Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-02-08
aDP INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
HISTORY
PEGGY" ARNoLD ALSO

WAS "FEGOI" AkNOLD ALSO
TRAITOR
Every reader is familiar with the
stsry Of the traitor Benedict Arnold
Of his escape to the British, and Of
the miserable existence during the re-
mainder of-his due to his folly and his
ambition. 1t is one Of the darkest pages
in American history. And it meant not
only the wrecking of his own life, but
that of his American wife, the beautiful
Peggy" Shipper.
When the British army was quartered
in Phila delnhia In ATS one of the gay
eat Of the say throng Of Tory women
who provided entertainment for the Of
heeFs was Mistrass Shipper, who, at thee
time, was celebrated for her beauty, wit
and nobility of character.
| When the British had evacuated the
city, Arnold, who was still too lame from
wound for field service, was put In
command at Philadelphia by Gen. WASH
ington, ana shortly after locating him
self he met fell in love with and became
engaged to marry Peggy Arnold.
The events that followed are familiar
up to the time that Arnold was given
command at West Point and his treachery
was diseeVeFed. When he found that
he was 50 eernered that discovery was
undepbtsa. he summoned with his finger,
Mrs, AFnald from the breakfast table,
tareuAd which sat Geas Lafayette and
KRe8 and others, to her private ROOM
He hastily teld her that he was ruined
man and that he must nee for his life.
Mrs. Arnold swooned while her hus-
band made a nasty exit.
+ Parton, the historian In responsible for
the story that Mrs. Arnold was aware of
her husbands treachery. 1t is said that
upon one occasion she visited Mrs. Pre-
COST, who later married Aaron Burr aiHl
it was to- her that she disclosed her part
in the affair. She told her of how she
had deceived Gen. Washington Col. Ham
! ilton and other American officers who,
, she said believed in her innocence of the
: treason and had given her an escort .ei
: horse from West Paint.
, Mrs. Prevest stated that Mrs. Arnold
/. made no aeFuple Of eeRfssSing the part
she had horne in the negotiations with
the British general, and abe declared
t that it wsa she whe had induced hei
|, husband to do what,h had done. To thi.
4 Mrs. Provost added: She passed tht
night at Paramus tax ne care to resume
her acting Of the outraged and frantic
!. woman whenever strangers were pres
4 ent."
This story, he4eyer, has not been sus
tanned by SYl6OUSG SQIItCIGnL TO SlVC
. authority washington Irving. in hi
1 Life of Washington" evidently refer
: to the Provost story when he says: II
: reeaht years it has been maintained tina
: Mrs. Arnold was actually eaSni1ant an
q lHartieisaat Of her husbands crimes bu
: after carefully examining all proofs ad
: duced we remain Of apiRien that she wa
e innecent,'
To return to the menent when Mr.
a fArneid was told by her husband it va
l. necessary for hi!t to nee, and she ha
ID swoeRed, it. is saio that she RENAME
frantic all day, accusing every one VIII
approached her to nurde her child "a
., Infant in her afms). md exhibited ever
other mark of the most genuine and a;
" enizing distress.
. Exhausted by the fatigue and tunu
If of her spirits, her frenzy subsided t
ly wards evening, and she sank into u
sadness of aAiietion. 1t is said that
" Weuld have been impossible net to ha'
le been touched by her situation, and tn
y she experienced the most delicate atte
m items and every friendly office till her d
a. paFtare fer Philadelphia.
at But MIS-. Arnold was made to feel t
~ weight of her husbands crimes. Thoui
given . safe escort to Philadslphia, s
BE- was quickly ordered by the execut
Of council to leave the state not to retu
during the war. Fourteen days on
sr were allowed for preparation. rhis .
a. der was issued in the firm conviction tn
b. she was Privy to the plot, and had act
,ir a part in tho affair with Andre. But,
ne add to the suRnositian Of her outlines,
is stated that, befere the order Of ks
lie ishmeRt was issued, she had deternin
cd to nree2lfe legal seBaFation frem b
7za HUSBAND. ito whom" Irving says. IS
be could not endure ths thought Of returni
after his dishener,"
~ AR effNFf wae MadS to have the coun