Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-13
BENEDICT ARNOLD,s WIFE.
Headabie Leaves from the Life History
Of an Unhappy Lady.
MARRIED FIVE DAYS AFTER HIS COURT-MARTIAI,-
WAS SHE A TRAITOR. TOO?
From the New York Truth

From the New York Truth
We catch our first views Of this unhappy lady
on bright May day in IT'S, when she took part
In famous and splendid pageant in PhiladeI-
phia- She was then beautiful girl of eighteen
Miss Margaret Shippen-the daughter of an
opulent and ancient Philadelphia family, and
one of the regning bellies of that town. Her
ancestors were among the first settlers of Penn
sylvania. and her great-grandfather was the
first mayor of Philadelphia. In the course OF
time the family had acquired great possessions,
and. laying aside the Quaker garb had become
members Of the Church of England During
the controversy between 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, IT'S. For many months the
BRUSH army had been quartered in Philadel-
phia, commanded by Maj. Gen William Howe.
The general had been superseded and was about
TO return to England. The officers of the army.
a wealthy class who had nothing to do, seized
the occasion of his retirement to amuse them
selves by giving grand festival in his honor,
held
The affair began with grand regatta upon
the Delaware river, or. rather. a long process
sion of galleys and barges, filled with officers
and ladies, which were rOwed slowly down the
whole length of the city, in an avenue formed
by the shore crowded with spectators. and line
Of men of-war and transport ships, gayly dressed
with flags and streamers. At 4:30 in the after
noon the barges began to move, the oars keep
ing time to martial music; and when they had
arrived opposite Market street they all Law 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 grand
tournament was to take place. and it was in this
portion of tbesentertainment that MargaretShp-
pen shOne. spacious field, surrounded by
troops, had been prepared for the contest. Upon
one side was stationed all the bands of music in
the army. There were also two pavions. with
benches one above another, filled with the most
distinguished ladies of the city.
On the front seat of each Of these pavilions
were placed seven Of the most beautiful young
ladies Pennsylvania could boast. They were
dressed i'm Turkish costume-trousers tunics
and turbans-and in their turbans they wore
the favOrs with which they intended to reward
the knights who were to contend i'm their honor
Among those lovely maidens sat Miss Margaret
Shipper. One of the knights who figured in
the tournament was Capt Andre. her familiar
acquaintance. Little could either of them have
thought, on that bright day, how fatally their
destlnleS were involved.
THE TRUMPET SOUNDED,
The herald appeared. The challenge was deliv-
cred and the contest occurred, which ended
without the loss of blood, to the satisfaction of
all concerned. At the conclusion of the tourna-
ment the company was ushered into magnifi-
cent ballroom, decorated, we are told, by
eighty-five mirrors and lighted by thirty four
branches OF wax candles. The ball was opened
6y the fourteen bellies in Turkish dress and their
fourteen knights-One. Lieut.. Sloper, being the
knight who led Miss Shipper out to the dance
At 10 O'Clock the windows were thrown open
and splendid display OF fireworks was eXhib-
tied.
At IL. large folding doors, which had hitherto
been concealed were suddenly thrown open.
which revealed gorgeous saloon 21O feet long.
4O feet wide and % feet high. with three alcOves
on each side. This Was the supper room. Upon
the table there were 200 dishes. AS the guests
entered great number of black slaves in Orien-
tai costumes. ranged in two lines bowed to the
ground. This vast apartment was one splendor
of wax lights, flowers. ribbons mirrors and sill
yer plate One of the regular tOasts of the Oc-
casion was Miss Shipper and Her Knight"
Alter supper the company returned to the ball
room and kept uD the dance until in the MORN
ing. reaching their homes at sunrise.
The festival. as Major Andre remarks, was the
most splendid ever given by an army to its
chief. And little, indeed, had the chief done to
deserve it. An old officer of the British army,
who perceived the folly of paying such extrava-
giant hOnOrs to a general who had won no victo-
this."
Exactly month from that day the British
army evacuated Philadelphia, and away they
sped across Jersey. with Gen. Washington at
their heels. day or two after q body of Amer
lean troops marched in, commanded by Gen.
Benedict Arnold. All was changed. The red
coats had disappeared-bue coats were in the
ascendant and the new Yankee general was the
foremost man in the city. Arnold. vain. weak
man. ever fond of display and luxury. appropri-
ated to himself one of the handsomest houses
in the town, where he set up costly establish
ment. kept great many servants. gave spien-
did dinners and maintained handsome equip
age drawn by four hOrses-a scale of expenses
utterly incompatible either with his fortune or
his pay. No one. however, knew at the time
That to maintain the costly pOmp he was con-
cerGed in speculatiOns unworthy of an officer
and gentleman. and sometimes used the public
money that passed through his hands.
In inviting his guests, as the patriotic portion
of the people remarked with surprise, he was as
likely to select tories as wings. He seemed to
court the adherents of the king. and he fire.
quently had at his table the wives and daugh-
ters OF public enemies who had been publicly
prescribed and had found refuge with the enemy
In New York. Among the families who at
tracted his regard was that of Edward Shipper.
and he was soon observed to pay particular
court to his daughter Margaret. Arnold was
then widOwer. thirty eight 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
the daughter and they were engaged
IN THE MEANTIME
Arnold had become so odious by his extrava-
CANT and his insOlent, Overbearing conduct to
the people that Congress was obliged to take
cogniZance of the fact. On the very eve of his
marriage he was ordered to be tried by court
martial. Miss Shipper, however, was true to
her engagement, and married him five DAYS
after. The cOurt-inartial. as every one knows
sentenced him to be reprimanded by Cen Wash
lngtOn. and he was reprimanded accordingly
Our profession" said Gen. Washington to
him, lis the chastest of all; even the shadow of
a fault furnishes the lustre of our finest achieve
ments. The least inadvertence may rob us of
the public favor, so hard to be acquired. rep
rehend you for having forgotten that i'm proper
ton as you had rendered yourself formidable to
your enemies you should have been guarded and
temperate in your department toward your fell
low citizens. Exhibit anew those noble quail
ties which have placed you on the list Of our
most valuable commanders. / will myself fur
nish you, as far as it may be in my power, with
opportunities OF regaining the esteem Of our
country"
This was more like a eulogium than a repri-
mand, but it did not touch the heart OF Arnold,
who went from the presence of his commander.
not to regain the esteem Of his country, but to
betray that country.
A year passed aWay He was in command at