Benedict Arnold. A biography/5
CHAPTER V.
FIRST NAVAL COMBAT WITH ENGLAND.
As he held the highest military rank of any one in the city, Gen. Arnold of course took command of Montreal, and for six weeks did nothing, because there was nothing to do. Gov. Carleton received reinforcements under Burgoyne, and the Americans vacated the neighborhood of Quebec as fast as they could go, In the spring of this year, 1776, a party of about four hundred Americans, under Col. Bedell, held a post on the northern side of the St. Lawrence river, at a point called the Cedars. In May, Capt. Foster came down the river from Oswegatchie (now Ogdensburgh), with a force of five hundred Indians, under Joseph Brant, and a hundred and fifty English and Canadians, and made for the fort. Bedell had gone down to Montreal at the time, leaving the fort in command of a Major Butterfield. Both were arrant cowards, as the sequel shows. The instant the British and Indian force made its appearance, Butterfield surrendered; he did not even strike a blow. Bedell had conveniently kept himself out of the way.
Arnold sent Major Sherburne, with one hundred and forty men to strengthen the garrison; but he arrived too late : the post was ignominiously surrendered on the very day he arrived. Being quite ignorant of this, however, he pushed on towards the fort, only to find himself of a sudden surprised by Indians and Canadians, who sprang out of their ambuscade upon him. The Americans fought with desperation for more than an hour; but in a little time the Indians had gradually formed a comple circle around them, and, a signal being given, rushed upon them, man for man, and disarmed them entirely. So enraged were the savages at the resistance of the little party, they began to butcher and hack them up with knives and tomahawks, and, after stripping the remainder nearly naked, drove them off to the fort, which, through Butterfield's cowardice, had just fallen into their hands. Fifty-two Americans were thus massacred.
The blood of Gen. Arnold boiled at this intelligence, and he resolved on instant revenge. Taking eight hundred men, he hurried to St. Anne's, on the western end of the island. The very moment he arrived, he happened to descry the enemy taking their prisoners from an island about three miles off, and carrying them across to the main land opposite. His boats had not yet come round as expected, and he could therefore do nothing. A party of friendly Caughnawaga Indians returned while he was idly waiting, whom he had sent over in the morning to demand the surrender of the prisoners from the hostile Indians; they brought back word that the prisoners would not be give up, and that if Arnold attempted their rescue, they should the whole five hundred be butchered without ceremony.
But Arnold paid no heed to their threats. His boats having arrived, he sprang into them with his troops and rowed as fast as they could go to the island where the prisoners had been confined. Five naked and nearly starved soldiers had been left behind on this island, and they were all. The rest were taken to Quinze Chieus, four miles below, except two, who were butchered because they were too feeble to bear the journey. Arnold pushed on for the latter place with all despatch. They fired on his little flotilla as he came near the land, and, it being night, at last compelled him to retreat to St. Anne's again. Here he held a council of war. At midnight a flag arrived from the British captain, making a proposal to Arnold that he should sign an agreement, which Capt. Foster had already compelled his prisoner, Major Sherburne, to sign, providing that as many British soldiers should be delivered up as there were American prisoners, and also that the latter should, as soon as released, march off home and never take up arms against the British power again. Four American captains were to be sent down to Quebec, to be held in captivity there until the agreement was fully carried out. The British officer represented that unless Arnold would consent to this proposal, which Major Sherburne had already signed, he could not answer for the consequences; the savages could not be restrained from putting all the prisoners to death.
This was truly a horrible alternative. Common humanity compelled Arnold to do all that lay in his power to save his countrymen who were in the enemy's hands; and still he flatly refused to be bound by any such terms as that they should never again, if released, take up arms against the British. He therefore consented to sign the agreement proposed by Capt. Foster, but refused his assent to this clause of it. Foster finally waived this, and the convention being duly signed, the prisoners were released.
