The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-20

or Arnolds treason We know the date of her
BIRTH something of her activities as belle of
Philadelphia society Immediately before and dur
Ing the early years of the Revolution, the date
OF her marriage to Arnold something of her
career as his wife in this country and while
sharing his exile in England and the date of her
death. But as to her motives, her real character
and the actual part she played in the conspiracy
of her husband to betray his country the evi-
dence Is extremely contradictory
Haines makes out an exceedingly strong case
against her as the arch-conspirator the villain
ess of the piece. Briefly, his story is this AS the
daughter of prominent colonial family, strong
ly Tory in its sympathies, Peggy Shippen has
been reared in atmosphere of luxury, had
been taught to admire the British military caste
had dreamed of marrying into that caste and of
becoming great lady in the courts of Europe.
She first met John Andre, then lieutenant in
the Royal English Fusiliers, In 1774 when Sir
Guy Carleton. encouragement of Canada, sent
him to Philadelphia as a secret agent. going un-
der the name of John Anderson, to spy on the
First Continental Congress then in session in the
Pennsylvania capital She was then only four
teen years old but already possessed of great
beauty, and Andre, himself only twenty-four
years old, fell In love with her and she with him.
After he left Philadelphia she corresponded
with him but she did not see him again until
1777 when she visited in New York city, where
he captain the staff of Sir Henry
Clinton. the British commanders protege and his
secret agent as he had been for Sir Guy Carleton
Their love affair progressed and returning to
Philadelphia which was at this time held by the
Continental forces, she continued her correspond
ence with Andre.
Then Washington lost the battles of Brandy
wine and Germantown and the British took pos
session of Philadelphia, bringing Peggy and An
Dire together again. She helped him organize the
series of pageants, called the "Mischianza" Civ
en- by the British officers the eve of the de-
parture of General Howe, British commander in
Philadelphia for England and she was chosen
as the most beautiful girl in Philadelphia, to pre-
side over them as queen.
But in June. ITS. the British evacuated Phila
depha and Andre and Peggy separat-
ed once more In the meantime the British
ministry. realizing that the rebellious colonies
could not be defeated by force, resorted to
treachery to accomplish its ends 1t was the idea
of Lord German British secretary of war; that
some of the American leaders could be bought
off and Clinton fell in with the scheme
But the British plan to seduce American lead
ers was getting nowhere until June 177S, when
the Continental forces again occupied Philadel
phia and Gen Benedict Arnold was made mill
tary governor of the city. Then, says Hanes:
"By this time Peggy Shippen was deep in the
Tory conspiracy. AT least three times during the
winter of 1777-7S she had carried important LET
ters from spies in Philadelphia to British agents
In New York Galloway and German determined
to use her to break down Arnold. A patrior by
early conviction, Arnold was led to favor
Peggy's family and their Tory friends. man
originally of simple tastes, he was lured into ex
trayagance by the pace set by the Shippen en-
tertainments. wdower, twenty years older
than Peggy, he was lattered by her apparent
preference for him.
In April, 1779. Arnold and Peggy were mar
ried That she could have preferred this lame,
middle-aged Continental general to Andre is not
conceivable There is evidence that it was Andre,
not Arnold, whom she loved, and that she pres