Vermont High School - Comet Yearbook (Vermont, IL)

Page 19 text:

I 'V' 'lil Ili COMET 1910 this expedition was first shown toward Arnold that state of jealousy and political rivalry which tinally proved his undoing. Next we see him, at the head of an absurdly inadequate force, struggling through the primeval wilderness of Maine toward Canada, his iron will set on the capture of Quebec. This was an enterprise which called into play all his persistence and daring. They forced their way against the swift river current, carried the boats on their shoulders through the tangled undergrowth of unbroken forests, waded dangerous bogs, pressed on with feet cut by sharp stones and clothing torn to shreds, ate their dogs in their hunger, but followed their dauntless leader unfalteringly. Our hearts leap responsive to the Hsplendid bravadou with which, the historian tells us, he led his little wornout army, reinforced by Mont- gomery's weakened companies, before the strongest fortress in America, and summoned the enemy to come out and tight, or surrender. But with our present knowledge, we are tempted to regret that in the chivalrous charge on Quebec which followed, he did not fall beside his brave comrade, Montgomery, while his honor was yet stainless. Recovered of wounds received in that brave charge, he was sent to oppose the enemy's fleet on Lake Champlain. There, off Valcour island, he attacked a British fleet twice the size of his own, held his position till nightfall, and then, aided by the friendly darkness, stole with his crippled tlotilla between the enemies' lines and escaped. Yet, in spite of Washington's coniidence in Arnold, the latter's powerful enemies in- tiuenced Congress, and tive of his inferiors in rank, men who had shown no extraordinary abilities, '- ' ' ., .' ' '. afrrd f111 ITm'e could not forgive. Yet, at the request of Washington, his friend and general, he did not resign his commission. Shortly afterwards the British invaded Canada, and, still striving to aid l1is country and to gain the honors which he so justly deserved, Arnold joined the militia raised to repel them, and at the battle ot Ridgelield showed remarkable courage, and barely es- caped with his life. Congress, seemingly somewhat impressed by this evidence of his ability and courage, appointed him a major-general, but still declined him his proper rank, given to men of inferior ability. lrle then co-operated with Washington in opposing the advance of Howe toward Phil- adelphia, and was appointed to act with Schuyler, a brave and competent general, in checking the progress of Burgoyne through eastern New York. Given this command, he raised the siege of Fort Schuyler, and at the battle of Bemis Heights was recklessly prominent, ever in the forefront of battle. But General Gates. vain, cowardly, and incompetent, who by intrigue had superseded Schuyler, became jealous of Arnold, a bitter quarrel ensued, and the latter was deprived of his command. llut when the second battle of Saratoga, the last scene in Burgoyne's attempted march through the states, occured, Arnold, seeing his old command hard pressed and victory hanging in the balance, in detiance of orders, galloped from his tent, rallied the broken regiments, turned the tide of battle, and scattered all before him. A wound in the leg, received on that momentous occasion, disabled him for field service and after the evacuation of Philadelphia, Washington placed him in command of that city. There, moving in fashionable society and living extravagantly, Arnold naturally in- curred criticism, and to this the executive council of Pennsylvania added definite charges or arbitrary exercise of military authority and favoritism to Tories. At his request a court martial was appointed, but ahnost a year elapsed before it was held, when he defended himself without counsel, and was acquitted of intentional wrongdoing. but was sentenced to be reprimanded by XVashington, who, while rebuking Arnold, urged him to regain the esteem of his countrymen, which he had formerly so much desired and deserved. But these last events, coming on top of previous slights and insults, proved too much for Arnold's virtue. Up to this time he has had our sympathy, as he had that of his commander-in-chief and fellow officers. Now we turn in sadness and horror from the man who deliberately planned the betrayal of his coun- try, in revenge for slights, which, though they did sting at the time. yet sink into utter insigniticance in comparison with the foul deed he is plan- ning. Our souls revolt at the thought of his personal treachery to XVashington, ever his SEVENTEEN 1

Page 18 text:

