History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 47

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

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All this, when placed alongside of his letter to Colonel Sheldon, dated "New York, 7 September, 1780," Thursday, and signed " John Anderson," the name he assumed in the conspiracy, at a time when he was plotting the clandestine interview with Ar- nold, that was to secure the betrayal of West Point,- not the "surrender," as Dean Stanley, by a fine euphemism, called it in his inscription for the monu- ment at Tappan,-and the consequent ruin of the national cause, does not tend to inspire our confidence in his declaration to Washington that he was " too little accustomed to duplicity to have succeeded," and that he spurned the idea of " having assumed a mean character for treacherous purposes or self-interest," as "incompatible " with his "principles" and his "conduct in life." For nothing could have been more utterly false and treacherous than his own letter, as subsequent developments overwhelmingly proved, to Colonel Sheklon, requesting him to favor his effort, as a mere private transaction, that could not possibly be injurious to any public interest on either side. He said in that letter,-

" Let ine entreat yon, sir, to favour a matter so interesting to the par- ties concerned, and which is of so private a nature that the public on neither side cun be injured by it.

" I shall be happy on my part of doing any act of kindness to yon in a family or a property concern of a similar nature."

These are astounding sentences when read in the light of subsequent events. They need no comment as they admit of no excuse.

There can be but little, if any, doubt that Major Andre had performed the office of a spy on several occasions before. The Hon. Erastus Brooks, in his able address, entitled " Arnold the American Traitor, Andre the British Spy, Washington the Defender of Constitutional Liberty," etc., delivered before the Historical and Forestry Society of Rockland County, N. Y., on February 22, 1881, and re-delivered in New Haven by request of the New Haven Colony Histori- cal Society, March 18, 1881, says,-

"Andre was not only a spy in September, 1780, but it is stated, and is ii .- 20

prompting such persons to commit detestable crimes,' and Vattel asks, 'Is it honest to incite our most inveterate enemy to be guilty of a crime ?' "

These statements are amply warranted by the testimony gathered up and published in "The Life of Major Jolin Andre," ete., by Winthrop Sargent, p. 228, Appleton's edition of 1871, which is as follows :

" After the fall of the city (Charleston) we are told that there was an opinion current in our army that Andre had been present in its lines during the siege as a spy, and in 1822 it was declared that two gentlemen of repute, still surviving at Charleston, affirmed at least the existence of the report in 1780. One of these had been an officer of Clinton's ; the other a resident of the place through and after the siege. Another wil- ness goes further. Edward Shrewsberry, a suspected Tory, but of good condition, was ill ut his house in East Bay. Ilis brother, a Whig, leav- ing the lines to visit him, found repeatedly there a young man clad in

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homespun, to whom he was introduced as a Virginian belonging to the troops then in the city ; and as such he considered The stranger. After the capitulation, meeting the same person at the same place, he was again presented to him as Major Andre, and taxing his brother with the identity of the two characters, they were confessed to have been one and the same man. To another visitor his son records that the stranger in homespun had been represented ' as a back countryman, who had brought down cattle for the garrison to the opposite side of the river, '- an assertion that passed unsuspected and unchallenged until months after, when Andre bad been hanged, and the visitor who related the story was returned from confinement at St. Angustine's, when the Whig Shrewsberry informed him that the cattle driver he bad seen with his brother was no other than Major Andre in disguise. These declarations coming from distinct and respectable sources seem to bear the marks of truth. . . . It is It just to add that, if this story of Andre's hav- ing been a spy at Charleston received credence in respectable quarters, it was afterwards questioned by gentlemen of equal character in our service."

But perhaps the most remarkable testimony in re- gard to Major Andre, in his character as a spy, is that contained in two separate articles, from different authors, apparently persons connected with the Brit- ish forces in America, published in London, in a periodical called The Political Magazine, in its number for November, 1780, about a month after Andre's execution. Both writers represent Major Andre as a spy. One of them says, "The Major (Andre) had been more than once, before his disas- ter, in the rebel camp. Returning the third time in disguise, from Arnokl to New York, he was met by some rebel soldiers, who stopped and searched him." The other says, " Major Andre had been twice to Arnold, had acted as his valet de chambre, and twice returned safe to New York," before the final visit which resulted in his detection and theath.