Congress subsequently refused to be bound by this proceeding, inasmuch as it had been forced upon Arnold by threats of cruelty towards the five hundred prisoners for whose safety he was chiefly anxious; but Washington gave it his sanction as the commander-in-chief of the American forces, chiefly because it was consummated according to military rules and formularies. There was much indignation felt all over the country when the facts came out; and to this day the transaction remains a foul blot on the military honor of the nation whose agent proposed such a base and inhuman alternative.
As soon as this affair was over, Arnold returned with his detachment to Montreal. It was now dark and gloomy on every side. There was a great deal of disaffection in the camp, and a much stronger dislike had been conceived against the Americans by the Canadian inhabitants. The British had just been strengthened by a large body of experienced troops from Europe, that had fought their way all over the continent, while our army was continually dwindling and tapering down, and becoming less and less able to make an effectual resistance on Canadian soil. The small-pox, too, had done a terrible work with them, and was still active with its ravages.
Just at this crisis, a committee came on from Congress, consisting of Franklin, Carroll, and Chase, to see how matters stood, and to make a report on the same. They found that little hope remained. There was no further encouragement to attempt to secure a foothold within the British possessions. The Americans were driven out of Quebec, and came up the St. Lawrence and made a stand at Sorel. Pursued thither, they tried to maintain their ground, but vainly, in the face of such superior numbers; the encampment was hastily broken up, and the entire force catne sailing down Lake Champlain to Crown Point; here they were within their own territory again.
Arnold remained at Montreal, however, as long as it was safe, and at the very last moment hurried off for St. John's, a post on the Sorel, or Richelieu river, conducting into Lake Champlain. General Sullivan was with him, and took a leading part in this retreat. Arnold had himself been down to St. John's a couple of days before, directed an encampment to be closed, and ordered a vessel then on the stocks to be taken in pieces, the pieces numbered, and the whole to be sent off to Crown Point. Both commanders wished to stand and defend the fort at St. John's, but the troops refused outright to serve any longer in Canada; nothing, therefore, was left them but to embark in their boats, which they did without delay, and sailed up the lake to Isle aux Noix. On the occasion of this retreat, Arnold again showed out all his natural bravery and impetuosity. After every boat was loaded with troops, he took Wilkinson, his aid, and rode back two miles to reconnoitre. Burgoyne was discovered with his advanced division, marching on at a rapid pace. Arnold sat on his horse and studied their appearance quite as long as it was safe, and then rode back at full speed to the lake. Their single boat was waiting to receive them. They stripped the horses of their saddles and bridles, shot them, ordered the rowers all on board, and then followed themselves. Arnold was the last man to leave the shore, and pushed off the boat with his own hands and jumped in.
It was sunset already. Night soon settled down upon them. They plied their oars with vigor, and before midnight overtook the main body of the army at Isle aux Noix.
General Arnold next proceeded to Albany, where were Generals Schuyler and Gates, the latter having but recently been invested by Congress with the command of the northern army. These three officers having learned that the Americans under Sullivan had left Isle aux Noix and retreated still farther up the lake to Crown Point, they all repaired to that post with the design of arranging a regular system of operations. Carleton was expected to be after them with a fleet every day. A council of war was held, at which it was determined to give up the idea of holding Crown Point, but to retreat fifteen miles up the lake to Ticonderoga, and there make as strong a defence as they were able.
Some of the field-officers protested against this abandonment of so strong a position as Crown Point, but their opposition had no effect on those who had formed their resolve at the council board. Both Congress and Washington expressed their surprise that such a step should be taken, and Gates and Schuyler defended it in letters which they addressed them in explanation. It. was afterwards acquiesced in as the wisest plan that could at that time have been pursued. To have divided their force and tried to hold two posts, would have weakened them inevitably; .whereas to keep them united in defence of a single position, would be the surest guaranty of their success in staying the further progress of the enemy.
