The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22

tested Arnold managed to have the case
delayed many months.
Arnold, high spirited. fiery tempered
and malignant in his anger. could hardly
contain himself during this period. 1t
was cruel way to treat man who had
sacrificed a private fortune and shed his
blood for his cUuntry's cause. Arnold
saw nothing Of his own shortc omings
and misdeeds. lie ascribed all his
troubles to his i'll wishers in the army
and in Congress. lie pointed out how
promotion had been denied to him at
various times despite the recommended
ton OF Washington: how he had been
Inundated, insulted and abused in re-
turn for the services he had rendered
the cause and how now, when among
other things, he was charged with
thievery. even the Justice OF a speedy
trial was denied to him.
No one who does not know the char
acter OF Arnold can appreciate how the
months OF delay in getting his case tried
affected him. When, finally, he got
hearing, he conducted his argument
ably and. he thought, convincingly.
Much to his surprise and chagrin. the
court martiars finding. while in its
general tenor 1t acquitted Arnold Of in
territorial wrong. declared ne had been
most imprudent and his fault was 80
great that he should receive a public
reprimand.
That, to Arnold. meant disgrace. What
did his services mean, II he was to be
rebukcd by the nation? George Wash
ington was designated to administer the
reprmand. Nothing could have been
more distasteful to Washington. He
reprma nded Arnold in the presence of
the army, but the reprimand had all the
kindness and courtesy Washington could
put into 1t and still carry out the letter
Of the verdict.
Arnold resigned at once as Governor
of Philadelphia. Much as he took to
heart his own individual troubles. he
took the sorrows OF his young wife more
To her the change In his situation was
a great calamity. 1t meant an end to
her aueenship in society and an end to
the great dinners and the parties With
out gayety and all the social glories
life did not seem to her to be worth
living. She was young; the serious
things Of life did not appeal to her
The tears OF a girl wife are enough
to affect a young husband, not 10 men
ton a middle aged one.
Arnold. feeling that his army career
was ended, determined to go to western
New York and there take up great
stretch of land and develop an estate
which would make him man OF
wealth. lie told Washington Of his
plan and the General advised against
it, The command in chief out Of the
Kindness of his heart sought to rectify
so far as he could such injustice as
had been done to Arnold. In order
that Arnold might rehabilitate himself
Washington proposed that he take com
mand Of the division Of the Hudson
the mos, important military division in
his gift.
Poor Benedict Arnold. Never did
man show greater faith in him than
did George Washington; never did man
make foulcr return than did the hero Of
Saratoga and Quebec.
Arnold went to the Hudson and as
sumed command. With him went his
wife. and she was dearer to him now
than ever. for she had presented son
to him.. y
At West Point. or Maybe before ne
got there. Arnold got In communication
with the British. AS fate would have it
the man with whom he held communi-
cation was the same Andre who had
been sutton for the hand OF pretty
Peggy Shipper. There are some his
torians who say that Peggy shipper
kept up correspondence with Andre
from the time he was in Philadelphia
and that she laid bare Ia Andre her
husbands wrongs or fancied wrongs
and the feelings he entertained and the
f.n Sh... In.
At any rate Andre, clever. diplomatic.
suave. was sent by Gen. Clinton To deal
with Arnold. II was not a task that
Andre liked. He was soldier. so he
obeyed ordsys. Arnold sold himself,
sold his honor sold his country and
sold his soul. He agreed for money