208 ARNOLD IN COMMAND AT PHILADELPHIA. CHAPTER XXVIII. 1780. TREASON OF BENEDICT ARNOLD. Arnold's marriage and extravagances The injustice of Arnold's treatment by Congress - His court-martial and Washington's sentence-He resolves to avenge himself by surrendering West Point to the British-Conference between him and André — André's capture Washington goes to West Point-Arnold learns of André's capture, and flees - Washington's measures to defeat Clinton's designs - Court-martial of André — Correspondence between Clinton and Washington - Execution of André — Appendix to Chapter XXVIII.— Sergeant Champe's adventure. While Washington and the other patriots were experiencing all manner of difficulty in carrying on the war, the whole country was startled by the news of an act of treachery which, had it not been discovered in time, might have proved fatal to the cause of independence. This was the attempt of Benedict Arnold to turn over the fortifications at West Point to the British, in compensation for which he was to receive British gold and rank in the the British army. Despite his great services in the early part of the war, therefore, Arnold's name must forever be held up as an inglorious example of a man whose pride and personal ambition outran all prudence and stifled all love. of country. —a man, who, when his pride was hurt and his ambition crossed, connived, at a mode of revenge so detestible that all his previous record, brilliant as it was, could never atone for it. Yet, for the sake of historical accuracy, the two different chapters in Arnold's biography should be studied separately the more so as the earlier one, though it - may help to explain, cannot fully, extenuate the later.* Up to this time, Arnold had possessed the esteem and confidence of the entire country, and particularly of the army. His daring and impetuous valor had made him greatly beloved among officers and men, and he had achieved remarkable military glory by his expedition to Canada, the subsequent battle on Lake Champlain, and particularly his desperate charge at Behmus' Heights, in which he received a wound. Being rendered incapable of active service for some time, Arnold had been appointed commander of the troops at Philadelphia, probably one of the most injudicious selections possible.+ At Philadelphia, because of his commanding position, Arnold soon became one of the leading men; but instead of con * In connection with Arnold, the reader should carefully and discriminately consult Sparks, Life and Treason of Benedict Arnold, being vol. iii., of the Library of American Biography, as Mr. Sparks is one of Arnold's severest critics. See also Sparks' ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. vii., pp. 520-552. † Johnson, General Washington, p. 219. ARNOLD'S MARRIAGE AND EXTRAVAGANCE ducting himself as became an officer *Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 227-231; Johnson, George Washington, pp. 221-223. † Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 12; Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 239-240. 209 the temptation to play. As a result debts accumulated and he was constantly harassed by creditors. It was reported that he had engaged in practices highly discreditable to him both as a man and an officer,* and shortly "I am inclined to believe, that Arnold was a finished scoundrel from early manhood to his grave; nor do I believe that he had any real and true-hearted attachment to the Whig cause. He fought as a mere adventurer, and took sides from a calculation of personal gain, and chances of plunder and advancement."- Sabine, American Loyalists, p. 131. This quotation is given to show how far some writers will go in their efforts to blacken a character to suit their own purposes. So far from gaining by his attachment to the Whig cause, Arnold had lost a great part of his personal fortune in aiding that cause. He had expended large sums of his own money to maintain his army in Canada and elsewhere, and when he desired a settlement from Congress he was met with insinuations of fraud, deceit, peculation, etc., the sting of which even the exoneration of a court of inquiry could not palliate. Arnold had also contributed generously to the support and education of General Warren's children and in innumerable ways had displayed a whole-souled love for the cause in which he had taken up arms. Up to this time Arnold had performed greater services than any other single individual save Washington; it was Arnold who prevented Carleton from triumphantly marching through New York; it was Arnold who repulsed the British in Connecticut; it was Arnold who drove St. Leger from the Mohawk, thus saving the New York frontier; and finally it was Arnold who by his impetuous daring and superior generalship won the battle at Saratoga which caused the surrender of Burgoyne and prevented the division of the confederation which would have occurred had Clinton and Burgoyne joined forces. But for all these services, loss of fortune, and his wounds, how had he been treated by Congress? In addition to the accusation of fraud mentioned above, Congress had refused to promote him but had raised several of his juniors over his head; had refused to send him reinforcements when they were most needed; had almost refused him permission to go to fields where he could reap more laurels; and finally, when compelled to recognize his services, had done so in so grudging a way that the promotion was not less 210 CHARGES AGAINST ARNOLD; VERDICT OF COURT-MARTIAL. afterward he was assailed with a series of charges by the Pennsylvania authorities, headed by President Joseph Reed.