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Show Bright Spot in Life of Traitor Victory at Ridgefleld One of Good Deeds Credited to Benedict Arnold. The battle of Ridgefleld, Conn., was among the creditable things In Arnold's Ar-nold's life. It came between the struggle strug-gle In Maine and the time when he tricked St. Leger Into believing that lie had a great force of men. In consequence con-sequence the Indian allies left the British commander and Fort Stanwix was saved. After this, too, Arnold won the battle of Saratoga while Gates sulked In his tent. But it was only a little more than three years from the day the battle of Ridgefleld was fought that Major Andre An-dre was writing his celebrated letter to Washington. The history of Ridgefleld Ridge-fleld Is strangely associated with Arnold's Ar-nold's brilliant courage as a soldier and the whole unhappy story of his attempt at-tempt to betray the then struggling republic. re-public. About four miles from Ridgefleld, In South Salem, Major Andre was held a prisoner by Gen. Joshua King. (A stone marks the place.) Major Andre was arrested because he was "suspected "sus-pected of being a spy." Andre said later that he was captured because of the fine boots he had on. And Isaac N. Arnold says in his life of Benedict 55 is too Besrna or Bri-SBiBtglj 0 van. ffijuTrtfesggg; s t$ eras 6K3 miss sEagsj iCS gg ffyt eamtmatn SS8? 5 Li Sosrssaa Barenaca SpiMssa. 1.-.J inrjSS YSt?DQ SS31!!3aiP'C'Ct:( TOSUQ 02ih?a n;; ?'! to 6aMre&assewssi pi Monument at Ridgefleld, Conn., to Revolutionary Patriots and Their Foes. Arnold that debts and an attempt to support a too elegant establishment, a woful vanity, contributed to Arnold's downfall. However, Andre and King, whose tastes were similar, became close friends. General King escorted his prisoner to West Point and stayed until un-til the execution. Andre objected to nothing but the mode of his death. From all accounts, he appeared glad that Arnold had. made his escape. To return to the battle of Ridgefleld. It was continued next day, Arnold's forces pursuing Tryon to the ships at Compo. Had not Sir William Ersklne reinforced Tryon with an overwhelming overwhelm-ing number of marines from shipboard he would have been defeated. General King became an Important personage In Ridgefleld. His descendants, descend-ants, the J. Howard Kings, have built a house on the place where his homestead home-stead used to stand. Tliey keep a chair which was a favorite of Andre's. King was one of the members of the convention con-vention which formed the Connecticut constitution at Hartford In 1818. To the end of his life, mounted upon his white-faced bay, he was one of the sights of the town. |