The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-04
at'Acellna a,ealster.
THE AKCH-l RtITeK BENEDICT
ARNOLD.
Something of Interest as 10 His Life
and Deeds.

Correspondence OF the Register.
"The evils men do live after them,
The good is inferred with their bones
II stood by the grave Of Benedict Ar,
mold" writes an English tourist, sand
thought about all the grand possibilities
of his nature hist never wrought irui'
ton" The patrI,t (Heaven preserves
the mark old fashioned though this
sound has grown 10 be) finds q sturdy
synonym for shame in the name Of this
traitor whose ignononious deeds have
made him better known, perhaps, than 8
grand achievement could have done
But let those VINO turn themselves dehb-
erately to the total depravity doctrine
but halt a moment in their orthodoxy,
and join their weaker brethren in the
raising of white stone TO the memory
of the one great act of his life. The late
Of the struggling colonies, in that tar-ot
time historic, turned on the bat
tie Of Bemis Heights, and the
capture Of BurgOyue. Historians
have tried to wrest from Arnold,
and give TO Gates the glory Of Saratoga,
but Just men will have none Of il. "Let
the DEVILS name be taken lightly saith
DeFoe, "for even he deserves some praise
at worldly hands." "a short cut TO
which is Give the devil his due.") Gates
was professors al troubadour, and fond
er Of loafug in ladies' bowers than of all
the pomp and circumstance Of war, and
but lily fitted to become leader in mo-
mentous hours. Strangely enough,
Schuyler his successor, was of similar
Don John character. The besd and
heart Of that Saratoga army were Daniel
Morgan, John Stark and Benedict Ar.
mold, the last being first in brillisncy Of
competition ana power OF execution, and
WAS the actual commander OF the iorce.
Give me more open country. SAID
Gates when he was sent to Saratoga, and
openly avowed his preference tor the
Lower Mohawk and the Hudson Valley.
Had his advice been carried out, the
disastrous Camden msu puvre
would have had its duplicate.
Arnold is bulldog, and savage
one at that was Gates rejoinder, when
told OF his rivals plan. But Arnold was
gwen carte blanche on that occasion,
sud Gates was necessitated, therefore,
through his fear Of him, and obedience
to commands, to let him take his desper-
ate way-that led to victory. Follow
ing this, Arnold offered his resignation,
which was Instantly accepted by Gates,
whereupon Arnold returned 1t once to
his division and precipita.ed the second
battle OF the Heights, which proved q
victory as brilliant and decisive as the
former, while Gates, eclipsed, wrapped
the drapery of his tent about him, and
suddenly betook himself to dreams Of re
venre for this act of insubordnation,
that mad the effect of frightening his ii
walls glory and driving the soldiers mad
about him, his bravery and wonderful
successes. But Arnold had calmly meas.
ured the Ground on which he stood, and
calculated the consequences OF de-
feat. He stared cOurt-nartlal IN
the face, with the proverbiaI rope,
If found guilty, in the back ground for
scenery. But the God Of battle was his
helper, and the colonists' star was IN, as
cendant from that hour. y, if he mad
but died there. Had BemIs Heights
been redeemed by his valiant blood, then
we Lad one more hero Tor which to have
memorial thaGksSivings. The centen-
NAL of his victory mas passed away, and
more than an hundred years have gone
since then, vet Arnold Is not forgotten.
Somes one who knew his history, or the
darker parts Of it, met him in Italy, a
miserable Pariab, homeless, frieudiess
and poor, waiting for rest IN the grave,
IN which there is no device" to be tor
ever "unwept, unhonered and unsung,"
except as the chief OF msletactors. But
MS SIN bore ample fruit he died without
a country 10 call his own, thrice crown
ed Judas, whose name shall live when
that of better men shall be for
gotten. An autograph letter is yet in
the Collins family of kentucky-:o
whom he was allied by marriage
ten IN stumbling, irregular lines, yet not
devoid OF that dignity of expression that
marked the man, as his best friends knew
aim when he was in the zenith OF his
power. He refers to the battle of Bemls'
Heights, but makes no mention OF his
own vslOr. "The men, who are the VIC
tors always, and not the officers, fought
well, and the day is ours. | have but
ton for Adelside from BuEgoyne's coat,
because she is named for my mother. l
may write you from Lexington. My
wife desires her love to be sent to you.
With affection, yours, B. ARNOLD"
MARY PATTON HUDSON.
EaHGl0ha Co., w. Va.