While the army was at Ticonderoga, a serious difficulty arose in relation to certain goods Arnold seized from Montreal merchants, which he took for the use of his soldiers. He was careful to give the merchants certificates for the value of their property, and pledged himself that all demands thus certified by him would be paid by the United States. Many parcels, however, were carried off in the haste and confusion of leaving, which were not thus certified, and bore no other proof of ownership than the merchant's name marked on the parcel. Col. Hazen was under Arnold at the time, and to his care he entrusted the packages at Chambly, directing them to be despatched down the Sorel and the lake to Ticonderoga. Hazen nursed a hostility to Arnold, and so paid but a careless attention to his instructions; he first suffered the goods to lie out on the river bank exposed to the weather till many of them were spoiled in consequence, and afterwards gave them such slight attention that many of the packages were broken open and rifled by soldiers.
The owners followed their goods down even to Crown Point, and there they presented their claims for what had been taken from them. They accused Arnold, and Arnold accused Hazen; and the matter came to such a pass that the latter was finally tried for disobeying the orders of his superior officer. One of Arnold's witnesses on the trial was a Major Scott; but the court set him aside because he was an interested party. At this Arnold flew. He sent the court a letter, in which he used language such as no military court was ever known to tolerate.
The court insisted that he should forthwith apologize for his insult; but he flatly refused; and not only refused, but told them he was quite ready to give each and every one of them satisfaction whenever they wished; in other words, he sent them what might be considered a challenge. This was out of all sort of rule, and without precedent; they appealed to the commander, General Gates, and he was thrown into a quandary. Arnold stood high with him then, and he knew too well what the services of such a man were worth in the army. He likewise had it in his mind to give Arnold the command of the fleet of vessels which was in course of preparation to meet the enemy, now advancing up the lake.
In order, therefore, to solve the problem and get himself out of his perplexity, he suffered the matter to pass unheeded, and gave orders to dissolve the court. He afterwards wrote to Congress, explaining his conduct, saying that he assumed all the responsibility himself, and that "the United States must not be deprived of that excellent officer's (Arnold's) services at this important moment." The court, however, acquitted Hazen, which was about the same thing as condemning Arnold. But the latter was in no sense guilty of any breach of honor, much less of any criminal intent in the transaction; his letters to Schuyler at the time he took the goods, explaining that he was directed by the Congressional commissioners to take them, and afterwards to Sullivan, in which he spoke of the way Hazen had treated the same, abundantly show this, and are to be set down as his effective vindication. It is not at all likely, from what evidence can be obtained, that he ever intended to carry valuable articles of merchandise out of Canada for the sake of enriching himself.
Another difficulty arose at this time between Arnold and Major Brown, growing out of an old feud at Ticonderoga, when both were there before. While in Canada, Arnold sent on letters to Congress accusing Brown of the same crime which had just been imputed to himself; Brown heard of it, and demanded an investigation, but Arnold managed, as long as they were in Canada, to have it evaded. Now they were both at Ticonderoga, Brown again demanded a trial, and Congress issued express orders to have a court of inquiry held upon the matter; but Gates put him off just as he had done in the case of the court martial on Hazen. Arnold was his particular pet, and he protected him openly on all occasions.
Gates now concerted active measures to meet the enemy whenever they might choose to approach. Materials for building craft of any kind were very scarce in the vicinity, and as for obtaining carpenters and workmen, it was almost an impossibility. For the latter, they were obliged to send to the sea-ports. Yet, in spite of all obstacles, between June and August they had worked with so much industry and zeal, that quite a little squadron of vessels had been built and equipped, consisting of a sloop with twelve guns, three schooners, one of which carried as many guns also, and the others eight, and five gondolas, with three guns each; making, in all, a floating armament of fifty five guns.
Arnold was placed in command of the whole, as much on account of his experience on the water as his title and distinguished services. It was late in August when he set sail down the lake from Ticonderoga, with directions from Gates not to pass beyond Isle aux Tetes, or the Canada line, near which Rouse's Point now is; he was also ordered to act only in defence of his own force, and to strive to check the enemy, rather than attack them. He went down the lake as far as Windmill Point, four miles from Isle aux Teles, and there halted to reconnoitre.
He found that island covered with both British and Indians, and accordingly drew off some ten miles further back, to Isle La Matte. His squad- ron was increased considerably here, so that it now numbered two sloops, three schooners, three galleys, eight gondolas, and twenty-one gun-boats.
