McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, January 16, 1941, Image 6
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McCORMICK MESSENGER; McCORMICK, S. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1941
Am
Time Softens the Harsh Verdict of His
Contemporaries on an American Military
Genius Who Was Born Just 200 Years Ago
HIGH TIDE IN THE CAREER OF A MILITARY GENIUS—Benedict Arnold leads the successful attack on
the Hessian redoubt at the Battle of Saratoga, October 7, 1777.
By ELMO SCOTT WATSON
(Released by Western Newspaper Union.)
O N THE battlefield of Saratoga in New York stands a monu
ment that is unique. One side of the simple marble slab is
adorned with a column, in bold relief, in the shape of a
cannon. Carved at its top are a wreath, an epaulet and—a boot!
But there is no word engraved there to indicate why anyone
should erect a monument ta ^
a boot.
Walk around to the other
side of the monument and you
will read on the smooth face
of the stone these words:
Erected by /
JOHN WATTS de PEYSTER
Brev: Maj: Gen: S.N.Y.
2nd. V. Pres’t Saratoga Mon’t
Ass't’n
In Memory of
the “most brilliant soldier of the
Continental Army”
who was desperately wounded
on this spot, the sally port of
BURGOYNE’S “GREAT
(WESTERN)REDOUBT”
7th. October 1777,
winning for his countrymen
i the Decisive Battle of the
American Revolution
and for himself the rank of
Major General
If, as this inscription says, the
monument wap erected in memo
ry of the “most brilliant soldief
of the Continental Army” who
won for his countrymen “the De
cisive Battle of the American
Revolution,” then why isn’t his
name mentioned? The answer is,
of course; that if it were, this
would become a monument to
treason, also. For the name
which would be engraved here
would be “Benedict Arnold” and,
for a century and a half, that has
been synonymous with “treason.”
As for the boot, it is a replica of
the one worn by Arnold on his
left leg which was wounded at
Quebec and at Saratoga. The
story back of this unusual monu
ment is this:
In 1877 when the Saratoga Mon
ument association was organized
to erect a monument on the site
of battle which was the “Turning
Point of the Revolution,” it
planned a monument with four
niches. In three were to be stat
ues of Generals Horatio Gates,
Philip Schuyler and Daniel Mor
gan of the American army, but
the fourth was left vacant—a si
lent memorial to one of the heroes
of Saratoga who later turned
traitor to the Patriot cause.
But General de Peyster, one of
the vice presidents of the battle
monument association, was not
satisfied with this negative ges
ture. He believed that even
though Arnold had been a traitor,
there should be some recognition
of his services at Saratoga. Even
though he could not honor Arnold
by name, or the whole of him
in a statue, he could honor Ar
nold’s leg which had received two
bullets in the cause of liberty.
So he commissioned George Ed
win Bissell, a noted American
sculptor, to carve the memorial
to Arnold and it was set up in
1877. At that time the land on
which it stood was private prop
erty and could be reached only
by a footpath across a swamp.
Consequently, few visitors to the
battlefield ever saw it. In 1929
this land was taken over by the
state of New York and incorporat
ed in the memorial park which
includes approximately 1,700 of
the 3,400 acres over which the
British and American armies
fought so desperately in 1777.
Today the Saratoga battlefield
is one of the best-known “shrines
of American liberty,” visited an
nually by thousands. The Arnold
memorial, “touching in its sim
plicity and symbolism” (as R. L.
Duflus of the New York Times
has phrased it) is one of the chief
points of interest on the battlefield
and many Americans who see it
are now inclined to think some
what differently of Benedict Ar
nold than to associate his name
always with the word “traitor” as
they learned from their school
book histories to do.
In fact, the passage of time has
softened the harsh verdict which
his contemporaries passed upon
this man who was born just 200
years ago (January 14, 1741).
Through the perspective of a cen
tury and a half Americans are
beginning to see more clearly the
real tragedy that was the life of
Benedict Arnold, and they are
learning to share Washington’s
emotion—sadness that a brilliant
career should end so darkly—
rather than hatred for a man who,
with good reason for being disap-
BENEDICT ARNOLD
pointed and embittered, betrayed
his trust. Without seeking in any
way to excuse his treason, they
can more readily understand why
he acted as he did and they can
recognize the fact that not even
his one great act of faithlessness
can obscure his greatness as a
military genius. ✓
Arnold proved that he was a
/great soldier many a time before
that fatal day in 1780 when his
plot to hand the stronghold of
West Point over to the British
was foiled. At the outbreak of the
Revolution he led a company of
militia from his native state of
Connecticut to Cambridge to join
Washington’s army. But, tiring of
the inactivity of the siege of Bos
ton, he obtained permission to en
list men for an expedition against
Crown Point and Ticonderoga on
Lake Champlain.
This resulted in his first frus
tration. For another spirit as
bold as himself—Ethan Allen with
his Green Mountain Boys from
Vermont—was ahead of him. So
Arnold took part in the capture of
Ticonderoga as a simple volunteer
with Allen but he did lead an ex
pedition which pushed forward
and captured St. John’s. How
ever, when a committee came
from Massachusetts, it was not to
praise him for his feat but to in
quire into his conduct. Disgusted
at this, Arnold resigned from the
service and returned to his home.
