Beschreibung:

AMERICAN REVOLUTION]. ARNOLD, Benedict. Autograph letter signed ("Bened. [end of signature torn away]), with autograph postscript on verso signed ("B. Arnold"), to an unnamed group of "Gentlemen at Charlestown," Ticonderoga, 6 July 1775. 1½ pages, folio, small piece at lower left corner defective affecting signature, small stain at fold intersections (reinforced from verso), very small repairs at margins in several places, recipient's docket . BENEDICT ARNOLD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOOTING OF THE HOME OF MAJOR SKENE, AN EMINENT LOYALIST An interesting letter written from Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, which Arnold and Ethan Allen had captured from the British in a dramatic night-time attack on May 10, 1775. Arnold had also sent a detachment to seize Skenesborough, seat of loyalist Major Philip Skene (1725-1810), an important loyalist officer who owned substantial lands in and about present-day Whitehall, New York. He had been named Lt. Governor of Ticonderoga and Crown Point in January 1775. Here, Arnold expresses outrage that he has been blamed for the plundering of Skene's home. He has been shown a letter from Charlestown, dated 30 June "signed by a number of Gentlemen, which seems evidently Calculated...to Asperse my Character by Intimating, I gave orders or rather Countermanded the plundering [of] Major Skene's house To convince you of my Innocency in the Matter, herewith you have a Copy [of] my Orders to Capt. Herrick, the Officer I sent to take Possession of the Majors Vessel...Neither have I been at Skenesborough nor did I know of any Plunder there until after his Return from St. Johns & he was gone home, nor do I recollect ever speaking to him or hearing him say any thing in regard to Major Skenes Effects, neither have I ever given the least Countinance [ sic ] to Plundering but Positive orders to the Contrary, and I now Declare on my honour I have never receivedSix pence worth of any kind of Plunder, except the Property of Capt. Friend Taken in the Sloop a great Part of which is returned, & I have wrote the Continental Congress, in regard to the remainder" On the verso, Arnold has addressed the letter to "The Gentlemen at Charleston," and adds a postscript: "I had forgot to mention about small Bead Delivered me by Capt. Brown, taken at Skenesborough, supposes the Kings Property in Major Skene's hands, to Distribute to the Indians this I distributed Among the Caughnawaga Indians B. Arnold." The party sent to capture Major Skene "had been distracted by a cellar stocked with 'choice liquors' according to Major Skene (Randall, Benedict Arnold , p.94). Skene was not captured, but they seized Skene's valuable sloop and took control of Skene's sawmills. These Arnold later used to furnish the timber for the construction of the makeshift flotilla that fought the British in the Battle of Valcour Island in October 1776. Skene later served with Burgoyne and was captured at Saratoga.