Oakfield High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Oakfield, WI)

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Saratoga. On the remits of this great battle was to be staked the cause of the American people. Schuyler p anned the battle. Arnold won it. Ga‘es reaped the laurels. Oates was very jea’ous of Arnold’s renutation as he might well be. He tried various schemes to drive him from the rervice as he afterward tried to drive Washington. Failing a' this on the eve of this great battle, he deprived him of his command and sentenced the hero of Quebec, C'r'rrn'ain and Danbury, to remain in his tent. The morning of the 7th of October saw the two hostile arm'e3 s'rength-eniug their respective positions. Arnold’s troops moved to the front. The moment the firing began his nature refused control. He tried to be calm, but in vain. He could not reconei'e himself to let all come and go w’th-out lifting a hand for his country. “No man shall keep me in my tent. It I am without command I w:ll fight in the ranks; but the soldiers, God bless them, will fol'ow my lead. Come on. Victory or Death” and springing upon the back of his charger, he darhed away at a headlong pace to the thickest of the fight amid the cheers of his soldiers. He rode with lightening speed up and down the lines throwing himself into the very jaws of death. Again and again he attacked the Hessians in the center. He fought with a courage and headlong impetuosity that was resistless. The enemy gave away in solid column and fled back over the ground so dearly won. Then the crisis came. Bemis heights must be won or al1 is lost. Putt'ng himself at the head of his troops, “You who were with me at Quebec, in the wilderness, at Champlain follow me.” Like a flash Arnold whee’ed his foaming horse towards the British camp and with a hand full of men behind him, broke nto the very sallyport of the enemy shouting, “rush on my brave boys, rush on.” He was carried off the fie'd bleeding and he pless, but not till victory was assured to the Americans. Give all the honor to Gates and Schuyler, but in the name of justice acknowledge Benedict Arnold the hero of Saratoga. Oh, that he had died on that feld. H's name would then be glorious with splendid achievements. Whether he war influenced by the money he was to receive cr by the sense of his bitter wrongs, he tcok the fearful step and delivered up the keys to the frr’ress of West Point for god and a British generalship. It is but human na'ure fcr men burdened with debt1 and depress ed by humiliation to throw off the’r galling shackles and Arnold did no more. 11 the rest of h s life is a contradiction to this short treasonable service. With this one exception his patriotism to his country is unexamnled. His associate-, were of the noblest. His family life p. model. His reoeated bravery in tatt e made him distinguished. All things human are imperfect and this man is no exception. Do what we will, say what we will, nothing hat or ever can cancel the beneflc'ent results to America, from the many victories achieved through the energy of Benedict Arnold. Would you then take upon yourself to judge or condemn a man for one single act done in an tin-thinking moment and under a pressure that but few would have withstood? Years, after lvirg on a cot in a rude garret in the city of London, we find the old general with the strong agony of death upon him, old before his time, and upon his face remorse with its pitiful mark. As he lay he muttered to himself of his past. He was living his life all over. At