This inauspicious start to his
military career was prophetic of
the suspicion and jealousy that
was to pursue him from that time
forward. For Benedict Arnold al-
' ways had enemies and his hot
temper, his arrogance and his im
patience with less impulsive men
were responsible for most of them.
They prevented his winning the
recognition due him for one of the
most brilliant exploits soon aft
erwards. That was his epic
march to aid Gen. Richard Mont
gomery in the attack on Quebec
late in 1775. Though the expedi
tion was a failure, Arnold succeed
ed in bringing the remnants of his
command back by way of Lake
Champlain, beat off an attack
by a British fleet and, although
he had to beach his boats and
burn them, he saved his army.
“Surely a more active, a more
spirited and sensible officer fills
no department of the army” was
Washington’s praise of Arnold aft
er this exploit. But it did not save
him from the.machinations of his
enemies, who spread false reports
about him. So when congress, in
February, 1777, promoted five
brigadier generals to major gen
erals, Arnold’s name was omitted
from the list.
That fall he was sent to aid
Gen. Philip Schuyler in resisting
Burgoyne’s invasion. Then Gen.
Horatio Gates replaced Schuyler
as commander of the army of the
north and the two armies came
to grips at Saratoga on September
19. Arnold, commanding the left
wing, distinguished himself while
Gates was showing all the inepti
tude that characterized his whole
career. There was a furious quar
rel between the two generals
which ended in Arnold’s sending
his resignation to Washington. He
was replaced by General Lincoln
but remained with the army.
On October 7 came the final
great battle at Saratoga and when
the tide seemed to be running
against the Americans Arnold
could no longer remain sulking in
his tent. Mounting his horse, he
rushed into the battle “with the
fury and impetuosity of a tiger,”
led his men in a successful as
sault on the Hessian camp, and
went down with a bullet through
his leg. This was the turning
point of the battle.
Although Gates and his friends
tried to disparage Arnold’s great
contribution to that victory, con
gress made him a major-general,
Washington presented him with a
“pair of elegant pistols” and he
was named commander of the
American forces in Philadelphia.
Then the hatred of his enemies
began to dog him again. Eight
charges of personal and official
misconduct were brought against
him and although he was virtual
ly acquitted by a court martial,
he was sentenced to be repri
manded by Washington, who car
ried out the distasteful duty as
considerately as possible.
But this was the last straw for
the embittered, disappointed man.
Soon afterwards followed his ap
pointment as commander at West
Point, his plotting with the British
to hand that post over to them, the
exposure of the plot, the capture
of Maj. John Andre, adjutant-
general of the British army and
Arnold’s fellow-conspirator, and
Arnold’s flight to the British.
After the war was over Arnold
went to London to live. Although
the king received him graciously
he found that the English had lit
tle admiration or liking for the
“American traitor.” When he
walked the streets, he was always
conscious of their sneers as much
as he was of the undisguised hos
tility of Americans in the British
capital. Later he engaged in
trading in the West Indies, then
lived for a time in St. John, New
Brunswick, where many Ameri
can Loyalists had settled. But
they had little more use for him
than.the English and eventually he
went back to London, where he
died June 14, 1801, a broken-heart*
ed, poverty-stricken old man.
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NOTES OF A NEW YORKER:
The January Reader’s Digest has
a piece about the situation in Alaska
. . . They tell of the Japanese laun-
dryman there who was very popular
with everyone . . . But when he
died, he was buried in the uniform
of a commander of the Japanese
Navy! . . . The New York cinema
critics, who gave Chaplin’s film a
drubbing, have just selected his per
formance in it as the best .of the
year . . . The appeasers want you
to handle the dictators with kid
gloves . . . It’s more sanitary to
handle them with rubber ones . . .
The Nazi propagandists make a
great to-do about the fact that Eng
land hasn’t paid her war debt . . .
The Chicago editorial writers, how
ever, point out that England has
paid back half of it so far—more
than any other debtor nation . . .
Germany has never paid a pe nny of
its debt . . . C. R. Hunter’s theme
song for the isolationists: “Please
Go ’Way and Lemme Sleep!”
According to G. K. Chesterton,
“merely having an open mind is
nothing. The object of opening the
mind, as of opening the mouth, is to
shut it again on something solid”
... In spite of the Third Term and
other gloomy comments, U. S. Gov’t
Bonds are the safest investment not
only here but everywhere in the
world . . . Th^ records prove that
Hitler has given the world his sol
emn assurance (no less than eight
een times) that he desires no Euro
pean territory which he later con
quered . . . America has had all
the troubles Europe has had. A
revolution, tt civil conflict, famines,
depressions, plagues, etc . . . But
through it all America has never lost
its precious freedom ... Ed Howe’s
grand line: “Instead of loving your
enemies, treat your friends a little
better.”
The N. Y. Times’ ass’t managing
editor is Neil MacNeil . . . He re
cently wrote a corking book about
newspapers in which he praised the
accuracy of the Times over and over
again . . . Recently MacNeil’s name
appeared in the Times—spelled
wrong . . . The radio section of
that gazette not long ago devoted
much space to the broadcasters who
had made the greatest popularity
strides during the year . . . Every
branch of the radio business was
mentioned, except newscasters . . .
