 Arnold took up the task with relish , and Gates rewarded him with command of the fleet , writing that " [ Arnold ] has a perfect knowledge in maritime affairs , and is , besides , a most gallant and deserving officer . " Arnold 's appointment was not without trouble ; Jacobus <unk> , who had been in command of the fleet , refused to accept that Gates had authority over him , and had to be arrested . The shipbuilding was significantly slowed in mid @-@ August by an outbreak of disease among the shipwrights . Although the army leadership had been scrupulous about keeping smallpox sufferers segregated from others , the disease that slowed the shipbuilding for several weeks was some kind of fever . 
