The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23

o,oa 80 tho commander-in-chief of the
eritish army al WcstOVer. who return
ed for answer the following letter. or
I have This minute received the letter
delivered to Colonel Dundas this mornihS'
You have my permission 10 come uo""
to Westover with your Tag 'oi Iuc'l'
as wish TO give every possible satlslac-
ton in my power to the peac'',ulg ,,,'D
innocent Inhabitants Of this unhappy
country. Such negroes. horses &C. us
can he given NJ. consistent win ny
duty. shall be delivered 10 you, II my
conditions are agreeable. | am SIR, your
huahl. servant. Il. Arnold. 3. G.
Colonel Nicholas. knowing The neTce-
nary character of Arnold. penetrated the
rcotivcs of the latter. in the following
comments. given TO the Governor: AS
IT plainly appears in this letter that this
villain. agreeable to his past acuonS'
actuated by motives Of gain ana ras'aiy
pursuits is determined TO discriminate IN
what he may think favor. Major DICK
will descend in no degree below the spirit
of a true American son; or do anything
deroratorv to the interests Of his patri-
otto countrymcn. and may by Arnold
daring confidence in his own power ana
great contempt Of ours, be permitted 20
such familiar lengths as TO put 1t into
his power to give you some certain ana
Interesting accounts. My advice TO the
Major is that he shall receive no property
without on indiscriminate return Of prop
ertv shall take place. as anything we re-
ceive might tend. not only TO encourage
our internal enemies. but TO shock and
render doubtful the feelings OF our friends
who may i'm future come within their
power" Il expect to hear from
General Nelson every minute" &c. Il
am. sir. with great respect, your most
obcGient servant" &c.
From these official communications TO
the Governor 1t is seen that nearly
week had elapsed since Arnold mad land
ed at Westovcr. and that his army had
not yet reached Richmond. on the 10th
Of January Captain Nicholas videttes
were fired upon by party of Simcoe's
cavalry in the rear Of Malvern Hills. A
short time afterwards we find the little
band Of Virginia militia drawn up on the
heights of Richmond, near what is now
known as Fulton, flattering themselves
with the hope of defending the capital.
1t was soon found. from the dispositions
made by the enemy and from his greatly
superior force, especially OF cavalry, that
this could not be done. At that time
most Of the town was on the eastern
side Of Shockoe creek and close TO the
river. The entire population was only
ABOUT l,etN u NiOlll man WNiN IN 81
slaves. After a short skirmish alonG the
hills overlooking what Is now Port Mayo,
and a sharp resistance in the streets
Of Rockets. Colonel Nicholas was forced
TO seek safety by retreating 10 the inte-
rior Of the country. The British took
possession Of the town, and proceeded TO
destroy what public stores we're le1t. FOR
tunately many Of these had been carried
off by order Of the Governor, While he
and other prominent citizens had lied the
city. Arnold did not wish TO destroy the
tobacco found in the large warehouses;
which then stood near the river. He Nas
a penurious man, and was Tor piundcr'
Consequently be caused TO be burned only
what OF that commodity he could not
carry off. Ii is well known that after the
forav was over. and he had retired to the
lower James, he was constantly IN
volved I'm disputes with his own oihcers
and those OF the feet in the disposition
! of the spoils From letter 70 Governor
jefferson. in March. 1881, giving gen
| eral account Of what the enemys lana
and naval forces were doing in ana ABOUT
HAMPTON Roads and the neighborlng
country, the following extracts snow III
what respect the traitor was held: "a
quarrel has happened between Arnold
| and Commodore Symmonds relative 10
the division Of tobacco and other articles
/ taken by the navy while the ermy was
! embarked: that Arnold is not on speaking
terms with the officers Of the navy ana
much dctested and suspected by the OF
| ficers of the army" Dunbar and Arnold
/ have had a violent quarrel. The British
| officers take part with Dunbar; the pro-
! vinclal officers adhere TO Arnold. his
! latter remark is easily explained Simcoe
commanded body of traitors or pro-
vincials loyal 10 the King. and or course
| their sympathies would be with the arch-
| traitor.
II may not be amiss TO refer here to a
| characteristic anecdote OF this migrate
recorded by Cartwright in his Coast o.
Labrador" After tie peace Of 1888, Ar
mold resided in Canada until October "
1856. the fifth anniversary Of the surrender
at Yorktown, where he with his servan
and Cartwright embarked for England In
/ the brig. John" Just before their de-
parture they conformity laid In supply
| Of choice stores for their own use durlns
the voyage; among which was quantity
Of wine. On the 2d furious gaze al
/ most destroyed the vessel, reducing mel
10 an unmanageable hulk. until the ere"
/ succeeded In constructing a temporary
| rigging by means of which they were
! enabled TO pursue their slow and periious
vyav. In the meantime their provisions
were wasting, and their supply OF water
/ had become so small that II was iouHo
necessary TO issue rations OF one quar-
a day TO the seamen. and one pint TO the
passengers. At length on the 2th OF
November after suffering many nara
ships, they were furnished with supplies
by a vessel off the coast of Ireland. III
/ due time they managed TO get the piit
/ safely into port when Cartwright mac
the modification 10 learn from the mate
OF the vessel that while they We're al
enduring the pangs Of thirst on their ions
and perilous journey, Arnold and ms ser
want had enjoyed good supply OF water
He had. by means OF the latter. managed
TO barter away TO the seamen. In exchange
for part OF their ration OF water, th'
wine that belonged only In part TO him
self. and without the knowledge OF M
partner To verify the fact, and afte,
Arnold had quit the vessel. the locker
was examined. and in It were found on