The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-01-13
8in9raphies,
[roR THE rREss.l
BENEDICT Arnold.


BENEp1cr ARNOLD, major-general in the
American army, during the Revolutionary War
and infamous for deserving the cause of his coun-
try was early chosen captain of volunteer
company in New Haven, Connecticut, where
he lived. After hearing of the battle of Lex
ington, he Immediately marched, with his COM
pany, for the American Head Quarters and
reached Cambridge, April 29th, 1775. He i'm
mediately waited on the Massachusetts commit
tee of safety and informed them of the defence
less state of Ticonderoga The committee APP
pointed him colonel, and commissioned him to
raise four hundred men, and to, take that for
tress. He proceeded directly to Vermont, and
when he arrived at Castleton was attended by
one servant only. Here, however, he joined
Colonel Ethan Allen, and on the tenth of May
the fortress was taken as mentioned in nv arti-
Gle of " Co.. Allen." In the fall of 1775 he
was sent by the commander-in- chief to pene-
trate, if possible, through the wilderness of the
district of Maine, into Canada On the 18th
of September he commenced his march with
about one thousand men, consisting OF New
England infantry. some volunteers, company
of artillery, and three companies of rifemen.-
One division, however, was obliged to return,
or it would have persisted by hunger After
suffering almost incredible hardships he, in six
weeks arrived at Point Levi, opposite Quebec.
The appearance of an army, emerging from the
wilderness, threw the city into the greatest con-
sternation. In this moment OF surprise Arnold
might probably have become master of the
place, but the small crafts and boats in the river
were removed out Of his reach It seems, fur
thermore, that his approach was not altogether
unexpected He had imprudently, number
of DAYS before, sent forward letter to friend
by an Indian, who betrayed him. A delay of
several days on account of the difficulty of pas
sing the river was inevitable, and the critical
moment was lost.
On the 14th of November he crossed the St.
Lawrence in the night; and, ascending the
precipice which the brave Wolfe had climbed
before him, formed his small corps on the height
near the ever memorable heights of Abraham
With only about seven hundred men, one third
of whose mHskets had been rendered useless in
the march through the wilderness, success could
not be expected
After parading some days on the heights
near the town, and sending two flags to sum-
mon the inhabitants to surrender, he retired to
Point-aug- Trembles, twenty miles above Que
bee, and then awaited the arrival of Montgo-
merry who Joined him on the first of December.
The city was Immediately besieged, but the
best measures mad been taken for it's defence,
On the morning of December Slst the assault
was made on the other side of the city by Mont
gomery, who was unfortunately killed.
At the same time Colonel Arnold, at the
head of about three hundred and fifty men,
made desperate attack on the opposite side.
Advancing with the utmost intrepidity along
the ST. Charles, through narrow path, exposed
to an incessant FIRE of grape shot and musketry
(musquetry); as he approached the first barrier
he received musket ball in the leg; which shat
tered the bone and he was carried off to the
camp.
Though the attack was unsuccessful, the
blockade Of Quebec was continued till May,
1776 when the army, which was in no oondi-
ton to risk an assault, was removed to more
defensbe position.
Col Arnold was compelled to relinquish one
post after another, till the 18th of June, when
he quilted Canada. After this period, he ex
hihifad oraot hravory in tho command of tho
American feet on Lake Champlain. In Au-
gust, l777, he relieved Fort Schuyler, then IN
der the command of Colonel Gainesvoort, Ga
Hollander,) which was invested by Colonel St.
Leger, with an army of from fifteen to eighteen
hundred men,
In the battle near Saltwater, Sept. 10th, he
conducted himself with his usual intrepidity,
being engaged necessarily, for four hours. In
the action of October 18th, after the British
had been driven iato the lines, Arnold pressed
forward and, under tremendous fire, assaulted
their works from right to left. The intrench-
ments were at length forced, and with few
men he actually entered the works; bnt his
horse being killed, and he himself badly wounded
in the Leg he found it necessary to withdraw,
and as it was almost dark, to desist from further
attack
But now for the other side of the picture. l
sincerely wish, Mr. Editor, for the sake of hu-
mainly that the curtain could here be drawn,
and for ever hide his faults, but it has not, and
cannot be done nou This is the commence
ment of his downward career. Being now rem