The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-09
Benedict Arnold.

In your city, during the present week.
there will be gathering of the de.
scendants of the Il. Z. Ioxalists ,+
Which time there will be gathered many
OF the descendants of those who from
various motives left the rebellious colo
mes and settled principally on the St.
Lawrence, the Bay of Quinte. and tbn
Niagara district.
l for one have no love for Tories of
those times no more than | have for
those of to-day, who now in this eper-
waited country, through the timid and
patient and long suffering nature of the
mass OF the people, ase allowed to rob
and rule
1t may be of interest to your readers
at this time to be informed who some
OF the descendants are, and other facts
collected from various sources by one
VINO with eager interest sympathizes
with all the past conflicts of the mass
OF the people for natural rights, against
prerogaslyes, privileges, and uncon-
troted authority, and trusts to see vet
history repeat itself even here, for we
would be discouraged had we not faith
IN the spirit of justice to some dav soon
assert itself, peaceful if possible, if not.
otherwise.
The distance of one kindred wears
or more and the wonderful results ne
compllshed in that time in that country
add charm to the characters who were
active in the American cause. while on
the othe' side the hundred years has
nearly buried in the dust of obscuritv
the names of those who landed hy the
waters in the wilderness of Canada.
Near what is now the Rideau Canal.
at kilmarnock Lock in the township
OF Montague, County of Leeds, are
buried the mortal remains of Hannah
Arnold, who wrote the following lines
from her home in Connecticut to the
most intrepid, daring, and outrageous
General in the Army of the American 5
Dear Brother.-Take this opportunity to
congratulate you on your late success in rt-
ducing Tinconderoga and making Yourself
master of the vessels on the Lakes. The
cause is undoubtedly just one. Hope Won
may have health, strength, fortitude and
yalour for whatever you may be called to.
&c., &c.
Your affectionate sister,
HANNAH ARNOLD.
These lines were addressed to GEN
eral Benedict Arnold, whose services to
the cause of the Americans it is harI TO
estimate.
Ii is not my intention to go over his
life, to Justify any of his acts, or to
draw him as an example.
| might say if the bail that broke his
leg when leading on the Americans at
Saratoga, which deformed him for life,
had struck mortal part, to-day his
name would be honored. his remains
would be stored in mausolenm. and his
memory would be cherished by his
countrymen; but, sad fate, he died not
soon enough to be honored.
While it is not necessary to extenuate
his crime, or to call it other than trea-
son, we must not forget that there has
been parallels in the world; also, that
he wa, a man who, if circumstances
had been different. might have been one
OF the highest honorcd names of 100
years ago
After vsryinS conditions Benedict
Arnold died and was buried in London
in 1911, ag-d sixty years. His sons,
Richard, Henry and John, came to
Canada about 1898, to look after the
land granted their father consisting OF
Is, 400 acres in the counties of Leeds
and Greenyille. The sots engaged in
business and married. and We're leading
and left large families, who
are now some of our most valued and
honored friends and countrymen, and,
like their grandfather, are generous
and sympathetic.
have in my possession General Ar
nold's military coat, owned by his
grandson, which consider Of interest
to the curious and antiquarian, or your
York pioneers.
There are other names of note which |
are Of interest, but at present space will |
not admit. The ancestor of our present |
Governor of Ontario was an important |
factor in that time. Ii the papers of |
the family are preserved would be Of |
particularly concerning the |
Of Arnold, Andre and Robin |
son, at Robinson House on the Hudson. |
Cor Toronto Globe