'l HE COMET 1910 J. EVERMONT NVYNE. Honors. Athletic: Foot Ball Team, MJ. Base Ball Team Ciij, Manager HJ. Track Team CSD. Dramatic: 'fRegular Fixfl Midnight Intruderf' UPrairie Center. Oak Farm. Good Old Summer Time, A Little Savagef' Girl lfrom Porto Rico. Organizations : Class President MD. President lllini Literary Society HJ. V. ll. S. Band, Secretary and Treasurer, Solo Cornet C45 Publication: Business Manager 'The Cometfy Patriot and Traitor VVhen he is gone, a man is remembered, if at all, by one overtopping characteristic or deed, some great fact of lns hfe, for which his name stands in the minds of all. 'lhus the name of Judas is the synonym for treacheryg Xero for crueltyg Napoleon, ambitiong XfVashington, lofty patriotism. VVe associate Mrs. Stowe with Uncle Tom's Cabing Vlfhittier with the anti-slavery causeg Frances VVillard with temperanee reform. We speak of Alfred the Great: Cleopatra the VVantong Arnold the Traitor. lt is one of the rewards of a life of virtue, that when that life is ended, it's weak- nesses are lost sight of in reverence for the greater nobility which overshadows them. lt is the great penalty for such crimes as Arnold's, that the memory of earlier service is swallowed in horror at the foulness of the later deed. Yet there was a time in Arnold's life when he deserved the love of his countrymen, when he rendered services greater than any other in the army except VVasltington and Greene, lf he had died on that glorious field of Saratoga, few names would have been held in more loving remembrance by the American people. But he was destined to prove that with his good qualities were mingled the elements of baseness. His was a reek, coarse, nature, in which the weeds of personal vanity and revenge grew side by side with the flowers of bravery and patriotismg in which the forces of conscience and loyalty to country struggled with ambition and pride until overthrown and crushed forever, Yet has this dark ligure, this villain in the great drama of the Revolution, deserved the harsh verdict handed down through the years, deserved the scorn and loathing of :hose whom he once so faithfully and nobly served? It is htting that we who have heard so often the dark story of his fall should review candidly those earlier, happier years. On the day after that memorable day of Lexington, we Find him on the college green of New Haven, at the head of a body of volunteers bound for Cambridge towards which thousands of enthusiastic New linglanders were hastening. Here in Cambridge be- gan his long comradship with those noble patriots, Daniel Morgan, Nathaniel Greene, and -Philip Schuyler, who became his unwavering friends, but whose incorruptible loyalty, under nnmense personal wrong, only shows Arnold's ignoble revenge in blacker color by contrast. Here we find him, brave and sagacious, suggesting the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, those northern guards of the Hudson, whose strategic value his active mind at once perceived. Joining the forces under lfthan Allen the forts were taken, but on SIXTEEN

Page 20 text:

Tim comm gg gg M gpg pg 1910 steadfast friend, who proved his confidence by giving him, at his own request, the most important post in the country-that of VVest Point. The same reckless impulsiveness which characterized his Fighting clung to him as a traitor, and would not let him be a villain on a small scale. He would not only go over to the enemy, he would also deliver his country to them by a scheme colossal in its wicked- ness. The fortifications of the Highlands were to be betrayed into the hands of Clinton. These fortilications were believed to be impregnable. They had been built with prodigius labor without cost to the state, by the hands of American soldiers,-soldiers in rags, ill- fed, generally unpaid-every stone a momnnent to the patriotism which nerved their arms. Now Arnold would betray these works, and the men who built them, to the enemy,- Arnold, whom the soldiers loved, whom he had led again and again in the van of battle. Through no rclenting on the traitor's part, the plan miscarried. he lived to see his name disgraced in the eyes of all honest men. lle is an awful example of a man of grand possibilities wrecked by his inability to conquer himself. His last years are said to have been years of remorse, and there is a tradition that on his deathbed the old lighter, feeling that death was at hand, donned his worn American uniform, saying: 'tLet me die in this olg uniform in which I fought my battles. May God forgive me for ever putting on any ot er.' On the old Saratoga battle ground towers a mighty obelisk of blue granite. In niches on the outer faces of the obelislc are heroic bronze statues of the great leaders of the battle. On one side stands Schuyler, the grand patriot who had patiently plowed and sowed, and then, for his country's sake, stepped aside without a murmur, while another unjustly reaped the harvest. ln a second niche stands Gates, the gatherer of that harvest. In the third Morgan, the hero of many battle fields. On the fourth side is carved yet another niche. The real hero of Saratoga was Arnold, who led the charge and won both Fights. His niche is there, but it is empty. In the designing of the monument, justice has been done to Arnold. In that empty niche the whole sad story is told. He lost what he had won, the verdict is just. NVe grant although she had much wit She was very shy of using it. - DOROTHY CRAFT. tt As in a cradled llereules you trace The lines of empire in his infant face. DEAN GEER. H VVhat a glorious creature was he who first discovered the use of tobacco. CLARE Fos'rER. l am sure care is an enemy to lifef' CLAUDE T1NoLEY. How happy Could I be with either, XXVCTC t'other dear eharmer awayfl CLARE FOSTER. Ulfragile beginnings of a mighty end. THE FRESHMAN. t'To say why gals acts so or so, Or don't 'ould he presumin'3 Blebhy to mean yes an' say no Comes nateral to women. ROXANNA JOHNSTON. EIGHTEEN