USA > New York > A history of the state of New York, from the first discovery of the country to the present time: with a geographical account of the country, and a view of its original inhabitants > Part 21
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could no longer be detained without a violation of the sanctity of flags, and a contempt for all the laws of war, as they are acknowledged and practised by all nations. General Clinton wrote in much the same style in favor of Andre. In the let- ter of that general was enclosed a second from Arnold; its language could not pretend to the merit of reserve. He in- sisted that in his character of American general, he was in- vested with the right to grant Andre the usual privilege of flags, that he might approach in safety to confer with him ; and that, in sending him back, he was competent to choose any way he thought the most proper. But major Andre be- trayed less anxiety respecting his fate than was manifested in his behalf by his countrymen and friends. Naturally averso from all falsehood, from all subterfuge; desirous, if he must part with life, to preserve it at least pure and spotless to his last hour, he confessed, ingenuously, that he had by no means come under the protection of a flag ; adding, that if he had come so accompanied, he should certainly have returned under the same escort. Ilis language manifested an extreme atten . tion to avoid imputing fault to any : abjuring, on the contrary, all dissimulation in regard to what concerned him personally, he often avowed more than was questioned him. So much generosity and constancy were universally admired. The fate of this unfortunate young man wrung tears of compassion even from his judges. All would have wished to save him ; but the fact was too notorious. The court-martial, on the ground of his own confession, pronounced that he was, and ought to be considered as a spy, and as such to be punished with death. Washington notified this sentence to Clinton, in the answer to his letter. He recapitulated all the circum- ' stances of the offence, inviting him to observe, that, although they were of a nature to justify towards major Andre the summary proceedings usual in the case of spies, still he had preferred to act in respect to him with more deliberation and scruple ; that it was, therefore, not without a perfect know !- edge of the cause, that the court-martial had passed the judg- ment of which he apprized him. But Clinton, half delirious with anguish at the destiny of Andre, whom he loved with the utmost tenderness, did not restrict himself to the efforts
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سو عدم اكبر عدد
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he had already made to preserve him. He again wrote to Washington, praying him to consent to a conference between several delegates of the two parties, in order to throw all the light possible upon so dubious an affair. Washington com- plied with the proposal ; he sent general Greene to Dobbs' Ferry, where he was met by general Robertson on the part of the English. The latter exerted himself with extreme carn. estness to prove that Andre could not be considered as a spy. He repeated the arguments already advanced of the privilege of flags, and of the necessity that controlled the actions ot Andre while he was in the power of Arnold. But, perceiving that his reasoning produced no effect, he endeavored to per- suade by the voice of humanity ; he alleged the 'essential importance of mitigating, by generous counsels, the rigors of war; he extolled the clemency of general Clinton, who had never put to death any of those persons who had violated the laws of war ; he reminded, that major Andre was particularly dear to the general-in-chief, and that, if he might be permitted to reconduct him to New York, any American, of whatever crime accused, and now in the power of the English, should be immediately set at liberty. He made still another proposi tion ; and that was, to suspend the execution of the judgment, and to refer the affair to the decision of two officers, familiar alike with the laws of war and of nations, such as the generals Knyphausen and Rochambeau. Finally, general Robertson presented a letter from Arnold, directed to Washington, by which he endeavored to exculpate the British prisoner, and to take all the blame of his conduct upon himself. He did not retire till after having threatened the most terrible retalia- tions, if the sentence of the court-martial was executed ; he declared, in particular, that the rebels of Carolina, whose life general Clinton had hitherto generously spared, should be immediately punished with death. The interposition of Ar nold could not but tend to the prejudice of Andre; and even if the Americans had been inclined to clemency, his letter would have sufficed to divert them from it. The conference had no effect.