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A NATION’S INJUSTICE. While a great man lives it is difficult to form a good judgment of his character and ability.. Love, admiration, and confidence tend to emphasize too strongly the man's virtues, while malice, prejuaice, and destrust induce an under estimation. When the man has lain n his grave for some years our estimation of the worth of the individual will be a truer one. The estimate of many of the characters in our past history were formed years or even decades ago amid prejudices and by men of nearly their own time. Since then there has been an age of progress. Ideals, opinions and all things have changed. Is it not natural that the judgment of men's characters made today may differ from those first made? I am to speak cf one who if his plans had been successful would have rung the death knell to the cause of American Liberty. One who distinguished himself for his bravery and generalship, yet who was repeatedly insulted by those in power. In the war for independence his name had been one of the foremost, a watchword to the people, an inspirat'on to the soldiery but by one mad act it was blackened and blighted. In the rejoicing for the happy consummation of the struggle that gave us a new nation, men forgot the brilliancy of his earlier career, forgot his first de: votion to the cause of liberty, forgot the shame and insult to which Benedict Arnold the soldier had been subjected, forgot that by his brilliant fighting he had carried them safely thru the most critical crisis. As is common in all times men forget their former di3tresses and t hea a!lcw themselves to depreciate the worth of many of their most helpful leaders. Arnold it was who planned the battle of Ticonderoga and by Allen's side saw it won. Nothing but the courage and invincible spirit Montgomery and he could ever have inspired the small and ragged force to attack an intrenched and we 1 disciplined army of greatly superior strength, such as was found at Quebec. When seeminly irresistible British forces pursued the Americans from Canada, Arnold was sent to check them and a noble though un: successful stand was made at Va,l-cour Island. HoW was he to be repaid for ail his services. Not by promotion but by an insult from the congress he had fa thfully served. Five officers of inferior rank and ability were advanced above him. This was the treatment at the hands of his nation for making every sacrifice of fortune, ease, and domestic happiness, to serve his country. Washington remonstrated against this injustice on the part or congress, saying, “Surely, a more active, a more spirited, and sensible officer fills no department of your army.” Arnold’s proud spirit, was ready to break, but through Washington's influence lie did not resign. When he heard of the Brit'sh invas’on of Connecticut he buried ad his personal injuries and dashed away to fight at Danbury. He returned from the field covered with glory only to be again insulted by congre's. They promoted him with-ou: rank. Honor is a sacrifice no man G ’ght to make and the honor he had gained turned to dishonor. His good actions were followed by persistent attempts at humiliation which fina’lv caused him to tender his resignation. Wa'hington at this moment felt his need and requested that he might be sent to the northern army. Arnold again waiving all present thought of injuries dashed away to the northern frontier. The turning point of the war was at hand. The dec'sive battle ground cf the American Revolution was to be

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limes he laughed at some childish remembrance. At times his voice rose in feeble cheers as in imagination he once more led his army. At last he rose; went to his traveling case ami took out the torn and faded uniform of an officer of the Continental army, saying: “This is the uniform in whicii I won my victories. Wou'd to God I had never changed it.” and clasping it' tightly in hi3 arms, the o’d man tottered back to his bed. Wi'h the faded uniform clasped to his broken heart, Benedict Arnold, the hero of Saratoga was dead. That his repentance was sincere, none can never doubt, and when the veiled muse of justice holds the balance for the cause of equity and rght, Eenedict Arnold’s life of self sacrifice will plead so strongly (for him) that he wi'l be known henceforth not as the American traitor, but as the brilliant Revolutionary hero, who in his lifetime d:d make a blunder, performed an act of treason to his country and his own best interests. Tonight is commencement. It marks the end of our High school career. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in life. Tonight we are here as High school studentsi; tomorrow we shall take our places as men and women in a great republic. Our training from the cradle to commencement is a preparation for the broader work of life. We hope to demonstrate the value of this preparation by the manner in which we undertake the tasks apportioned to us. ¥ i To our successors we extend our sympathy and encouragement. We have worked side by side with you for several years. Your success has been our success. Your sorrow has been our sorrow. With sad hearts and memories treasured with love and kindness, we say good bye. Members of the Board of Education: We appreciate, your interest and good will. For the care you have exercised in providing efficient and sympathetic instructors, w'e thank you We hope to show our apprec'ation by the good we may return to our Alma Mater. Teachers: You have been patient, kind and sincere. You have been ever watchful for our welfare. You have given us not only instruction, but sympathy and advice. As we go forth Into the broader field of life, we realize that no effort of ours can repay you for the services rendered. We extend to you our thanks and tender cur earnest wishes for many happy and successful years. Fellow Classmates: Tonight we part. Some take one path, some another. We know that at times the skies will be overcast and the winds will blow with violence. Still we go full of hope, eager to taae up the struggle. In our darkest hours we will recall the faces cf each other and the memory of how we worked f bonder to shoulder and how success at last crowned our efforts, will give us renewed vigor. Friends, teachers and undergraduates, we bid you all a kind, affectionate farewell.