* Most of the charges were frivolous but two were serious -that he courted the Loyalists at the expense of the patriots and that he had used his position for his personal profit. A committee of Congress which examined the charges acquitted him absolutely, except on bitter than would have been a reduction in rank. This was in great part due to his friendship for Schuyler and also to his habit of giving an impartial and fearless opinion regarding matters on which Congress had desired his opinion. Schuyler had been the object for the hatred of the New England members of Congress, then all powerful, and as we have seen, had been superseded by the intriguing Gates, then high in favor. Arnold's friendship for Schuyler therefore gained him the animosity of Gates, who did all possible to prevent his securing any further glory, even depriving him of command, and when the first battle had been won failing to mention his name in reports to Congress. Arnold had a sensitive nature and felt these disgraces keenly, so much so that he several times resigned but was persuaded by Washington to remain in the army. But even Washington himself could not secure for Arnold the recognition he thought due him, and it was only at Washington's earnest solicitation that Congress finally restored Arnold to a violated right." The injustice of the whole thing, combined with the precarious condition of his financial affairs and the fact that he was in close personal relations with a large number of the Loyalist element of the population who constantly urged him to desert the cause, preyed upon Arnold's mind until he lost sight of the cause of liberty and became selfcentered, a condition which ultimately resulted in his disgrace before the whole world. Washington was practically in the same position as Arnold but could view circumstances from an impersonal standpoint, whereas Arnold lacked the moral fibre to successfully stand the supreme test and he fell, a fall for which as already intimated no valid excuse can possibly be offered. 66 *The charges are given in full in Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 243-245. In after month was spent by Arnold in an endeavor to secure a speedy trial, but with equal pertinacity Reed delayed his "evidence" until more than a year had passed from the time of the first indictment. rendering its verdict January 26, 1780, the court returned practically the same verdict as before, but in addition sentenced him to be publicly reprimanded by Washington.* Accordingly, with great delicacy and yet with great firmness, Washington discharged this unpleasant duty.† He said: "Our *Irving says: "We have considered [the particulars of this trial attentively] discharging from our minds, as much as possible, all impressions produced by Arnold's subsequent history, and we are surprised to find, after the hostility manifested against him by the Council of Pennsylvania, and their extraordinary measures to [pre] possess the public mind against him, how venial are the trespasses of which he stood convicted. * * In regard to both charges nothing fraudulent on the part of Arnold was found, but the transactions involved in the first were pronounced irregular and contrary to one of the articles of war, and in the second imprudent and reprehensible considering the high station occupied by the general at the time."- Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 22. See also Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 238 et seq., 257-258. See the Proceedings of a General Court-Martial for the Trial of Major-General Arnold; Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 245 et seq.; Sparks' ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. vi., pp. 514-530; Fiske, American Revolution, vol. ii., p. 210 et seq.; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. TREASONABLE CORRESPONDENCE. profession is the chastest of all; even the shadow of a fault tarnishes the lustre of our finest achievments. The least inadvertence may rob us of the public favor, so hard to be acquired. I reprimand you for having forgotten that in proportion as you had rendered yourself formidable to our enemies, you should have been guarded and temperate in your deportment towards your fellowcitizens. Exhibit anew those noble qualities which have placed you on the list of our most valued commanders. I will myself furnish you, as far as it may be in my power, with opportunities of gaining the esteem of your country.”