Governor Carleton had heard of the activity of the Americans at Ticonderoga, and began to prepare for them in season; so that, by this time, he had collected a large number of vessels, which were built at St. John's by the seven hundred men he had sent forward from Quebec for that purpose. Arnold knew nothing of the extent of his force, and therefore deemed it prudent to withdraw to a point where he might hope for some advantage. So he retreated still further, and chose his position between Valcour Island and the western shore of the lake, which was nothing more than a narrow channel.
Carleton appeared off Cumberland Head with his fleet, at an early hour on the morning of the llth of October. He had about thirty strong and well-built vessels and boats, including one ship with three masts, a flat-bottomed boat carrying heavy guns, which was called the Thunderer, and twenty-four gun-boats, each provided with a piece of ordnance; forty boats, laden with provisions, also accompanied the fleet. On they came in proud array up the lake, steering to the east, of Valcour Island, so as to reach its southern point, and cut off Arnold's retreat by the channel. Capt. Pringle was commodore of the fleet, and his flag-ship was named the Inflexible. Edward Pellew served under him, afterwards Admiral Viscount Exmouth, one of the most noted men in the British navy.
At precisely twelve o'clock, the battle began. The British opened fire on the schooner Royal Savage and the three galleys which Arnold had ordered to advance to meet them. The schooner was badly managed, and soon ran aground. She was burned, but her crew contrived to effect their escape.
An hour later, the battle was at its height, and every one of the British vessels, except the ship and schooner, was closely engaged with the American force. The American vessels fared badly enough. The Congress, on board which Arnold was, was hulled a dozen times; received seven shots between wind and water; had her mainmast shivered in two places, the rigging torn and tattered, and lost a great number of her crew. This brisk style of cannonading with grape and round shot was kept up for nearly five hours, without cessation. The men became so scarce on board the Congress, after a time, that there were not enough to work the guns, and Arnold sprang to, and labored with all his zeal, pointing his guns at the enemy with his own hands. The British likewise sent a body of Indians ashore on the island, while the conflict was raging, and these kept up the firing with muskets from their new position, but fortunately to little purpose. During the time the battle was raging Arnold's little fleet had lost in all, counting the killed and wounded, about sixty men. The solemn shadows of night curtained the sanguinary scene at last, and the combatants were compelled to separate, neither side being able to claim a victory. The two fleets, however, anchored but a few hundred yards from each other.
So active a spirit as that of Arnold would not permit slumber to come near his eyelids on such a night. He hastily called a council of his officers, and it was resolved by them to try and make their way back to Crown Point before morning. It was a hazardous undertaking perhaps hardly a possible one. Yet it looked as if little else now was left them. The enemy were vastly their superior, both in the number of their vessels and their men, and would be more than likely, if they came to another engagement, to sink them, in their present shattered condition, without any trouble.
It was to guard against just such a step that the British commander stretched his vessels in a line, across from the island to the mainland on the western side, thinking to hem them in. Fortunately, a stiff wind was blowing from the north at the time, and continued to blow through the night. It looked like a direct interposition of Providence, for their escape. The moon was new, and threw down no light upon the lake to betray them; dark and angry clouds, too, had piled up in the sky, overshadowing the whole scene with their dense gloom.
In the dark, and with all the silence and secrecy possible, Arnold weighed anchor and set sail at about ten o'clock. The north wind, which was still blowing strongly, filled their canvas, and wafted them all safe and sound through the enemy's lines. The latter did not know a whisper of it all, until they descried the few lagging boats of the American fleet a long way out of then- reach, in the early morning. The watch on deck had looked in vain to find them where they lay anchored at sunset, and only awoke to their surprise on turning about and seeing them far away in their rear ! So bold a movement was calculated to set all ordinary feelings of astonishment at fault.
