George Canning Hill

“ The Americans were now six hundred strong at Bethel. The Generals divided them into two parties, having heard that Tryon had shaped his course south-westerly, instead of south-easterly, by the way he came; one division, consisting of two hundred men, commanded by Wooster, and the other, of four hundred men, was led by Generals Arnold and Silliman. The plan now was, both to harass the enemy in their rear and to cut off their retreat to their shipping. ”

“ The Americans lost during this invasion about an hundred men; the British lost three times as many. The infamous Gov. Tryon was safe on board his ship, but he did not leave the soil without carrying away a souvenir of his unwelcome visit in the shape of a wound.
Congress was obliged to confess to the bravery of Arnold in these engagements, and at once directed the quarter-master to "procure a horse and present the same, properly caparisoned, to Major- General Arnold, as a token of their approbation of his gallant conduct in the action against the enemy in the late enterprise to Danbury." ”

“ Arnold stayed in the camp of Washington but three days, and then posted off for Providence, which was the head-quarters of the eastern army. And thus the two forces kept their position through the rest of the winter. Arnold was quite active in devising plans for harassing the British and finally driving them from the land, but the chances of enlisting men enough for carrying out any plan to attack them, were extremely few and feeble. ”

“ His letter was referred to the Board of War, who reported that they saw no fault whatever to find with General Arnold, but, on the contrary, they thought that his character had been "cruelly and groundlessly aspersed." Congress accepted this report, thus subscribing to the opinion of the Board; yet they did not restore him to the rank to which he was properly entitled, and thus opened the way for all the calamities that naturally followed such unjust conduct. ”

“ Howe made a movement from Brunswick towards Washington's position, but soon retired to that place again; and finding nothing was likely to be done, Arnold went back with his force to Philadelphia.
Still, Congress made no progress with his accounts. He was irritated at the delay beyond measure, and forthwith sent them a letter resigning his commission. He said that he still loved his country as much as ever, and was still willing to risk his life in her imperilled cause; "but," he continued, "honor is a sacrifice no man ought to make ”

“ A handful of raw militia flocked to give them a warm reception; but a few cannon balls speedily dispersed these and left the way open for the enemy's advance. The men all went ashore from the vessels just at evening on Friday, the 25th day of April. ”