[Arnold, Benedict]. 1741-1801. American Revolutionary War General and notorious turncoat. Arnold distinguished himself in a number of brazen early colonial battles, and became greatly admired by Washington, who petitioned Congress assiduously for promotions on his behalf. Though renowned for his military prowess, Arnold made influential enemies, and was repeatedly snubbed by Congress, who in 1777 promoted five of his inferiors in rank ahead of him. In 1780 he obtained the command of West Point, which, through a conspiracy with John Andre, he agreed to betray. On the capture of Andre, Arnold fled to the British lines, and was given a command in the royal army which he had once inspired with dread. He went to England in 1781, remaining in London until his death.
Manuscript Grand Jury Indictment Against Benedict Arnold's Father. Two pages, recto/verso, folded Quarto, Norwich, [Connecticut], May 23, 1760. Fascinating and revealing early colonial document, drafted by Joseph Reynolds, Grand juror, which illuminates the troubled early life of this notorious Revolutionary War soldier, whose father was losing control of the family's fortunes, and increasingly seeking consolation in taverns.
Born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1741, Benedict Arnold ran away from home at the age of 14 to join the colonial troops then starting out for the French and Indian Wars. Brought back at the insistence of his mother, he ran away again and joined the provincial troops, saw service, wearied quickly with the soldiers life, deserted, and returned home. This indictment for drunkenness was issued against Arnold's father when the future Revolutionary War General was 19 years old, after he had returned home from a failed attempt to distinguish himself as a colonial soldier, and was restless, worried, and anxious to escape his family's disarray. The document gives us a glimpse of the struggling family life from which Benedict Arnold was sprung, and a foreshadows the troubled nature that would make him one of the most potent and enigmatic figures of the Revolutionary War. Boldly penned in dark brown ink, it reads as follows:
"To Isau Huntington of Norwich Seq one of his Majesties Justices of the peace for ye County of Newlondon comes Joseph Reynolds one of his Majesties Grandjurors for ye County afforesaid and informs and upon oath presents that on or about ye 30th Day of aprel [sic] Last Benedeck [sic] Arnold of Norwich afforesaid was Drunken in sd Norwich where he was Disabled in ye use of his reason and understanding which did appear in his Speech Gesture and behavior all which Doings of the sd Arnold is against the peace of our Soveran [sic] Lord the King and against the Laws of this Colony Dated in Norwich ye 23 of may D 1760 Joseph Reynolds Grandjuror." .
Fine. Docketed on verso:
"Presentment [ ? ]
against
Benedick Arnold
for Drunkeness
30 : of April
Pled Guilty
June 11th : 1760." .
Estimated Value $800-1,200.