Meanwhile the young Englishman prepared himself for death. He manifested, at its approach, not that contempt
23 *
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which is often no other than dissimulation, or brutishness ; nor yet that weakness which is peculiar to effeminate, or guilty men ; but that firmness which is the noble characteristic `of the virtuous and brave. He regretted life, but he sighed still deeper at the manner of losing it. He could have wished to die a professional death; but he was doomed to the pun- ishment of spies and malefactors, to the infamous death of the halter. This idea struck him with horror, and, on being apprized of the fate that awaited him, he addressed a letter to general Washington, in which he made the following pathetic appeal :*
" Buoyed above the terror of death," said he, "by the consciousness of a life devoted to honorable pursuits, and stained with no action that can give me remorse, I trust that the request that I make to your excellency at this serious po- riod, and which is to soften my last moments, will not be - rejected. Sympathy towards a soldier will surely induce your excellency, and a military friend, to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings of a man of honor. Let me hope, sir, that if aught in my character impresses you with esteem towards me, as the victim of policy and resentment, I shall experience the operation of those feelings in your breast by being informed that I am not to die on a gibbet."
General Washington held a consultation with his officers on the propriety of major Andre's request to be shot ; but it was deemed necessary to deny it, and, on the 2d of Oc tober, this gallant, but unfortunate young man expired on the gallows, universally lamented, both by friends and foes.
- Congress voted to Paulding, Williams and Van Wert, as a reward for their virtuous and patriotic conduct, to each an annuity of $200 and a silver medal, on one side of which was a shield, with the inscription " Fidelity ;" on the other, the motto " Vincit amor patric,"-the love of country conquers.
Major Andre had been injudiciously permitted by Jameson to write to Arnold, who took refuge on board the Vulture, and escaped to New York, where he received the commission of brigadier-general, and the sum of £10,000 sterling, as the price of his dishonor.
* Botta.
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Soon after Arnold entered the service of the enemy, he took the command of an enterprise against Virginia, and signified his zeal in the cause he had espoused by committing depredations against the inhabitants of that state.
SEC. XII. When it was ascertained, that Arnold had taken refuge with the enemy at New York, general Washington made exertions to take him, and bring him to the reward of his treachery. The design was, however, frustrated by the embarkation of Arnold for Virginia.
"Having matured the plan, Washington sent to major Lee to repair to head-quarters, at Tappan, on the Hudson. ' I have sent for you,' said general Washington, 'in the expec tation that you have some one in your corps, who is willing to undertake a delicate and hazardous project. Whoever comes forward will confer great obligations upon me person- ally, and, in behalf of the United States, I will reward him amply. No time is to be lost; he must proceed, if possible, to-night. I intend to seize Arnold, and save Andre.'
" Major Lee named a sergeant-major of his corps, by the name of Champe, a native of Virginia, a man full of bone and muscle, with a countenance grave, thoughtful, and taci- turn, of tried courage, and inflexible perseverance.
"Champe was sent for by major Lee, and the plan proposed. This was for him to desert ; to escape to New York ; to ap pear friendly to the enemy ; to watch Arnold, and, upon some fit opportunity, with the assistance of some one whom Champe could trust, to seize him, and conduct him to a place on the river, appointed, where boats should be in readiness to bear them away.
"Champe listened to the plan attentively ; but, with the spirit of a man of honor and integrity, replied, 'that it was not danger nor difficulty, that deterred him from immedi- ately accepting the proposal, but the ignominy of desertion, and the hypocrisy of enlisting with the enemy !'
" To these objections, Lec replied, that although he would appear to desert, yet, as he obeyed the call of his commander-
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in-chief, his departure could not be considered as criminal, and that, if he suffered in reputation for a time, the matter would, one day, be explained to his credit. As to the second objection, it was urged, that, to bring such a man as Arnold to justice, loaded with guilt as he was, and to save Andre, so young, so accomplished, so beloved, to achieve so much good in the cause of his country, was more than sufficient to balance a wrong, existing only in appearance.
" The objections of Champe were, at length, surmounted, and he accepted the service. It was now 11 o'clock at night. With his instructions in his pocket, the sergeant returned to camp, and, taking his cloak, valise and orderly-book, drew his horse from the picket, and mounted, putting himself upon fortune.
"Scarcely had half an hour elapsed, before captain Carnes, the officer of the day, waited upon Lee, who was vainly at- tempting to rest, and informed him that one of the patrol had fallen in with a dragoon, who, being challenged, put spurs to his horse and escaped. Lee, hoping to conceal the flight of Champe, or, at least, to delay pursuit, complained of fatigue, and told the captain that the patrol had probably mistaken a countryman for a dragoon. Carnes, however, was not thus to be quieted ; and he withdrew to assemble his corps. On examination, it was found that Champe was absent. The captain now returned, and acquainted Lee with the discovery, adding, that he had detached a party to pursue the deserter, and begged the major's written orders.
