Beschreibung:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. ARNOLD, Benedict (1741-1801). General, Continental Army, Traitor . Autograph letter signed ("Benedict Arnold Comm r . at Ticonderoga") to the Committee of Safety at Albany, Ticonderoga, 22 May 1775. 2 pages, folio, one side of sheet ragged affecting a few letters of text , otherwise fine. ARNOLD REPORTS FROM TICONDEROGA ON THE BATTLE AT ST. JOHNS, THE CAPTURE OF A BRITISH SLOOP, AND AN ENCOUNTER WITH ETHAN ALLEN A spectacular eyewitness account of some of the most dramatic and important events of the first year of the Revolutionary War. Benedict Arnold, a successful merchant from Connecticut, received a commission as a captain of militia in the first year of hostilities and promptly set out on a daring raid against British positions on Lake Champlain. After the successful capture of Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775, he prepared to move north against British positions at St. Johns in Canada utilizing a makeshift fleet of captured boats. Now, only five days after his encounter with the enemy, Arnold boldly reports on his expedition: "I take the Liberty to advise you that, on the 18th ins t having proceeded from this place to St. John's, with a Party of my Reg t of 35 men, I surprised, & took prisoners, a Serg t & his Party of 12 Men, the Kings Sloop of 70 Tons, & seven Men, Mounted with Two Brass Six Pounders, and, in two hours, after weighed Anchor with the Sloop, etc & proceeded for this Place." The attack upon Fort Ticonderoga had been a joint effort with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. After the capture, a dispute erupted between Arnold and Allen over command (leading Arnold to write on a separate occasion that Allen was only fit to command "his own wild people") that was never completely resolved. After Arnold's fleet departed for St. Johns, Allen placed his men in row boats and attempted to reach the British lines first, but failed to adequately supply them. Arnold here reports of his encounter with Allen's men after they had rowed nearly one hundred miles: "Six Leagues this side of St. John's, Met Our Col o Allen with a Party, of Near, One hundred men, who were determined to proceed to St. Johns & make a Stand." Arnold attempted to convince Allen that large numbers of British reinforcements were approaching, but reports on his failure: "Not being Able to Disuade them from this Rash Design, I supplyed them with Provisions, they then proceeded to St. John & the next Morning, were attacked by Al m . 200 Regulars, with Six Field pieces, & were obliged to make a precipitate Retreat, with the loss of three Men, killed or taken." After the capture of the British sloop, Arnold set out to make it a formidable addition to his growing fleet: "I am now Fixing the Sloop with [S]ix Carriages & Ten Swivels, the Schooner with Four Carriages & Six Swivels, & I am Determined to proceed to Crown Point & make a stand there." Arnold acknowledges that he has sent a list of specific manpower needs for his fleet and asks the committee to send the men "without loss of Time, Furnishing them with such things as you Judge Necessary." Specifying that he has chosen able commanders for the two main vessels, he notes that he is lacking good powder despite the fact that he has written "Repeatedly to Albany." Arnold also requests that the committee forward his letter to the Committee of Safety in New York "If the Seamen etc. are not to be Provided at Albany." Arnold received a steady stream of men and supplies and began rebuilding the defenses at Crown Point. He was considering a second invasion of Canada when his command of Ticonderoga was challenged and he was forced to leave his post.