| Object ID |
A8 |
| Object Name |
Painting |
| Dimensions |
H-19 W-13 inches |
| Early Date |
1925 |
| Late Date |
1926 |
| Description |
“My name is Arnold,” replied the other, biting his lips in suppressed rage, “and I hold a commission of colonel, with the orders I named, from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. There! examine it for yourselves!” he added, pulling out a parchment and disdainfully hurling it at their feet.
The roll was instantly picked up and attentively examined by several of the officers; while Arnold stood aloof in contemptuous silence, scarcely deigning to bestow a glance on the company thus encased. It indeed proved, as he had stated, a colonel’s commission from the source above mentioned, enclosing another document signed by the same Committee, authorizing Arnold to raise troops in Massachusetts or elsewhere, to the number of four hundred, and march them for the reduction of Ticonderoga.
“Now, sir, where is your commission? I should like to see it in turn,” said Arnold, addressing Allen, and advancing with an air of triumph, as soon as the examination of his credentials, which he supposed must silence all further question of the right he had assumed, was completed.
“My commission?” promptly replied Allen, by no means disturbed by this unexpected demand, though in fact he had no paper commission to show, as the council appointing him had not deemed such an instrument essential; “where is my commission do you ask? There, sir!” he continued, pointing to his troops, who, understanding Arnold’s claim to take command of them, already began to exhibit visible tokens of displeasure at the thought of having their idolized leader superseded by a stranger, “there, sir, it is, engraven on the hearts of these two hundred and thirty Green Mountain Boys! Trace it out there for yourself! Read it in their eyes, in every lineament of their countenances! And if that is not enough for you, then ask them whether Ethan Allen, who is getting gray in their service, is to be thrust aside for a commander whom they have never before seen?”
“Never! no, never!” fiercely burst from a hundred lips along the lines, while many indignantly threw down their arms, and all, either by word, look, or gesture, gave unequivocal indication of their determination to allow no man to usurp the place of their chosen leader.
The countenance of Arnold, with all his assurance, instantly fell at so decided and to him so unexpected a manifestation of the disposition of the troops; and he bit his lips in vexation and mortified pride at his defeat.
At this crisis of the affair Warrington, fearing in common with the other officers that the altercation might prove ruinous to the enterprise, stepped forward and interposed. He first respectfully, and in a manner calculated to soothe the irritated feelings of Arnold, set forth the doubtfulness of his right, even under the instructions and commission he had received, to assume the command of troops who had not been enlisted by him, but who had volunteered without any knowledge of him or his instructions, and with the implied condition that they should be left to the choice of their own leaders. He then appealed to him as a gentleman, a patriot, and friend to the common cause, whether he would do well to insist on his claim, since doing so, as he must see, would prove destructive of their expedition. This courteous and well-timed appeal, which opened a door by which Arnold might honorably retreat from his awkward position, seemed to produce on his mind an instantaneous effect. The dark and angry frown which had settled on his countenance gave way to a bright and cheerful look. With one hand he instantly tore the epaulets from his shoulders, while with the other he drew his sword and threw it on the ground, gallantly exclaiming:
“Gentlemen. I most cheerfully waive all pretensions to the command, which of right, I am now convinced, belongs to the brave leader of the far-famed Green Mountain Boys. But as to going with you on this glorious enterprise, it is a privilege which, by ———, I won’t relinquish! Gentlemen, will you furnish me with a common musket and accept me as a volunteer soldier of your gallant band?”
Allen appeared to be taken completely aback by this sudden declaration of Arnold. His naturally forgiving and noble disposition and quick feelings were instantly touched with this mark of magnanimity, as unexpected to him as it was remarkable in the man, being the most striking, and perhaps the only instance of the kind ever displayed by this brave, but unprincipled officer in his whole public career.
“Done like a man, by Jove!” exclaimed the chivalrous leader of the Green Mountain Boys, advancing and cordially proffering the other his hand, while the tears of admiring and grateful emotion fairly started out on to his brawny cheeks. “Done like a man and a hero! Here, God bless you, give us your fist! There is about the right kind of stuff in you, after all, my friend. Will you accept the post of my aide-de-camp, with the rank your commission gives you?”
“Most cheerfully, sir,” replied the flattered Arnold, waving his hand with easy and grateful courtesy.
“Pick up your sword and badges, then, sir,” resumed Allen. “Call for your horse, and we will on together, like brothers, in the cause of God and the people. Officers and soldiers!” he continued, in a loud and cheering voice, that rang like a deep-toned trumpet far and wide over field and forest around, while he sprang upon his impatient charger and waved his sword on high; “prepare to march! Ethan Allen still commands you. Peace is in the camp, the Lord on our side, and victory before us! Forward, march!” |
| Credit |
Gift of Thos. Nelson & Sons |
|
