566. ARNOLD (Benedict), Reward for capture of.—
It is above all things desirable
to drag Arnold from those under whose wing
he is now sheltered. On his march to and from
this place [Richmond], I am certain it might
have been done with facility by men of enterprise
and firmness. I think it may still be
done. * * * Having peculiar confidence in
the men from the western side of the mountains,
I meant, as soon as they should come
down, to get the enterprise proposed to a
chosen number of them; such whose courage
and whose fidelity would be above all doubt.
Your perfect knowledge of those men personally,
and my confidence in your discretion, induce
me to ask you to pick from among them
proper characters, in such number as you think
best, to reveal to them our desire, and engage
them to undertake to seize and bring off this
greatest of all traitors. Whether this may be
best effected by their going in (within the British
lines) as friends and awaiting their opportunity,
or otherwise, is left to themselves. The
smaller the number the better, so that they be
sufficient to manage him. Every necessary caution
must be used on their part, to prevent a
discovery of their design by the enemy; as,
should they be taken, the laws of war will justify
against them the most rigorous sentence.
I will undertake, if they are successful in bringing
him off alive, that they shall receive five
thousand guineas reward among them. And to
men, formed for such an enterprise, it must be
a great incitement to know that their names will
be recorded with glory in history, with those of
Van Wart, Paulding and Williams. [34]
—
To—. Washington ed. i, 289.
Ford ed., ii, 441.
(R.
1781)