The writer's attention was first called to this old record by Henry B. Dawson, Esq., one of the con- tributors to this work, and while prosecuting some investigations for this history in the office of the Sec- retary of State and the State Library at Albany, he inquired for The Political Magazine, stating at the same time the nature of the articies he sought for. Some doubt was expressed as to the existence of any such articles or statements, but by the kind assistance of Henry A. Homes, LL.D., the learned State Li- brarian, the magazine was finally discovered in a dusty old bound volume, and the articles found to be as described. The writer copied them off with his own hand, and, interesting and important as they are, so far as he knows, they have never before been re- published in this country. At least, they have not been given in any life of Major Andre, or book on the subject, that has fallen under his eye.

In the first article is the following :

" The Imisiness which led him (Major Andre) in disguise to the rebel Army was a plan entered into between Sir Henry Clinton and Major- General Arnold, of the rebel troops, Sir Henry, with the British Army, was to approach Washington, who was then lying near New York, and Arnold was to dispose the troops under his immediate command in such n minner us to give them up, or engage them to submit to the king's army. But this negotinton is said to have been continued too long, for the Major had been more than once, before his disaster, in the rebel camp. Deturning the third time, in disguise, from Arnold to New York he was met by some rebel soldiers, who, after stopping him, let him pro- ceed; but our, more suspicions than the rest, insisting on following and

shopping himagain, they searched him and found a watch and money on him, which he advised them lo kerp and let him go ; for if they carried him to their General they wonbl lose their booty. He dil not, as has often been said, offer them his watch and money when stopped. The men would not discharge him, but carried him to beadquarters, where, on examining his clothes with the most exact serating, some dranglen of the rebel works were found. When interrogated tey Washington .. who urged him to a full confession to save his life, he only said he was a British officer, but wonll not reveal either his name or rank, [wwitively refusing to give any other explanation than That he was n spy. and at their mercy. This was great firmness and genenvity ; for by owning himself a spy, aml standing singly, he gave Arnold, and any other off- cers he had been negotiating with, a chance to escape discovery. Wash- ington's spies were then called to look at him, when two of them, that had been at New York a long time maler the character of hyal subjects. instantly recognized him."-The Poified Magaciar, Lomboun, volume i., November, 1780, page iiss, article " An account of the late tiallaut and I'nforinnale Major Amire, Aid-do-Camp to Sir Henry Clinton and Adjutant-tieneral of the British Forces in America. "

The other article is in the tone of a criticism upon the hesitation and delay of Sir Henry Clinton, which the author regarded as tatal to the success not only of this enterprise, but also of others. The extract is as follows :

" In regard to the unfortunate end of the gallant Major Jolie, for- ernor Johnstone, it has been said, has received a letter from Sir George Brydges Rodney, in which that veteran and intrepid officer impute the miscarriage of the plan, concerted with General Arnold, entirely to delay and want of decision ; for Major Vodve had been twice to Arnobl, had acted as his valet de chambre, and Iwice returned safe to New York Here it minst be observed that a plan such as that which was carrying on with Arnohl could only succeed in the hands of a man of the most firm and decided mind ; it conkl hardly avoid failing when the person on whom the whole depended for success was of a wavering and irresolute spirit. Such a character generally keeps in a constant vibration between action und inaction, and continues to plot until every scheme, however well- laid, becomes a mere cob-web, and until those determined men who art as the instruments, become a sacrifice ever to be lamented by their conu- try." -The Political Magazine, London, shume i., November, 18, page 68s, article on the " Character and Exploits of Sir Henry Chuton."

The active beginning of Arnold's treason goes back, according to Sparks (" Life of Arnold," p. 141), to a period eight months before his trial by the court- martial which commenced its sittings at Morristown, N. J., on Tuesday, December 20, 1779, and ended . with his conviction in part -- that is, upon two counts of the accusation against him-on Thursday, January 26, 1780. How long the secret purpose had been - entertained in his own mind it is impossible to tell.'

