THE Vulture in the Hudson--Midnight Adventure--Benedict Arnold--Repairs to Cambridge--Expedition to Canada--Created a Brigadier-general--Grounds of Complaint--Honorable Conduct in Connecticut--Appointed to the command at Philadelphia--Charges preferred against him--Reprimanded by Washington--Plots against his Country--Correspondence with Sir H. Clinton--Appointed to the command of West Point--Interview with Andre--Capture of Andre--Arrival of Washington--Escape of Arnold--Developments of Arnold's traitorous intentions--Trial and Condemnation of Andre--Subsequent incidents in the life of Arnold. [Illustration: The Vulture.] On the night of the 21st of September, 1780, there was lying at anchor on the Hudson, a few miles below West Point, a British sloop-of-war, called the _Vulture_. A little before midnight, a boat, with muffled oars, and rowed by two men, put off from the American shore, and proceeded with great caution towards the sloop. In the stern of the boat sat a third man, of more consequence than the oarsmen, and the leader of the secret expedition. It was a tranquil night; the stars peered out with unwonted lustre, and the waters moved slowly down the channel. What object was proposed by this cautious midnight adventure? Was intelligence sought from the enemy, or was it to be imparted to them? Was it a patriotic or a traitorous expedition?--The sequel will tell. Among the brave and chivalrous men who early engaged in the defence of American rights, was _Benedict Arnold_. On the occurrence of the battle of Lexington, he was residing at New Haven, and was commandant of a company of militia, called the Governor's Guards. On the arrival of the news of the above battle at New Haven, citizens and soldiers, as if moved by a common impulse, assembled on the green. Fired with indignation, as were others, Arnold proposed to head such as would volunteer under him, and lead them to the more immediate scene of action. Such was the dispatch of preparation, that the following day, at the head of sixty volunteers, he was ready to march. After reaching Cambridge, for a time Arnold was employed in an expedition against Ticonderoga. About the time of his return, congress was contemplating a still more important and hazardous movement against Canada, under General Schuyler. Believing that essential aid might be rendered by the way of the Kennebec river, a detachment of troops was made at Cambridge, the command of which was tendered to Arnold.