aud daring, he was the terror Of his play
mates. and disliked by all Itappears to
have been his greatest delight to inaiot
pain. and his achme of bliss was reached
through the intense sufTerings of his fell
low beings We are told she would not
only rob nests of their young, but torture
his victims to draw forth the agonizing
cries of the parent bird. He would scat
ter broken glass in the road, where the
school children passed barefoot, and tempt
| them round the druggists shop in which
he was employed, with broken phials, only
to scourge them away with a horse whip.
ed in those perilous feats, which none of
his companions dare initiate. 1t was a
favorite amusement with him at a grist
mill, to which he sometimes carried grain,
to seize the large water-wheel by the arms,
and go round and round with it in its
huge revolutions, now buried under the
foaming water, and now hanging above in
fierce delight, while his companions look
ed on in silent terror" In the above few
anecdotes Of his former life, tue promin-
ent features of his later career are amply
demonstrated. For, although he had
some talents of the highest cast, which,
with proper cultivation and the oppor-
tunltles that were presented him, might
have elevated his name high among that
list of worthless, who will forever claim the
love and reverence of the world still his
brute nature so largely predominated,
that, after giving way to it SO long, it was
Impossible to control it in manhood
And when the time came that self could
not be gratifed IN any rational direction,
he was ready to pander to it, even by the
most vile, unmanly and inhuman meas
ures. And, to our mind, it was this prin-
ciple that was acting in him when he con-
cocted the scheme-fortunatel abortive-
that was to consign his 7lGtlce land to the
perpetual bondage of monarchy, and
which has placed his name in the lowest
depths of infamy, side by side with his
who was the bctrayer of the Saviour Of
mankind.
Benedict Arnold was born at Norwich,
Connecticut, on the third day Of January,
l740 His father-frst cooper, then
sea captain-was, after, a merchant in
that towa. where, for while, he had
somewhat prosperous career, and, during
the time, was enabled to give his son the
best education which the place afforded
The father eventually met with reverses,
and with tainted reputation, finally fill
ed drunkard's grave. His mother was
highly esteemed for her piety and virtue;
but the whole of her good example was
thrown away on her son. After leaving
school, Benedict, then lad, was appren-
tced to druggist, but, after serving
time, he ran away, and enlisted in the
army, from which he was shortly after re-
leased through the interposition of his
mother and her friends. Ere long, how
ever, be ran away again, and reenlisted;
but this time, finding the restraint of
garrison life was too much for his restless
spirit, he deserted, and once more return
ed home. Resuming his apprenticeship
to the drug business, after serving his
time, he went to New Haven, and com
menced the trade on his own account
He succeeded so well, that he acquired
considerable property, when he disposed
of his shop, and purchased vessels, which
he commanded in person, commenced the
cattle and provision freighting business to
the West Indies, and led life more suit
| ed to his rowing and adventurous dlsposl
tion. After a season, he was unfortunate
in his speculations, and once more return
| ed to his occupation of druggist, at
which he was employed at the breaking
out of the war of the Revolution. He
was at that time the captain of volun-
teer militia company, and on hearing of
the battle of Lexington, he enrolled a
portion of his own command, and other
volunteers to the number of sixty, and,
fastening to Cam bridge, rendered his SER
vices to the Massachusetts Committee of
| Safety. by whom he was well received and
Immediately authorized to raise compa
nv of four hundred men for the reduction
of Ticonderoga, and. in a short time, the
supplies being ready-promoted to the
rank of Colonel-he eagerly started on
the expedition, travelling at the rate OF
fifty miles day The impetuosity of his
unbridled disposition was often exhibited
in this, his first position of responsibility,
and was at one time so serious, that eve
rything was thrown in confusion, and the
whole command was on the brink of mu-
tiny finally, when he found it was i'm
possible to gain the chief command over
honest Ethan Allen. his restlessnass start
ed him off to St Johns, at the head of
about fifty men that had been enlisted
along the road, by his orders With only
one schooner be sailed down the lake. and
having surprised the garrison, and taken
thirteen men prisoners, be seizeo Brit.
ish sloop, destroyed FIVE battealx, and
then returned to Ticonderoga, il the vi
cinity of which he organized small fleet
over which he took command
Here his arrogance and turbulence was