The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-23
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barked on such a career when the guns at
Lexington brought him into the field.
Trumbull, who was governor of the
Connecticut colony, greatly admired Ar
nold's energy in getting his company to-
gether within an hour after the messen-
ger brought the news of Lexington, and
at the bayonet's point demanding pow
der from the hesitating New Haven au-
thorities, and then, equipped, leading
them in the march across country to
Boston. It was Trumbull who advised
Washington of this exploit, SO that
Washington became early impressed
with Arnold's military ardor and ability.
Arnold's achievement IN taking an
army across the wilds of Maine to Que
bee, which has been 1kened by some
writers to the marches of Xenophon or
Hannibal, gained for him the warmest
friendship of Washington.
Arnold's letters show that the only
man in Revolutionary times for whom
he felt either fear or respect was Wash
ington. In Washington's presence Ar
mold was subdued, gracious and respect
full. Some of his letters indicate that he
had for Washington a feeling he had for
no other man, something Of affection,
and it was apparentt to those who studied
the life of Arnold that the only person
before whom he stood tanned and whose
authority he cheerfully acknowledged
was Washington. That indicates some-
thing of that great moral quality which
led Mr.. Gladstone to speak of Washing
ton as perhaps the greatest man since
Luther. When he was contemplating
his awful treachery the only thought
that gave Arnold pain was that Washing
ton would suffer. For the rest he cared
not n jot.
Trumbull, although not so conspicuous
in the agitations which led to the revolt
of the colonies as Sam Adams or John
Hancock OF Roger Sherman OF Thomas
Jefferson, was nevertheless regarded by
Washington as the strongest friend that
he had to lean upon. 1t is probable that
he revealed more of his condolences to
Trumbull than to any other man. They
were something alike in their moral quail
tiles, although Trumbull was Of Puri-
tanic piety, while Washington was not,
though each Of them was a religious
man.
Some fifty years ago the Hon. Learned
Hebard was appointed executor of the
estate of William Williams, who was a
grandson of Jonathan Trumbull, and
whose father was of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence. In the
settlement of the estate Judge Hebard
came across a vast amount of CORE
spondence, including letters which passed
between Washington and Governor
Trumbull. Some Of these letters were
formal business documents; others were
Of a more confidential nature. They re-
vealed on the part of Washington q free
dom from reserve which none of his
other correspondence shows. One or two
of them contained that term which
Washington publicly applied to Gov
n Trumbull, and which for many
years was regarded as q nickname for the
American nation, Brother Jonathan"
Some of Trurmbull's correspondence
was also found, which shows that this
man Of genius and clear intellect. a man
born to be of authority himself, had
recognized in Washington that quality
of greatness early in the time of the
Revolution and before he had demon
strated it to the world. Trumbull's let
tiers, while not extravagant, for be was
not the man to use extravagant terms,
INDICATE that Trp1pbuN reesrdeH Mashr