" After making as much delay as practicable, without ex- citing suspicion, Lee delivers his orders, in which he directed the party to take Champe if possible. 'Bring him alive,' said he, 'that he may suffer in the presence of the army; but kill him if he resists, or if he escapes after being taken.'
" A shower of rain fell soon after Champe's departure, which enabled the pursuing dragoons to take the trail of his horse, his shoes, in common with those of the horses of the army, being made in a peculiar form, and each having a private mark, which was to be seen in the path.
" Middleton, the leader of the pursuing party, left the camp
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a few minutes past 12, so that Champe had the start of but little more than an hour-a period by far shorter than had been contemplated. During the night, the dragoons were often delayed in the necessary halts to examine the road; but, on the coming of morning, the impression of the horse's shoes was so apparent, that they pressed on with rapidity. Some miles above Bergen, a village three miles north of New York, on the opposite side of the Hudson, on ascending a hill, Champe was descried, not more than half a mile distant. Fortunately, Champe descried his pursuers at the same mo- ment, and, conjecturing their object, put spurs to his horse, with the hope of escape.
" By taking a different road, Champe was, for a time, lost sight of; but, on approaching the river, he was again descried. Aware of his danger, he now lashed his valise, containing his clothes and orderly-book, to his shoulders, and prepared hint- self to plunge into the river, if necessary. Swift was his flight, and swift the pursuit. Middleton and his party were within a few hundred yards, when Champe threw himself from his horse, and plunged into the river, calling aloud upon some British galleys, at no great distance, for help. A boat was instantly despatched to the sergeant's assistance, and a fire commenced upon the pursuers. Champe was taken on board, and soon after carried to New York, with a letter from the captain of the galley, stating the past scene, all of which he had witnessed.
"The pursuers, having recovered the sergeant's horse and cloak, returned to camp, where they arrived about three o'clock the next day. On their appearance with the well- known horse, the soldiers made the air resound with the ac- clamations that the scoundrel was killed. The agony of Lee, for a moment, was past description, lest the faithful, honorable, intrepid Champe had fallen. But the truth soon relieved his fears, and he repaired to Washington, to impart to him the success, thus far, of his plan.
" Soon after the arrival of Champe in New York, he was sent to sir Henry Clinton, who treated him kindly, but de- tained him more than an hour' in asking him questions, to
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answer some of which, without exciting suspicion, required all the art the sergeant was master of. He succeeded, how- 'ever, and sir Henry gave him a couple of guineas, and recommended him to Arnold, who was wishing to procure American recruits. Arnold received him kindly, and propos- ed to him to join his legion ; Champe, however, expressed his wish to retire from war ; but assured the general, that, if he should change his mind, he would enlist.
"Champe found means to communicate to Lee an ac- count of his adventures; but, unfortunately, he could not succeed in taking Arnold, as was wished, before the execution of Andre. Ten days before Champe brought his project to a conclusion, Lee received from him his final communication, appointing the third subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken, opposite New York, when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the officers.
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"Champe had enlisted into Arnold's legion, from which time he had every opportunity he could wish to attend to the habits of the general. IIe discovered that it was his custom to return home about 12 every night, and that, previ- ously to going to bed, he always visited the garden. During this visit, the conspirators were to seize him, and, being pre- pared with a gag, they were to apply the same instantly.
" Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it was designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken off several of the palings, and replaced them, so that with ease, and without noise, he could readily open his way to the adjoining alley. Into this alley he intended to convey his prisoner, aided by his companion, one of two associates, who had been introduced by the friend, to whom Champe had been originally made known by letter from the commander-in- chief, and with whose aid and counsel he had so far conduct- ed the enterprise. His other associate was, with the boat, prepared, at one of the wharves on the Hudson river, to re- ceive the party.
" Champe and his friend intended to place themselves each under Arnold's shoulder, and thus to bear him through the most unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat, representing
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Arnold, in case of being questioned, as a drunken soldier, whom they were conveying to the guard-house.