" There is a suggestive and interesting statement in regard to this point in a foot-note to the " Travels in North America in the Years 178, 1781 and 1782, by the Marquis de t'haslellux, one of the Forty Members of the French Academy, and Major General in the French Army, Serv- ng nuder the Count de Rochambeau. Translated from the French by an English Gentleman, who resided in Amerien at that Period. With Notes by the Translator. London : 1787," volume i., Juger 97 nad 95. The nole here added by the translator is as follows :

"There is every reason to believe that Arnold's treachery took ita date from his connection with lieutenant Hek, killed afterwards ou board the 'Formidable' in the West Indies, and who was, undoubtedly, a very active and industrions spy al Philadelphin in the winter of 1775, whither he was sent for thal purpose in a pretended tlag of truce, which bring wrecked in the Delaware, he was made prisoner by Congres, a subject of much discussion between them and the commander at New York. That the intended plot was known in England, and great hopes built upon it, long before it was to take place, in certain General Mat- Thews and other officers who returned in the autumn of 1750 being often henri to declare that it was all over with the rebels ; that they were abont lo receive an irreparable blow, the news of which would woon ar- rive, etc., etc. Their silence from the moment in which they received

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In his defense presented by himself before the court- hartial, Arnold made a great parade of his devotion > his eonntry, not without an oblique reflection . pon the lukewarmness of others in contrast, when t that very time he had been for eight months secret correspondence with the enemies of is country to betray it. Having been convicted, e was sentenced to be reprimanded by the Commander-in-chief. General Washington performed hat disagreeable duty with great delicacy and for- earance. The language he employed was preserved y the Count Barbe-Marbois, the secretary of lega- ion, and afterwards consul-general of France to the ew government, and given by him as follows: "Our profession," said Washington, addressing Arnold, " is he chastest of all. The shadow of a fanlt. tarnishes ur most brilliant actions. The least inadvertence nay canse us to lose that public favor which is so hard to be gained. I reprimand you for having for- otten that, in proportion as you had rendered your- elf formidable to our enemies, you should have shown moderation towards our citizens. Exhibit again those plendid qualities which have placed you in the rank of our most distinguished generals. As far as it shall e in my power, I will, myself, furnish you with op- ortunities for regaining the esteem which you have formerly enjoyed."

But kindness had no effect, and Arnold, madly bent ipon his own ruin, proceeded with his guilty plans. On pretence of being disabled by his wound from active duty in the field, to which Washington, with- ut suspicion, invited him, he persistantly sought and inally obtained the command at West Point. His nstructions from Washington to assume the respon- sibilities of the position assigned him were dated at Peekskill, on Thursday, August 3, 1780, and Arnold it onee repaired to that post and set up his head- quarters at Robinson's house, two or three miles below West Point, on the east side of the Iludson River. ['wenty-seven days later, on Wednesday, August 30th, Arnold wrote to Andre, under the assumed name of 'Gustavus," that he expected soon to have an inter-

in account of the failure of the plot, and the discovery of the traitor, Evidently pointed out the object of their allusions."

The author of the interesting and somewhat remarkable French work of one hundred and eighty-four pages, published in Paris, in 1816, cuti led " Complet d'Arnold, et de Sir Henry Clinton Contre Les Etats-Unis l'Amerique, et contre le General Washington, Septembre, 1780," ex presses the opinion that the purpose to betray his country entered into he heart of Arnoldl from the day he received his reprimand. All the cir- umstances, however, seem to indicate that the judgment of Sparks is learer to the truth. The French writer referred to, after giving Wash- ngton's reprimand, in French, adds,-

" Arnold n'avoit osé interrompre ce discours ; il se retira, et loin l'être tonché des marques d'intéret que sou général venoit de lui dou- ier, il se montra profondment blessé d'une condamnation qu'il pretendoit l'avoir anenuement méritée. Il quitta l'armée, et, des ce jour, la haine le la cause qu'il aroit si glorieusement defender entra dans son coeur. Elle y eta bientôt de profondes racines, et sa trahison eu fut le fruit. Perdu pour la vertu la première fois qu'il avoit balance entre l'observation et 'infraction de ses devoirs, il fut perdu pour son pays, à l'instant où il puf sans horreur avoir l'idée de le trahir."

view with him, to complete the arrangements for their "speculation."

On Sunday, September 10th, in the afternoon, Arnold went down the river to King's Ferry, near Stony Point, and stayed overnight at the house of Joshua Hett Smith, above Haverstraw, about two and a half miles from Stony Point.

