ss to Quebec； and incurring hardships almost incredible。 Later he is found on Lake Champlain； fighting on both land and water。 When in the next year the Americans succeeded at Saratoga it was Arnold who bore the brunt of the fighting。 At Quebec and again at Saratoga he was severely wounded。 In the summer of 1778 he was given the command at Philadelphia； after the British evacuation。 It was a troubled time。 Arnold was concerned with confiscations of property for treason and with disputes about ownership。 Impulsive； ambitious； and with a certain element of coarseness in his nature； he made enemies。 He was involved in bitter strife with both Congress and the State government of Pennsylvania。 After a period of tension and privation in war； one of slackness and luxury is almost certain to follow。 Philadelphia； which had recently suffered for want of bare necessities； now relapsed into gay indulgence。 Arnold lived extravagantly。 He played a conspicuous part in society and； a widower of thirty…five； was successful in paying court to Miss Shippen； a young lady of twenty； with whom； as Washington said； all the American officers were in love。
Malignancy was rampant and Arnold was pursued with great bitterness。 Joseph Reed； the President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania； not only brought charge against him of abusing his position for his own advantage； but also laid the charges before each State government。 In the end Arnold was tried by court…martial and after long and inexcusable delay； on January 26； 1780； he was acquitted of everything but the imprudence of using； in an emergency； public wagons to remove private property； and of granting irregularly a pass to a ship to enter the port of Philadelphia。 Yet the court ordered that for these trifles Arnold should receive a public reprimand from the Commander…in…Chief。 Washington gave the reprimand in terms as gentle as possible； and when； in July； 1780； Arnold asked for the important command at West Point； Washington readily complied probably with relief that so important a position should be in such good hands。
The treason of Arnold now came rapidly to a head。 The man was embittered。 He had rendered great services and yet had been persecuted with spiteful persistence。 The truth seems to be； too； that Arnold thought America ripe for reconciliation with Great Britain。 He dreamed that he might be the saviour of his country。 Monk had reconciled the English republic to the restored Stuart King Charles II； Arnold might reconcile the American republic to George III for the good of both。 That reconciliation he believed was widely desired in America。 He tried to persuade himself that to change sides in this civil strife was no more culpable then to turn from one party to another in political life。 He forgot； however； that it is never honorable to betray a trust。
It is almost certain that Arnold received a large sum in money for his treachery。 However this may be； there was treason in his heart when he asked for and received the command at West Point； and he intended to use his authority to surrender that vital post to the British。 And now on the 18th of September Washington was riding northeastward into Connecticut； British troops were on board ships in New York and all was ready。 On the 20th of September the Vulture； sloop of war； sailed up the Hudson from New York and anchored at Stony Point； a few miles below West Point。 On board the Vulture was the British officer who was treating with Arnold and who now came to arrange terms with him； Major John Andre； Clinton's young adjutant general； a man of attractive personality。 Under cover of night Arnold sent off a boat to bring Andre ashore to a remote thicket of fir trees； outside the American lines。 There the final plans were made。 The British fleet； carrying an army； was to sail up the river。 A heavy chain had been placed across the river at West Point to bar the way of hostile ships。 Under pretense of repairs a link was to be taken out and replaced by a rope which would break easily。 The defenses of West Point were to be so arranged that they could not meet a sudden attack and Arnold was to surrender with his force of three thousand men。 Such a blow following the disasters at Charleston and Camden might end the strife。 Britain was prepared to yield everything but separation； and America； Arnold said； could now make an honorable peace。
A chapter of accidents prevented the testing。 Had Andre been rowed ashore by British tars they could have taken him back to the ship at his command before daylight。 As it was the American boatmen； suspicious perhaps of the meaning of this talk at midnight between an American officer and a British officer； both of them in uniform； refused to row Andre back to the ship because their own return would be dangerous in daylight。 Contrary to his instructions and wishes Andre accompanied Arnold to a house within the American lines to wait until he could be taken off under cover of night。 Meanwhile； however； an American battery on shore； angry at the Vulture； lying defiantly within range； opened fire upon her and she dropped down stream some miles。 This was alarming。 Arnold； however； arranged with a man to row Andre down the river and about midday went back to West Point。
It was uncertain how far the Vulture had gone。 The vigilance of those guarding the river was aroused and Andre's guide insisted that he should go to the British lines by land。 He was carrying compromising papers and wearing civilian dress when seized by an American party and held under close arrest。 Arnold meanwhile； ignorant of this delay； was waiting for the expected advance up the river of the British fleet。 He learned of the arrest of Andre while at breakfast on the morning of the twenty…fifth； waiting to be joined by Washington； who had just ridden in from Hartford。 Arnold received the startling news with extraordinary composure； finished the subject under discussion； and then left the table under pretext of a summons from across the river。 Within a few minutes his barge was moving swiftly to the Vulture eighteen miles away。 Thus Arnold escaped。 The unhappy Andre was hanged as a spy on the 2d of October。 He met his fate bravely。 Washington； it is said； shed tears at its stern necessity under military law。 Forty years later the bones of Andre were reburied in Westminster Abbey； a tribute of pity for a fine officer。
The treason of Arnold is not in itself important； yet Washington wrote with deep conviction that Providence had directly intervened to save the American cause。 Arnold might be only one of many。 Washington said； indeed； that it was a wonder there were not more。 In a civil war every one of importance is likely to have ties with both sides； regrets for the friends he has lost； misgivings in respect to the course he has adopted。 In April； 1779； Arnold had begun his treason by expressing discontent at the alliance with France then working so disastrously。 His future lay before him； he was still under forty； he had just married into a family of position； he expected that both he and his descendants would spend their lives in America and he must have known that contempt would follow them for the conduct which he planned if it was regarded by public opinion as base。 Voices in Congress； too； had denounced the alliance with France as alliance with tyranny； political and religious。 Members praised the liberties of England and had declared that the Declaration of Independence must be revoked and that now it could be done with honor since the Americans had proved their metal。 There was room for the fear that the morale of the Americans was giving way。
The defection of Arnold might also have military results。 He had bargained to be made a general in the British army and he had intimate knowledge of the weak points in Washington's position。 He advised the British that if they would do two things； offer generous terms to soldiers serving in the American army； and concentrate their effort； they could win the war。 With a cynical knowledge of the weaker side of human nature； he declared that it was too expensive a business to bring men from England to serve in America。 They could be secured more cheaply in America； it would be necessary only to pay them better than Washington could pay his army。 As matters stood the Continental troops were to have half pay for seven years after the close of the war and grants of land ranging from one hundred acres for a private to eleven hundred acres for a general。 Make better offers than this； urged Arnold； 〃Money will go farther than arms in America。〃 If the British would concentrate on the Hudson where the defenses were weak they could drive a wedge between North and South。 If on the other hand they preferred to concentrate in the South； leaving only a garrison in New York； they could overrun Virginia and Maryland and then the States farther south would give up a fight in which they were already beaten。 Energy and enterprise； said Arnold； will quickly win the war。
In the autumn of 1780 the British cause did； indeed； seem near triumph。 An election in England in October gave the ministry an increased majority and with this renewed determination。 When Holland； long a secret enemy； became an open one in Dec