" When arrived at the boat, the difficulties would be all sur- mounted, there being no danger nor obstacle in passing to the Jersey shore. These particulars, as soon as made known to Lee, were communicated to the commander-in-chief, who was highly gratified with the much desired intelligence. He de- sired major Lee to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not be hurt.
" The day arrived, and Lee, with a party of accoutred horses; (one for Arnold, one for the sergeant, and the third for his associate, who was to assist in securing Arnold,) left the camp, never doubting the success of the enterprise, from the tenor of the last received communication. The party reached Hoboken about midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood ; Lee, with three dragoons, stationing himself near the shore of the river. Hour after hour passed, but no boat approached.
" At length the day broke, and the major retired to his party, and, with his led horses, returned to the camp, where he proceeded to head-quarters, to inform the general of the much lamented disappointment, as mortifying as inexplicable. Washington, having perused Champe's plan and communica- tion, had indulged the presumption, that, at length, the object of his keen and constant pursuit was sure of execution, and did not dissemble the joy which such a conviction produced. He was chagrined at the issue, and apprehended that his faithful sergeant must have been detected in the last scene of his tedious and difficult enterprise.
" In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's patron and friend, informing him, that, on the day preceding the night fixed for the execution of the plot, Arnold had removed his quarters to another part of the town, to su- perintend the embarkation of troops, preparing, as was rumor- ed, for an expedition to be directed by himself; and that the American legion, consisting chiefly of American deserters, had been transferred from their barracks to one of the trans- ports, it being apprehended, that, if left on shore until the . expedition was ready, many of them might desert.
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" Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson that night, was safely deposited on board one of the fleet of transports, from whence he never departed, until the troops under Arnold landed in Virginia. Nor was he able to escape from the British army, until after the junction of lord Cornwallis at . Petersburg, when he deserted ; and, pro- ceeding high up into Virginia, he passed into North Carolina, near the Saura towns, and, keeping in the friendly districts of that state, safely joined the army soon after it had passed the Congaree, in pursuit of lord Rawdon.
"His appearance excited extremne surprise among his former comrades, which was not a little increased, when they saw the cordial reception he met with from the late major, now lieutenant-colonel, Lee. His whole story was soon known to the corps, which reproduced the love and respect of officers and soldiers heretofore invariably entertained for the sergeant, heightened by universal admiration of his late daring and arduous attempt.
"Champe was introduced to general Greene, who very cheerfully complied with the promise made by the commander- in-chief, so far as in his power ; and, having provided the sergeant with a good horse and money for his journey, sent him to general Washington, who munificently anticipated . every desire of the sergeant, and presented him with a. dis-, charge from further service, lest he might, in the vicissitudes of war, fall into the hands of the enemy, when, if recognised, he was sure to die on a gibbet.
" We shall only add, respecting the after life of this inter- esting adventurer, that, when general Washington was called by president Adams, in 1798, to the command of the army, prepared to defend the country against French hostility, he sent to lieutenant-colonel Lee, to inquire for Champe ; being determined to bring him into the field at the head of a com- pany of infantry. Lee sent to Loudon county, Virginia, where Champe settled after his discharge from the army; when he learned that the gallant soldier had removed to Kentucky, where he soon after dicd."*
* Lee's Memoirs.
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SEC. XIII. 1781. The Southern States still continued to be the principal theatre of military operations. The present campaign in that department was distinguished by several impor- tant enterprises.
A detachment of the enemy, under colonel Tarleton, came in contact with the Americans under general Morgan, on the 17th of January, when was fought the spirited battle of the Cow- pens, in which the Americans obtained a decided triumph. The British lost, in killed, wounded and taken prisoners, above 600; the loss of the Americans amounted to only 12 killed and 60 wounded.