The shattered little American fleet made good its retreat for about ten miles, to Schuyler's Island, where they set to work to repair damages with all despatch. Their sails were almost entirely gone, and the leaks in the vessels became dangerous. But the moment the British commander found how skilfully his enemy had escaped him, he ordered instant pursuit. His entire fleet started off accordingly. Meantime Arnold had set sail again from Schuyler's Island, intending to place a still greater distance between himself and his pursuers. Towards evening the wind changed again, blowing this time from the south, and, of course, directly in the face of the enemy. But it also retarded the advance of the Americans as much.
The next day was the 13th. At an early hour of the morning, the British vessels were descried advancing, and it was apparent they were now gaining on the Americans rapidly. Arnold still lingered behind with his new flag-ship, the Congress, together with the Washington and four gondolas, unable, on account of his crippled condition, to keep up with the body of his fleet. The British vessels continued to gain upon him, in spite of all he could do. Very soon three of them came up alongside; the Carleton, the Inflexible, and the Maria. Gaining a proper position, they applied the matches, and poured in upon his already disabled craft a fire so galling and destructive that the Washington was compelled to strike her colors, and the Captain, with all his crew, surrendered themselves prisoners.
Then they turned their whole energies upon the Congress, on board which was General Arnold. For four long hours the battle raged with great violence. Gun answered gun in quick succession. The British fleet was manned by a disciplined force, and they worked their armaments with unerring precision and destructive effect. Such odds were tremendous for a single vessel, like that which Arnold commanded, to encounter; yet he unflinchingly held his ground for all this time, and fought with an obstinate courage that sheds a lustre on his name.
His vessel was already reduced nearly to a wreck, and there were seven of the enemy's sail fast crowding upon him and hemming him in. But one way of safety lay open to him, and that was to run his crippled galley and the four gondolas ashore. Quick as the thought itself, his resolution was taken. The vessels were all grounded, high and dry, on the bank of a small creek on the east side of the lake, about ten miles distant from Crown Point. They were every one fired by their crews as they deserted them, and the latter jumped into the water and waded to land, carrying their muskets in their hands. Arnold immediately drew them up on. the beach in martial order, so as to prevent parties of the enemy from coming off in boats and quenching the flames. He did not mean that any vessel he commanded should pass as a trophy of war into the hands of the British.
He was himself the last man to go ashore. He never struck his flag, but, amid the flames and the smoke, he kept it proudly flying at the masthead of his vessel, till that and all the rest were totally consumed. Then he placed himself at the head of his men, and marched off at a rapid pace through the woods to Crown Point, which he reached in safety, and found the rest of his little fleet arrived before him. It was fortunate for him that he made as much haste as he did; for the British had sent the Indians forward to lay in ambush for his party at a particular place, which place he passed just an hour before they reached it.
Waterbury and his men, who had been taken prisoners, arrived at Crown Point on parole the next day, and forthwith the entire American force at that place went on board their vessels and retreated southward to the fortress at Ticonderoga. Carleton came up and occupied Crown Point, and for a little while seemed to menace Ticonderoga, appearing in its vicinity as if it was his design to attack it. It was while he was in the neighborhood that Arnold ventured out from the reach of protection, to reconnoitre. He was in a small boat, and young Pellew (afterwards Lord Exmouth) caught sight of him and chased him. His pursuers gained so fast upon him that he was obliged to run his boat ashore, leaping out of it with inconsiderate haste, and leaving his stock and buckle as spoils for the enemy behind him. This stock and buckle are said to be still in possession of the Pellew family.
General Carleton very soon withdrew with his fleet down the lake again, satisfied that nothing further could be accomplished at so late a period of the year. In the two days' engagement with the enemy, the American loss was not far from ninety men, while that of the former was about forty. And this brings us to the close of the year 1776.
By the display of so much courage and gallantry in times of peril, and by his superior address in deceiving and defying an enemy so much his superior in all particulars, Arnold's name was passed over the country with accompaniments of the highest praise. None spoke of him but in terms of admiration. His popularity was now secure. If he had rested under a cloud of public prejudice before, his recent bravery had served to dissipate all its darkness. From this day he began to be a popular idol, and whenever his name was publicly mentioned, it was only to call up recollections of some bold and daring deed, for which that name had now become justly celebrated.