Benjamin B. Arnold

[wpbinzel]

In Come Retribution, Tidwell, Hall and Gaddy, highlight a throw-away paragraph in Osborn Oldroyd’s 1901 book, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In retracing Booth's escape route, Oldroyd found himself in the home of James A. Arnold:

“Mr. Arnold, keeper of the Lower Cedar Point light-house, left us, to remain at his station all night, but before going gave me proper directions to continue my walk to Port Conway, which point I expected to make the next day. Benjamin B. Arnold, the father of Mr. James A. Arnold, my genial host, died some years ago. Mr. Arnold, Sr., was engaged in the plot to abduct the President, and the part assigned him was to take charge of Mr. Lincoln on the Virginia side of the river and hurry him to Richmond. When the news of the President’s assassination reach the home of Mr. Arnold, which was at that time a few miles farther up the river, he expressed his regrets, saying: ‘I am very sorry the President was shot, but very glad they never succeeded in kidnapping him, for it let me out of a very dirty job.’” -- Osborn H. Oldroyd, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Washington, DC: O. H. Oldroyd, 1901), 283-4.

Tidwell, et al., attach significance that Benjamin Arnold was “assigned” a role in Booth’s plot to capture/kidnap Lincoln (as do I). But that begs the question, who was Benjamin Arnold?

Has anyone done any research on Benjamin B. Arnold and his role in the Civil War?

[SSlater]

(07-19-2016 10:37 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  In Come Retribution, Tidwell, Hall and Gaddy, highlight a throw-away paragraph in Osborn Oldroyd’s 1901 book, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. In retracing Booth's escape route, Oldroyd found himself in the home of James A. Arnold:

“Mr. Arnold, keeper of the Lower Cedar Point light-house, left us, to remain at his station all night, but before going gave me proper directions to continue my walk to Port Conway, which point I expected to make the next day. Benjamin B. Arnold, the father of Mr. James A. Arnold, my genial host, died some years ago. Mr. Arnold, Sr., was engaged in the plot to abduct the President, and the part assigned him was to take charge of Mr. Lincoln on the Virginia side of the river and hurry him to Richmond. When the news of the President’s assassination reach the home of Mr. Arnold, which was at that time a few miles farther up the river, he expressed his regrets, saying: ‘I am very sorry the President was shot, but very glad they never succeeded in kidnapping him, for it let me out of a very dirty job.’” -- Osborn H. Oldroyd, The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Washington, DC: O. H. Oldroyd, 1901), 283-4.

Tidwell, et al., attach significance that Benjamin Arnold was “assigned” a role in Booth’s plot to capture/kidnap Lincoln (as do I). But that begs the question, who was Benjamin Arnold?

Has anyone done any research on Benjamin B. Arnold and his role in the Civil War?

Benjamin Arnold was a member of Lt. Charles H. Cawood's spycamp crew on Mathias Point. His house is still standing. James' house is gone, because it was located on what is now the Navy Base.
At the moment I can't think of anything that either one of them accomplished, other than they did their duty.

[L Verge]

John - Whose house is it that still stands all by itself across the road from the beautiful old Episcopal Church a short distance before Cleydael? For some reason, I associate that house with the Arnolds and kidnap scheme. Both Mr. Hall and Mike Kauffman used to mention it on our Booth tours.

Bill - The Tidwell files are catalogued (courtesy of Wild Bill) and online at surrattmuseum.org There may be a reference to the Arnolds.

[wpbinzel]

(07-20-2016 12:19 PM)L Verge Wrote:  John - Whose house is it that still stands all by itself across the road from the beautiful old Episcopal Church a short distance before Cleydael? For some reason, I associate that house with the Arnolds and kidnap scheme. Both Mr. Hall and Mike Kauffman used to mention it on our Booth tours.

Bill - The Tidwell files are catalogued (courtesy of Wild Bill) and online at surrattmuseum.org There may be a reference to the Arnolds.

Thanks, Laurie (and Mr. Richter). I will search them and share anything I find.