On the approach of the enemy, general Morgan drew up his men in two lines. The front line was composed entirely of militia, placed under the command of colonel Pickens, and was advanced a few yards before the second, with orders to form on the right of the second, when forced to retire. Major M'Dowell, with a battalion of the North Carolina vol- unteers, and major Cunningham, with a battalion of Georgia volunteers, were advanced about 150 yards in front of this line. The second line consisted of the light infantry and a corps of Virginia riflemen. The cavalry, under lieutenant- colonel Washington, were drawn up at some distance in the rear of the whole. The British, led to the attack by Tarleton himself, advanced with a shout, and poured in an incessant fire of musketry. The militia, though they received the charge with firmness, were soon compelled to fall back into the rear of the second line; and this line, in its turn, after an obstinate conflict, was compelled to retreat to the cavalry. At this juncture, lieutenant-colonel Washington made a successful charge on captain Ogilvie, who, with about 40 dragoon-, was cutting down the retreating militia ; lieutenant-colonel Howard, almost at the same moment, rallied the continental troops, and charged with fixed bayonets; and the militia instantly followed
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the example. By these sudden and unexpected charges, the British, who had considered the fate of the day decided, were thrown into confusion, and driven from the ground with great slaughter. Howard and Washington pressed the advan- tage, which they had respectively gained, until the artillery and a great part of the infantry had surrendered. So sudden was the defeat, that 250 horse, which had not been brought into action, fled with precipitation.
With the expectation of retaking the prisoners, and the intention of obliterating the impression made by the late defeat, lord Cornwallis instantly determined on the pursuit of Mor- gan, who had moved off towards Virginia. The movements of the royal army induced general Greene immediately to retreat from Hick's creek ; and, leaving the main army under the command of general Huger, he rode 150 miles through the country to join the detachment under general Morgan, that he might be in front of lord Cornwallis, and so direct both divisions of his army, as to form a speedy junction be- tween them. Greene, on his arrival, ordered the prisoners to Charlotteville, and directed the troops to Guilford court-house, to which place he had ordered general Huger to proceed with . the main army. In this retreat, the Americans endured ex- treme hardships with admirable fortitude. The British urged the pursuit with such rapidity, that they reached the Catawba on the evening of the same day on which the Americans crossed it ; and, before the next morning, a heavy fall of rain rendered that river impassable. A passage at length being effected, the pursuit was continued. The Americans, by ex- peditious movements, crossed the Yadkin on the second and third days of February, and secured their boats on the north side; but the British, though close in their rear, were incapa- ble of crossing it, through the want of boats, and the rapid rising of the river from preceding rains.
After a junction of the two divisions of the American army, at Guilford court-house, it was concluded in a council of officers, called by general Greene, that he ought to retire over the Dan, and to avoid an engagement until he should be rein- forced. Lord Cornwallis kept the upper countries, where only the rivers are fordable, and attempted to get between
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general Greene and Virginia, to cut off his retreat, and oblige him to fight under many disadvantages; but the American general completely eluded him. So urgent was the pursuit of the British, that, on the 14th of February, the American light troops were compelled to retire upward of 40 miles ; and on that day, general Greene, by indefatigable exertions, trans- ported his army over the Dan into Virginia. Here, again, the pressure was so close, that the van of the British just arrived as the rear of the Americans had crossed. The continental army being now driven out of North Carolina, earl Cornwallis left the Dan, and proceeded to Hillsborough, where he set up the royal standard. Greene, perceiving the necessity of some spirited measure to counteract his lordship's influence on the inhabitants of the country, concluded, at every hazard, to recross the Dan. After manœuvring in a very masterly man- ner, to avoid an action with Cornwallis, three weeks, during which time he was often obliged to ask bread of the common soldiers, his army was joined by two brigades of militia from North Carolina, and one from Virginia, together with 400 regulars. This reinforcement giving him a superiority of numbers, he determined no longer to avoid an engagement. The American army consisted of about 4400 men, of which more than one half were militia ; the British, of about 2400, - chiefly veteran troops. The Americans were drawn up at Guilford in three lines. The front line was composed of North Carolina militia, commanded by generals Butler and Eaton ; the second, of Virginia militia, commanded by Ste- phens and Lawson; the third, of continental troops, com- manded by general Huger and colonel Williams. The British, after a brisk cannoniade in front, advanced in three columns, the Hessians on the right, the guards in the centre, and lieu- tenant-colonel Webster's brigade on the left; and attacked the. front line. The militia composing this line, through the mis- conduct of an officer in giving occasion to a false alarm, precipitately quitted the field. - The Virginia militia stood their ground, and kept up their fire until they were ordered to retreat. The continental troops were last engaged, and maintained the conflict with great spirit an hour and a half; but then were forced to give way before their veteran adver-
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