Beschreibung:

ARNOLD, BENEDICT, General, Continental Army, traitor . Autograph letter signed ("B. Arnold") to Titus Hosmer (in Hartford, Connecticut), probably a retained draft (with several deletions in the text by Arnold), Philadelphia [Pennsylvania], 8 July 1780. One page, folio, small ink stains on verso . ON THE VERGE OF TREASON: BENEDICT ARNOLD INFORMS A FRIEND HE WILL ACCEPT THE COMMAND OF THE WEST POINT GARRISON An important autograph letter, dating from a crucial period in Arnold's brilliant but tragic career, in which the general asks Hosmer, an attorney and member of the Connecticut Convention, to settle his accounts with the Connecticut legislature, and speaks confidently of his impending command at West Point. Arnold was one of the better field commanders in Washington's army, had engineered the Continental army's capture at Fort Ticonderoga and was instrumental in the American triumph at Saratoga (which victory influenced France to commit their open support to the cause of American independence). While serving as military commander in Philadelphia, Arnold married, entertained lavishly in his expensive mansion and was widely accused of financial improprieties and profiteering. Although acquitted by a court-martial not long before the present letter, he was reprimanded by Washington in general orders. More than a year before, Arnold had offered his services, for a fee of #l0,000, to General Henry Clinton. When Washington offered him command of the army's left wing in the coming campaign, Arnold demurred, and, pleading consideration for his recent wounds, requested to be assigned to command the important Hudson River forts at West Point, only a short distance from the seat of the British army in New York City. Confident he would receive the command, Arnold demanded from Clinton a fee of #20,000 for delivering this key outpost, its garrison, artillery and its stores to the British. "I have the pleasure to inform you of my safe arrival here two days hence [Arnold had recently visited New Haven and Middletown]. I now do myself the honor to enclose the Certificate from the Board of War, which you informed me would be necessary to the settlement of my Pay, the Board now informs me that no application has been made to them respecting the other General Officers in the State....The Officers inform me that all the Stores, supplied by the State were averaged and deducted from their Accts. in the statements previous to my applying to the Gen. Assembly, no part therefore ought to be charged to me, as I never received anything from the State....I must...receive of the Treasury Notes of their Value in Specie, and Paper, as I wish to realize a part of them in this or the State of New York. I expect in a few days to set out for the Army & have my choice of a Command in the Main Army or W[est] Point. I believe I shall accept the Latter...." The command of West Point was granted to Arnold on August 3, and on August 5 Arnold took command of West Point and began to put in motion his traitorous plans, which were revealed by the capture of his messenger, André in the early hours of September 1780. A portion of this letter is quoted in C. Van Doren, Secret History of the American Revolution, 1941, p.269. Provenance : Tomlinson Collection, Mercantile Library of New York, deaccessioned.