One of them, in a year, went from
9.4 to 21.6, according to the sur
veyors, who check the listeners
semi-monthly.
The other morning some well-
meaning strangers encountered our
unmarried son of 5, and instead of
talking to him about his toys and
things little boys are interested in
most—they spoke of his father’s
newspaper and radio activities . . .
As if he hasn’t enough on his mind
.'. . “I wish they hadn’t mentioned
those things,” we told Steve Hanni-
gan, “my son always thought I was
a great man—and now look what’s
happened!” . . . Steve was re
minded of the time when Jim Far
ley’s little boy startled him with
this: “Pop,” he said, “why do peo
ple go around saying that you are a
great man?”
“I don’t think I’m a great man,”
said Farley.
“I don’t either,” was the retort.
THINGS I KNEW ALL ALONG
(But which you never knew 'til now)
The man who said: “Give me
Liberty or give me Death!” owned
twenty slaves.
When you hear the rumba crews
shout: “A-loo-bay, chongo!”—it’s a
form of “Hy, dee-ho!” . . . That
very fast song they sing called:
“Blem-Blem-Blem” comes from the
rhythm of the five opening notes, to
wit: “Blem-blem-blem. Blem-
blem” and sets the rhythm, to wit:
“One-two-three. One-two.”
When a mosquito bites you the
fluid he injects is Quinine.
In Mexico, among the upper
classes, courtship is an involved per
formance. A young man paces the
sidewalk across from the house of
his love until her family investigates
him. If he is acceptable he may
stand in front of the house and talk
to the girl through the window. But
not until the engagement is official
may he come in.
If you’d improve your golf score
try eating candy at the 9th hole.
Dr. Paul Michael reports that after
studying thirty male golfers he
found that those who ate luncheon,
high in fat and sugar, played the
best games.
Four rulers of Germany# died in
the 40th year of their respective cen
turies: Frederick I in 1440, George
William in 1640, Frederick William
in 1740 and Fred III in 1840. (1940’s
gone but not Hitler.)
If the glare of a strong headlight
bothers you—try this trick discov
ered in Britain’s blackouts. Shut
one eye when the bright light ap
proaches and open it when it has
passed. The orb you closed will be
as sensitive to darkness as before.
(Say, this is worth money!)
ATTERN [Vf
l/EI
11,
iii 1
6836
O NE special beauty of this de
sign (No. 8836) is that you can
make it up in household cottons
for home wear, cutting the sleeves
off short, and in spun rayon or
thin wool for runabout, cutting the
sleeves long! And it’s so easy to
make that you’re certain to repeat
it many times.
Belted only in the back, with
mmm
.Ask Me .Another
% A General Quiz
1. What is the population of
Greece?
2. What standards are used by
the Bureau of the Census in com
puting the number of illiterates in
the country?
3. Under what conditions may a
private in the U. S. army wed?
4. What does a panegyric piece
of writing do?
The Answers
1. The population of Greece is
6,204,684..
2. The Bureau of the Census
rules that any person 10 years of
age or older who cannot read or
write in any language is an illit
erate.
3. With his commanding officer’s
permission.
4. A panegyric piece of writing
elaborately praises.
PARTH ENT
lengthening bodice panels that ac
cent height, thus making you look
slimmer, and gathers beneath the
yoke portions, this dress is clever
ly detailed to give exactly the ef
fect that women’s sizes require.
The v-neckline is finished with a
deeply notched collar, the sleeves
are trimmed' with narrow cuff-
points. And you’ll find it one of
the most comfortable fashions you
ever put on!
* * *
Pattern No. 8836 is designed for sizes 34.
36, 38. 40. 42. 44. 46 and 48. Size 36 re
quires. with short sleeves, 4% yards of 39-
inch material without nap; with long
sleeves, 4V3 yards; s / 9 yard for contrasting
collar and cuffs. Send order to:
SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT.
Room 1324
211 W. Wacker Dr. Chicago
Enclose 15 cents in poins for
Pattern No Size
Name
Address
for
CHAPPED
SKIN
F > your skin. Is chapped, you
will be delighted with the
effect of Menthols turn applied to
the stinging, red. swollen parts.
Mentholatum quickly cools and
soothes the irritation and assists
Nature to more quickly heal the
Injury. Mentholatum Is a pleas
ant, effective application for
minor skin Irritations. Jars or
tubes only 30c.
MENTHOLATUM
Gives COMFORT Daily
Joy Is Riches
Joy is the happiness of love; it
is love exalting; it is love aware
of its own felicity, and resting in
riches, which it has no fear of
exhausting; it is love taking a
view of its treasures, and surren
dering itself to bliss without fore
boding.—J. Hamilton. ;
Nothing for Nothing
Set it down as a fact to which
there are no exceptions, that we
must labor for all that we have,
and that nothing is worth posses
sing, or offering to others, which
costs us nothing.—John Todd.
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Multitudes think they like to do
evil; yet no man ever really en
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