Benedict ARNOLD
BENEDICT ARNOLD [From the London Monthly Magazine, for July 1801.]

Died, at his house, in Gloucester place, on Sunday, June 13, brigadier general Benedict Arnold. This singular man was a native of New England, and bread as some say, a surgeon; a profession, however which he relinquished very soon and followed the sea. He is known for many years to have been master and supercargo of one of of those small vessels which trade between the New England provinces and the West-Indies, carrying lumber, live stock &c. from the latter circumstance he has often been called a horse stealer. In this capacity he more than once visited Quebec, and thereby became acquainted with the situation of that town. Some time before the commencement of the dispute between Great-Britain and America, Arnold had settled at New Haven, and was then chosen captain of a company of volunteers by the inhabitants, who began to ? themselves to arms, and to prepare for the crisis which was then to be expected. When the ? between the king's troops and the Americans happened at Lexington, a general alarm was given; and as soon as the news reached him, he called his company together and asked them if they would march off with him the next morning to Boston (distant 150 miles). They agreed, and paraded before a tavern where one of their committees was fitting. He applied to the gentlemen for powder and shot, but they deumurred supplying him, as he was not duly authorized. Arnold declared that he was determined to have some; and colonel Woosser remonstrating with him, Arnold exclaimed "None but God Almighty will prevent my marching!: The committee yielded, and Arnold and his company ? off for headquarters. This spirited conduct brought him into notice; and we soon find him with the rank of colonel, and commanding a body of troops on an expedition to Canada. This exploit, one of the most extraordinary during the war, deserves notice. The whole body of men were about 1,100, under the command of Arnold, and marched from Cambridge to Newburyport, where they embarked on board transports for Quebec, which carried them up to ? town. Here they embarked in ? and proceeded in divisions, short of provisions, deserted by many of their companions, and undergoing inexpressible fatigue, until they reached the banks of the great Cuandior?, where they met with support, after having been thirty-one days in a wilderness without seeing a house. After ? his men, he arrived at Point Levis, opposite Quebec; but found the city, which he intended to surprise, had been informed of his coming.

This happened by his own imprudence in ? to an unknown indian, who carried to the lieutenant governor. Arnold was necessarily obliged to wait here until general Montgomery arrived, whom he joined on the 5th of December, before Quebec...Arnold behaved with his usual spirit, but received a wound in his leg, and was carried off to the hospital. He however took the command after Montgomery's death, and drew off the battered remains of the army, and in June retreated to Crown Point...

[several paragraphs difficult to read]

When the British troops evacuated Philadelphia, in 1778, Arnold was appointed to command the American garrison. Here he lived in a very ? style, far beyond his income; and to ? engaged in trade and pirateering, in both of which he was unsuccessful. He then let up a clam against the American government which was disallowed by the commissioners appointed to examine it. This led him into intemperate conduct and expressions, for which he was ? by a court-martial, and sentenced to receive a reprimand. From this moment he ? to have harboured the design of quitting the American service. He accordingly opened a correspondence in [illegible] whom he contacted to ?, the place which he commanded. To settle all matters, the unfortunate Andre?, was sent up the river in the ? to confer with Arnold. His detection and ? are well known. Arnold was more fortunate, and finding his scheme detected, got a ? on board the Valiure. It was afterwards known, as the price of the treason, Arnold was to receive 5,000 l. and the rank of brigadier general, and a pay of a ? in the English service.

General Washington wished to save Andre and exchange him for Arnold... [several illegible sentences]

He landed at Richmond... he could meet with and afterwards proceeded to Portsmouth. A plan was laid by general Washington to catch him and his army but failed. Arnold was soon after joined by gen. Philips who took the command. Arnold, however, was still active in the war of havoc and destruction then carried on.

When lord Conwallis joined, he dispensed with Arnold's presence who returned to N. York, and was fortunately saved from being with the ? army when it capitulated. We find him engaging in one piece more of active service, which was an enterprize against N. London, when he destroyed several vessels, sixty dwelling houses and eighty stores. It was a matter of surprise the English officers should stop to act under the command of such a renegade, and many attempts have been made to palliate such conduct. After this service, Arnold embarked with his family on bard an armed ship which sprung a leak and he was obliged to quit her and go on board an unarmed merchant ship; in which, however, he and the good fortune to escape capture, although most of the ships were taken. General Arnold was now received at Court, and then admitted into some good company. After the peace, and a residence in England of some years (in which we believe he had interest to procure a pension for his wife, in the event of her surviving him), he embarked for Nova Scotia, to take a grant of land; and here he remained for some years in no very easy situation, and at ? quitted a charge of perjury being preferred against him. He then went to the W. Indies to escape from on board one of their ships in a very extraordinary manner. He is afterward said to have rendered some important service to Sir Charles Grey, when commanding on that station?. He returned once more to England, and seems to have closed a most extraordinary life in peace.

The North Carolina Journal
Halifax, North Carolina
November 23, 1801

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