The life and treason of Benedict Arnold - Kouroo

364 Pages·2010·4.98 MB·English

by  Jared Sparks

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THE
LIBRARY
OF
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
- OONDUOTED
,
Br JARED SPARKS.
VOL. III.
BOSTON:
HILLIARD, GRAY, AND CO.
LONDON:
RICHAILD JAMES KENNETT.
1835.
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THE
LIFE AND TREASON
OF
BENEDICT ARNOLD.
B1' JARED SPARKS.
BOSTON:
HILLIARD, GRAY, AND 00.
LONDON:
RICBAlLD JAMJ:8 EJ:1'I'1'I'BTT.
1835.
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EDterecllOCOllliDr to the act.t Ooagre •• In the year 1835.
byJ .... D S ....... .
ID the Olerk·. o8loe or the Diltrlot Oourt of tbe Di.trlol of Muoaebllll\tI.
OAMBRIDGE:
CHARLES FOLSOM,
P&Jln"Jla TO 'I'BJl17lfITJlBlIT'I'.
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PREFACE.
IT is the chief object of the following
DaJTative to give an account of the treason
of Arnold, its causes, the plans for carry
ing it forward, and its final issue. In exe
cuting this design, it was. necessary to
touch upon the events of his previous life;
~nd, as many of these have a real interest
in themselves, and others a direct bearing
on the subject, it is believed no apology
for introducing them will be required.
The author has of course consulted all
the printed books and documents, which
he could find; and among others he ac
knowledges his obligation to M. de Mar
bois' Complot ff. Ilrnold et de Sir Henry
Clinton, published several years ago in
Paris, and soon afterwards translated by
Mr. Walsh for the second volume of the
.Ilmerican Register. The parts of M. de
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vi PREFACE.
Marbois' book, which he wrote from per
sonal knowledge and observation, have a
special value; some of the other parts
would have been varied, if his materials
had been more abundant and exact.
Besides printed sources of information,
the author has been fortunate in procuring
the use of a large number of original
papers in manuscript, which have not be
fore been inspected. In the public ar
chives of London he was allowed to peruse
the entire correspondence, between the
British commander in America and the
ministry, concerning Arnold's defection;
particularly a very ample narrative of all
the transactions, dated nine days after the
death of Andre, methodically drawn up,
and signed by Sir Henry Clinton. This
correspondence exhibits in a clear view
the British side of the question.
Among General Washington's manu
scripts are also original materials, including
the papers that were laid before the board
of general officers to whom Andre's case
was submitted, and the drafts of letters
and other papers left behind by Arnold
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PREFACE. vii
when he escaped. Arnold's letters to
Congress are curious, and indicate the
workings of his mind while maturing his
plot. The same may be said of some of his
miscellaneous letters, which have fallen into
the author's hands.
For that portion of the narrative in which
the agency of Andre is described, the
principal authority has been the records of
the trial of Joshua H. Smith. This person
was arraigned before a court-martial, upon
the charge of having been an accomplice
with Arnold, but his guilt was not proved.
The trial lasted for nearly a month. Nu
merous witnesses- were examined, and
among others the captors of Andre. All
the testimony was taken down in detail,
and the papers have been preserved.
They are voluminous and important.
Several gentlemen now living, who were
personally acquainted with circumstances
attending the treason of Arnold, have made
valuable communications, either written or
verbal, for the present work.
The author will only add, that he has
everywhere aimed at strict accuracy in his
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viii PREFACE.
statements, and verified them whenever it
was possible by reference to manuscript
authorities. If his labors should be found
to have contributed any thing to illustrate
an interesting point of history, his end will
be answered and his wishes gratified.
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CONTENTS.
...,.
CHAPTER I.
Arnold's Birti and Early Life. • 1
CHAPTER II.
He begins lis Military Career. - Capture of
Ticonderoga and Crown Point. . . .• 12
CHAPTER III.
Expedition tirougi tie 'Wilderness to Quebec. 26
CHAPTER IV.
Operations in Canada. - Affair of tie Cedars.
- Retreat from Montreal. ••.. 4S
CHAPTER V.
Arnold censured for tie Seizure of Goods at
Montreal. - Appointed to tie Comn,and of a
Fleet on Lake C/&amplain. - Na"al Combat. 64
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illi
x CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
&ationed in Rhode Island. - Superseded in his
Rank by Congress. - Complains of Injustice
and ill Treatment. - His BrflfJery in the Af
fair of Dm,bury.-Commands at Philadel-
phia. . • • . 83
CHAPTER VII.
Joins tke northern Army. - The tragical Death
of Jane McCrea near Fort Ed",ard.-Ar
"old commands an Expedition to Fort Sel",y
Zer. - Rtjoins the main Army on the Hudson.
- The Battles of BeAmus's Heights. • 100
CHAPTER VIII.
Takes Command in Philadelphia. - Proposes
joining the Navy. - Charges agai7tst kim by
the Council of Pellnsylvania.-His Plan for
a ncto &ttlement in the "'estern Part of Nero
York. - His Trial by a Court-martial. 121
CHAPTER IX.
His eTpcnsive Style of Livillg and pecuniary
Embarra~sments. - First Ideas of bttruying
his Country. - Application to the French
Ambassaclor .. -1Hnrriage. - ~kes Command
at m'st Pomt. .•...••.• 144
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