Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-03-22
Mrs. Benedict Arnold
ST AR. PARTON.

BV MR. PARTON.
We catch our first view of this unhappy
lady on a bright May day, in 1776, when
she took part in a famous and splendid pa
geant at Philadelphia. She was then a
beautiful girl Of eighteen-Aiiss Margaret
Shippen-the daughter Of an opulent and
ancient Philadelphia family, and one of the
reigning bellies Of that town. Her ances-
tors were among the first settlers of Penn
sylvania, and her great grandfather was the
first Mayor of Philadelphia. I'm the course
of time the family had acquired great pos
Sessions and, laying aside the Quaker
garb, had become members of the Church
of England. During the controversy be-
tween the thirteen colonies and the King,
which ended in the Revolutionary war,
Edward Shipper, her father, the head OF
the family, was inclined TO the Kings side.
1t was May Is, ITS. For many months
the British army had been quartered in
Philadelphia, commanded by Major Gen
eral Sic William Howe. The General had
now been superseded, and was about to re-
turn to England. The officers of the
army, a wealthy class who had nothing to
do, seized the OCCASION of his retirement to
amuse themselves by giving a grand festi-
val in his honor; and this was the day upon
which it was to be held.
The affair began with grand regatta
upon the Delaware river: or, rather a long
procession Of galleys and barges, filed with
officers aud ladies, which were rowed
slowly down the whole length of the city,
in IN avenue formed by the shore crowded
with spectators, and line of nen-of-war
and transport Ships, gaily dressed with
flags and Streamefs. At half-past four in
the afternoon the bargeS began to move,
the oars keeping time to martial music !;
and when they had arrived opposite Mar
kot street they al lay upon their oars,
while the bands played "God Save the
King" after which the soldiers gave three
cheers.
Continuing their course, the company
were conveyed past The city to where a
grand tournament was to take place; and
it was in this portion Of the entertainment
that Margaret Sbipaep shone. A spacious
field, surrounded b.. troops, had been pre-
pared for the contest. Upon one side were
Stationed all the bands of music in the
army. There were also two pavilions,
with IONS Of benches, one above the other,
filed with the most distinguished ladies OF
the city.
On the front seat Of these pavilions were
placed seven Of the most beautiful young
ladies PennSy lvauia could boast. They were
dressed in Turkish cOstume-trOwsers, tu-
MICS, and tUrbans-and III their turbans
they wore the favorS With which they in
tended to rev ard the knights who were to
contend in their honor. among these love-
" maidenS sat Miss Margaret Sbippen.-
One OF the knights who figured in the tour
nament was Captain Andre, her familiar
acquaintance. Little could either of them
have thought, on this bright day, how IA
tally their destinieS were involved.
The trumpet sounded. The herald ap-
peared. The challenge was delivered, and
the contest occurred which ended without
the loss Of blood TO the satisfaction of all
concerned, AT the con cluson of the tour
nament, the company were lIsheTed into a
magnificent ballroom decorated, we are
told, by eighty-five mirrors, and lighted by
thirty-foDr branches of wax candles. The
ball was opened by the fourteen bellies in
Turkish dress and their fourteen knights
one Lieutenant Sloper being the knight
who led Miss Shipper out to the dance. At
10 o'clock the windows were thrown open,
and n splendid display Of fircvnrlls was ex-
hibited. .... s.r
At IL, large folding doors, which had
hitherto been concealed, were suddenly
thrown open, which revealed a gorgeous
saloon two hundred and ten feet long,
forty feet wide, and twenty-five feet high,
with three alcOVes on each side. This was
the supper room. L pom the tables there
were twelve hundred dishes. As the guests
entered the room great nttluber of black
slaves, III oriental costumes, ranged III two
lines, bowed 10 the floor This vast
apartment wassoue splendor of wax liShts.
flnWcrs, ribbons, flags, mirrors and silver
plate. One of the regular tOasts Oft Oc-
casion was, Miss Shipper and her knight"
Alter supper the company returned to the
ballroom aud kept up the dance til ! in
the morning, reaching their homes about
sunrise. .t.
This festival, as Major LAu,ire remarks.
WAS the most, splendid ever given by any
army to its chief. But little indeed, had
that chief done to deserve it. An old
officer Of the British army, who perceived
the folly Of paying such eXtrayagant horrors
to General who had won no victories,
said, sadly: "Wh7t viii Washington think
of all this ~ p
Exactly month from that div the Brit
ish army evacuated Philadelphia, and away
they sped across Jersey, with General
Washington at their heels. 4 dav or two
after body~of American troops marched
in, commanded by General Benedict Az
mold. All was changed. The red coats
had diSappeared-blue coats were in the
ascendant; and the new Yankee general
was the foremost man in the city. Arnold,
a vain, weak man, ever fond of DISPLAY
and luxury, appropriated to himself one of
the bands0mcst houses in the town; here
he setrup a costly csta blisnnent, kept a
great many servants, gave splendid din
ners, and maintained a handsome equipage
drawn by four horseS-a scale of expense
utterly Incompatible either with his for
tune or his pay. No one, however, knew
at the time that, 10 maintain this costly
pomp, he was concerned in specuIations
unworthy Of an officer and "a gentleman,
and sometimes used the public money thai
passed through his hands.
In inviting his guests, us the patriotic
portion ofthe people remarked with sur
prise, he was as likely to select Tories as
Wings. He seemed to court the atiherents
Of the king, and he frequently lad at his
table the wives and daughters Of public
enemies, who had been publicly proscrib-
ed, and had found refuge with the enemy
In New ork. Among the families who
attracted his regard was that of Edward
ShIppen, and he was soon OBJ served to nav
particular court to his daughter. Margarcf.
Arnold was then widoWer, thirty-eioht
years OF age, just twenty years older than
the young lady. Ere long he formally asked
her hand from her father, and, her father
consenting, he addressed tie daughter, and
"a In the meantime Arnold had become SO
odious by his extrayagance and hin inso-
lent, overbearing conduct to the people,
that Congress was obliged to take cogniz-
ance of the fact. On the very geyc Of his
marriage, be was ordered to be tried by q
court-martial. Miss Shipper, however, was
true to her engagement, aud married him
five days after. The court~1nartial, as
every one knows, sentenced him to be rep
rinanded by. General Washington, and he
was reprimanded accordingly. : a, Sc -
\. Our r,r.,fnssinn- ,, SAIL Cen. ashino.-