* But it was too late: the public disgrace imposed on Arnold after all his magnificent services, his wounds, and his losses, filled him with a determination to revenge himself. He actually seems to have persuaded himself into the belief that he should be playing ii., pp. 302–304. See also the letters regarding this in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 275-278, 290-292. * Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., p. 23. See Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. i., p. 711, note 4; Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 261. Arnold says: "The most unqualified language of condemnation has generally been used against him [Arnold] and the decision of the court-martial by which he was tried has been cited as establishing his guilt. So far from this, the judgment of the court, though in form guilty on two charges, was substantially an acquittal. The so-called reprimand of Washington was an eulogy, such as has rarely been bestowed on a public officer, and its warm commendation and generous sympathyfollowing the severe charges so widely circulated -was intended to, and did, express Washington's confidence and respect."- Life of Arnold, pp. 237238 (Copyright by A. C. McClurg & Co.) 211 the part of a real patriot by ending the war at a single blow, restoring peace and prosperity, and giving the colonies a much better government than they had now or had had before the war. He thought the British offers meant the practical granting of independence, and that once this were done the whole country would rise up to thank and honor him. He therefore grasped the first opportunity which presented itself. He entered into correspondence with the British, which at first seems to have been of an innocent nature, but which grew apace from innocence into guilt and treason. Arnold knew that he could secure a good price for his treason, and as he required ready money to silence his most urgent creditors, determined to secure as much from the British as possible. He then gave form to his guilty intentions in letters to Colonel Beverly Robinson, by whom they were immediately communicated to Sir Henry Clinton. This correspondence continued for more than a year before the compact was finally made, the letters to Major John André, adjutant-general of the British army, and from the latter to Arnold, being signed with the fictitious names of Gustavus and John Anderson. In addition to a large sum of money, Arnold was 212 CONFERENCE BETWEEN ARNOLD AND ANDRÉ. promised rank in the British army equal to that which he enjoyed in the American army, he on his part agreeing to render the British some signal service. As he knew that West Point was the key to the whole American position, Arnold determined to secure command of the fortifications and army at that place. He then pretended an aversion to longer residence in Philadelphia and a desire to resume active service in the army, and finally persuaded Washington to give him command of West Point together with all forces in that vicinity* In the early part of August, he arrived at West Point; and from the time of his arrival watched a favorable opportunity for the consummation of his treasonable designs, planning not only to deliver the fortress. to the British, but also to scatter the troops under his command so that the British could fall upon them and easily cut them off, one by one. At about this time Washington had gone to Hartford to confer with the French officers,† and the absence of the commander-in-chief seemed to afford a favorable opportunity for putting into execution the plans which had been formulated. Accord Sparks, Life of Arnold, p. 158 et seq.; Arnold, Life of Arnold, p. 284 et seq.; Sparks' ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. vii., p. 139. See also his letters of March 6, 1780, in Sparks, Correspondence of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 409-411; Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 712-713; Johnson, General Washington, p. 227. Lodge says that Washington went to meet Rochambeau with some misgivings. See his George Washington, vol. i., p. 274. ingly, on September 21, the sloop of war Vulture sailed up the river and anchored in Haverstraw Bay, a few miles below King's Ferry. In this ship came Major André, for the purpose of agreeing upon the final arrangements necessary for the capture of the fortress. About midnight André landed from the Vulture and spent the whole night in conference with Arnold. As the conference took longer that was at first thought necessary, Arnold urged André to go to the house of Joshua H. Smith, and André reluctantly complied with his request.* In the early hours of the morning, André passed with Arnold through the American lines at Haverstraw and spent the forenoon in completing the details of the plan at Smith's house.† Arnold gave André a detailed account of the works and forces at West Point and also a pass under the name of Anderson, so that he could safely recross the lines if if challenged. Arnold then returned to his head quarters at Hobinson's house, opposite West Point.‡ 122. Irving, Life of Washington, vol. iv., pp. 119– It is a matter of doubt how far this person was, or was not, an accomplice of Arnold's in his traitorous designs. The exact extent of his implicity will probably never be clearly ascertained. At his trial by court-martial no positive evidence was adduced on which he could be convicted, and after a few months of imprisonment he was allowed to escape. See Thacher, Military Journal, pp. 228-229; Leake, Life of John Lamb. ‡ Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. i., pp. 714-724; Arnold, Life of Arnold, pp. 287-288. |