He again repeated that he did not think his wound would permit him to do active duty, and intimated a desire to have the command at West Point.  I told him I did not think that would suit him, as I should leave none in the garrison but invalids, because it would be entirely covered by the main army.  The subject was dropt at that time, and he returned to Philadelphia.  It then appeared somewhat strange to me, that a man of Arnold’s known activity and enterprise, should be desirous of taking so inactive a part.  I however thought no more of the matter.  When the French troops arrived at Rhode Island, I had intelligence from New York that General Clinton intended to make an attack upon them before they could get themselves settled and fortified.  In consequence of that, I was determined to attack New York, which would be left much exposed by his drawing off the British troops; and accordingly formed my line of battle, and moved down with the whole army to King’s ferry, which we passed.  Arnold came to camp at that time, and having no command, and consequently no quarters (all the houses thereabouts being occupied by the army), he was obliged to seek lodgings at some distance from the camp.  While the army was crossing at King’s ferry, I was going to see the last detachment over, and met Arnold, who asked me if I had thought of anything for him.  I told him that he was to have the command of the light troops, which was a post of honor, and which his rank indeed entitled him to.  Upon this information his countenance changed, and he appeared to be quite fallen; and instead of thanking me, or expressing any pleasure at the appointment, never opened his mouth.  I desired him to go on to my quarters and get something to refresh himself, and I would meet him there soon.  He did so.  Upon his arrival there, he found Col.  Tilghman, whom he took a one side, and mentioning what I had told him, seemed to express great uneasiness at it—­as his leg, he said, would not permit him to be long on horse-back; and intimated a great desire to have the command at West Point.  When I returned to my quarters, Col.  Tilghman informed me of what had passed.  I made no reply to it—­but his behavior struck me as strange and unaccountable.  In the course of that night, however, I received information from New York that General Clinton had altered his plan and was debarking his troops.  This information obliged me likewise to alter my disposition and return to my former station, where I could better cover the country.  I then determined to comply with Arnold’s desire, and accordingly gave him the command of the garrison at West Point.  Things remained in this situation about a fortnight, when I wrote to the Count Rochambeau desiring to meet him at some intermediate place (as we could neither of us be long enough from our respective commands to visit the other), in order to lay the plan for the siege of Yorktown, and proposed Hartford, where I accordingly went and met the Count.