The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-06
PATRIOTS DEBT TO ARNOLD.
He impoverished Himself TO Rear
and Educate the Children of Gem
eraI Warren.

anu NhC UCh-
craI Warren.
From the Chicago Record Herald.
If the forming Of the many societies in
which membership is based on the having
OF an ancestor who fought or did some
thing else for his country a century or so
ago serves no other purpose it at least is
the means Of bringing to light some more
than half-hidden bits of American history
| too interesting to be lost either TO sight or
memory. For the last few years the gen.
ealogy departments of the reference libra
| ries of the country have been more popu-
lar with the masses than any other rooms
| in the buildings There are gathered daily
! throngs composed to the five-sixths part
of women studying away for dear life in
| the endeavor to find trace of some ances-
| tor who saw the whites of the British
eyes at Bunker Hill or Wtho ate sweet po-
tatoes for steady diet with Sumter in the
| Carolinas. The discoveries made by these
delivers into family histories if put into
a volume would form valuable addition
10 the graver records of a government.
Some matters touching Benedict Arnold
which were perhaps well enough known
a century ago. but which had lapsed into
forgetfulness, were found recently by a
Revolutionary daughter" who for certain
reasons was trying TO find something to
tighten Benedict's black history.
To Nero's Advantage.
When it is once said with truth that a
man is a traitor to his country the dam
nation is deep enough to keep his oon-
temporaries and following generation or
two from any attempt to. find anything
that might redeem the traitors soul from
|
Is blotted out of the revolutionary roll of
honor on the walls of the chapel at West
Point on some monuments and on many
a page of history Anold's name appears,
but nowhere may it be seen separated
from the title of traitor" The English.
who were to have profited by Arnolds
treason, hated the traitor after he had
Joined their ranks. British officers would
hold no fellowship with him, and his
memory is execrated in England to-day.
The British loyalists who left the colo
MES at the outbreak of the revolutionary
war and went their way into New Bruins
wick showed Arnold when he afterward
went to dwell among them that they
held him in nothing short of loathing.
Arnold has been likened unto Nero and
Nero has gained by the comparison. Ne
no merely fiddled as Rome went up in
flames, while Arnold is pictured as smil-
ing exultantly at the burning under his
| orders of his birthplace and at the sub
sequent putting of many of the surren-
dered Americans to the sword. 1t is
| told that when New London and Groton
were attacked and burned Arnold COM
manding the attacking forces, had no
word of reproof for the officer who upon
receiving the sword of Col. William Led
yard, the American commander, in token
of surrender, murdered the colonial SOL
der with the weapon which he had pre-
scented hilt on to his conqueror. This
is the midnight scroll, and that upon it
may appear small tracing in letters of
light is a matter of interest, though 1t
may do nothing toward the redeeming
of a name.
The Traitors Humanity.
1t is a Daughter of the Revolution. Mrs.
Gilbert w Warren of lion, N. Y, who
has brought attention to a well-night for
gotten fragment OF Arnold's history. Mrs
Warren is a descendant of Col. William
Ledyard who was killed with his own
sword after he had surrendered 1t to an
officer serving under Arnold. Naturally
Mrs Warren would not be moved by any
hereditary love for Arnold to start her
digging UP nice things about him. 1t
happens, however, that Mrs. Warren's
husband is collaterally descended from
Gen. Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker
Hill This fact led to the discovery OF
something which was used as a sort OF
offset TO Arnolds treatment OF the un-
lucky Americans who met his forces
along the banks of the Connecticut
Thames Gen Arnold had met Gen. War
rem in the early spring of 1775 and had
formed strong personal liking for him.
When Warren was killed 1t was found
that he left no means for the support
and education of his four children. Ar
mold became deeply interested in the mat
ter and brought the childrens condition
to the attention of the Continental Con-
Rress, which promised to do something
for the Titles ones. but dilly -dallied over
the matter. Arnold had an idea that the
| Congress might not act quickly, and so
he wrote a letter of tender solicitude TO
Mercy Schollay. who was caring for the
Warren children, their mother having
died some time before. In this letter
| Arnold nearly Impoverished himself sent
| an order for $500 with instructions that
| he should be drawn upon for more as soon
| as Il was needed. This contribution of
! the traitor saved Elizabeth. Joseph, Mary
/ and Richard Warren from restitution.
| Arnold was not satisfied with this, but
he wrote squirting letters to Sam Adams
1 and John Hancock of the committee
which had the proposed Congressional APP
preparation in hand. Then he sent home
more money and sold: Send Richard.
who is now old enough. to the best school
that can be found. clothe him handsome
lv. give him all that he needs and call
upon me for any future expense"
His Last Year.
How much for thought may be found
IN one OF the letters of Benedict Arnold,
traitor. written to Miss Schollay just be
fore his treason. He had sent some more
money and had congratulated the children
On the prospect that the money from
| Congress would be speedily forthcoming
"a country" said Arnold. SHOULD be ever
grateful to the patriot who lays down his
life In its defense. Greater love hath nc
man than this
What surging thoughts must have
whelmed this mans brain as he wrote
these words That letter was received
lust at the time that Arnold began nego-
tiations with Clinton.
school histories say that after che revo-
luton Arnold passed all his time In Eng
land He lived. however. for a long pc
riod In st. John. New Brunswick. There
he engaged In commercial pursuits send.