The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-27
THE TREASON OF BENEDICT ARNOLD
Siv Henry Clinton's Aocout.

siv Henry Clintons Accout.
In the margin of page 24s of the second
volume of stedmans "hstory of the origin
progress and termination of the American
war;" ON which page We have the account
of the base attempt Of Benedict Arnold to
deliver West Point into the hands of the
enemy, Sir Henry makes this brief COM
ment upen the story as related by Sted-
man: IGNORANCE of the whole transaction
too tender subject to explain upon
now" Subsequently he wrote an account
which may CRAFTY curiosity as showing
how an English officer Of high rank re-
garded an affair which we have been wont
to place among tie most atrocious that
occurred during the whole war. The ac-
count referred to is found on two or three
blank leaves at the end of the second vol
ume of Stedman's history, and was evl-
IDENTIFY written there by its author. IT seems
TO have been drawn up some time in the
spring of 1889, and is as follows:
About eighteen months before the pres
ent period Mr.. Arnold Ga major general in
the American service) had found means to
intimate to me, that having found cause to
be dissatisfied with many late proceedings
of the American congress, particularly their
alliance with France, he was DESTROYS of
quitting them and joining the cause of
Great Britain, could he be certain of per-
sonal security, and Naturalization for
whatever loss of property he might thereby
sustain. An overture of that sort coming
from an officer of Mr.. Arnold's ability and
fame, could not but attract my attention,
and as | thought ii possible that like anoth-
er general, monk, he might have repentcd
of the part he had taken, and wished TO
make attonement for the injuries he had
done his country by rendering her signal
and adequate benefit, / was. of course, lib
eral, In making him such offers and prom.
ises as Judged most likely to encourage
him in his present temper. A correspond
ence was after this opened under felgnei
name in the course of which, he from time,
transmitted to me most material intelli-
gence; and with n view Gas | supposedly of
rendering us till more essential service, he
obtained in July 1880 the command of all
the enemy's forts in the highlands, then
garrsoned by about 1000 men. The local
Importance of the posts has already been
very fully described. 1t is therefore scarce
ly necessary to observe how that the OBJ
tanning possession of them at the present
critical period would have been most de-
sirable circumstance and that the adyan-
tages to be drawn from Mr.. Arnod's having
the command of them, struck me with full
force, the instant heard of his appoint
ment. But the arrival of the French ar
mament, the consequent expedition to
Rhode Island, and the weakness of my
own force together with the then daily in
crease of Mr.. Washington's obliged me to
wait for some more favorable opportunity
before | attempted to put that gentleman's
sincerity to the proof.
In the mean time, wishing to reduce to
an absolute certainty whether the person,
had so long corresponded with was ac-
tually Major General Arnold commanding
at West Point. acceded to proposal he
made me to permit same officer in my con-
fidence TO have personal conference with
him, where every thing might be more ex-
plicity settled than it was possible to do by
letter. and as he required that my Adjutant
General Major Andre (whO had chiefly
conducted the correspondence with him
under the signature of John Anderson)
should meet him for this purpose on Neu-
trail ground, was induced TO consent to
his doing 80 from my great confidence IN
that officers prudence and address. Some
attempts towards meeting had been ac-
cordingly made before Sir George Rodney 8
arrival. But though the plans had been
well laid, they were constantly frustrated
by some untoward accident or other one
of which had very nearly cost Mr.. Arnold
his life. These disappointments made him
OF course, cautious and as | now became
anxious to forward the execution of my
project while could have that naval chiefs
assistance, and under so good q mask as the
expedition for the Chesapeake, which en-
abcd me to make every requisite prepara-
ton without being suspected, j consented
To another proposal from General Arnold
fol Major Andre to to him by water from
Dobbs ferry In boat which he would
himself send for him under flag of Truce
For | could haye no reason to suspect that
any bad consequence could possibly result
TO Major Andre from such mode. as
had given 1t in charge to him, not to chang
his dress or name on any account, or pos
sess himself of writings by which the ma
ture of his embassy might be traced, and
understood that after his business was fin
ished he was to be sent back in the SAINT
way. But unhappily none of these pre-
cautions were observed; Oh the contrary
Gen. Arnold, for reasons which he judge
important or perhaps (Which is the mos
probably losing at the moment his presencl
of mind, thought proper to drop the de
sign of sending Major Andre back by water
aud prevailed upon him Cor rather compel
ed him, as would appear by that unfortu
nate officers letter to me- to part with hi
uniform and under borrowed disguise Il
take circuitous route 10 New Yorl
through the posts OF the enemy under thu