The next morning (Monday), September 11th, he went down the west shore to a point opposite Dobbs Ferry, to meet there Andre and Beverly Robinson, the Tory, but they did not come. He stayed there till night, and then went up the river again, arriving at his quarters at the Robinson house before morning, on Tuesday, the 12th. Arnold had the impudence to write to Washington a letter representing this trip to Dobbs Ferry, to complete his treason, as an instance of his own vigilance to reconnoitre and thwart the enemy. But what was still more, he wrote to General Greene on that same day, Tuesday, September 12, 1780, when he had just returned from his trip to Dobbs Ferry to meet. Andre and Beverly Robinson, the Tory, a letter which discloses, as scarcely any- thing else could have done, the bottomless depth of Arnold's hypocritical and infamous villany. The letter was never published until after the dedication of the monument at Tarrytown, October 7, 1853. It was there incorporated into his able address, and publicly read from the original manuscript by the Hon. Henry J. Raymond, and subsequently printed for the first time in the published report of the pro- ccedings. In quoting this letter of Arnold, Mr. Ray- mond said,-

"On the 12th of September-the very day after that on which he had gone down to Dobbs Ferry for the purpose of settling, iu a conference with Andre, the terms and details of his treason-Arnold wrote a letter to General Greene, full of patriotic devotion, and pervaded by a thor- ongh zeal for the honor and success of the American canse. That letter, so far as I am aware, has never hitherto been published. I am indebted for it to my esteemed friend, Professor Greene, a direct descendent of the illustrions officer to whom it was addressed. As it throws still stronger light npon the character of Arnold, -places in still bolder relief the nn- matched and nunmatchable andacity of that hypocrisy in which he lived, and moved, and had his being,-perhaps you will permit me to rend it from the original manscript, which I hold in my hand. It bears date :

"'leadquarters, Robinson House, Į September 12, 1780.

"' DEAR SIR :- Your favor of the 7th, conveying to me an account of our misfortunes to the southward, was delivered me on the 8th.

"' I am happy to find that General Gates' information was so ill-founded. It is an unfortunate piece of business to that hero, and may possibly blot his escutcheon with indelible infamy. It may not be right to cen- sure character at a distance, but I cannot avoid remarking that his con- duct on this occasion has in no wise disappointed my expectations or predictions on frequent occasions; and notwithstanding the suggestions of his friends, that he had not retreated to the border of Virginia, he imust have been at a great distance, and fully secure from danger, as he had no advices of the retreat of the Maryland troops for at least four days.

" ' Yours of the 8th, by Capt. Van der Horst and Lient. McCall, were delivered me by those gentlemen ou the 9th. I have endeavored to render their situation pleasing to them during their short stay with me, which respect I shall always be happy to pay any gentleman: who entitles himself to your introduction and recommendation.

"' It is a matter much to be lamented that our Army is permitted to starve in a land of plenty. There is a fanlt somewhere ; it ought to be traced up to its authors, and if it was prepense, they onght to be capi-

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tally punished ; that is, in my opinion, the only means left lo procure n regular supply to the Army in future.

" Where shall I procuro paper for the garrison as well as for my office ? No returns can be made till n supply is sent. Col. Pickering, in a letter of the 28th informs un that he has not yet received the stores in his hands, or money to purchase any with.

" ' With sentiments of the most sincere regard and affection, I am, dear Sir,

" ' Your obedient and humble servant,

"' MAJOR GENERAL. GREENE ..

B. ARNOLD.'

"Consider," added Mr. Raymond, "That this epistle-Imrning with indignation at the apparent misconduct of Gates, cordial in the extreme in its personal courtesy toward General Greene, solicitons for the comfort of the army, resentful towards those whose misconduct had involved it in want-was written the day after his first attempt to hold a personal interview with Major Andre, -upon the return to headquarters from the scene he had appointed for it, and in the midst of such thoughts as such incidents would naturally engender; think upon the impenetrable hy- pocrisy of the man, who, on the instant of returning battled from such an errand, could coolly speak or dream of any esentcheon but his own lwing ' blotted with indelible infamy "; and you can judge how srcure must have been his hold upon the confidence of Washington, and how thick was the dark doubt of all honor and all faith into which the ap prehensive fears of that great leader must have plunged his mind, when the fact of Arnold's treason first broke nyon his sight. 'Whom can ir. trust now ?' were the simple words he addressed to Lafayette; but they imply a dread distrust,-they sienalize the beginning of a gloomy de. spuir,-they point to the face. which imposed on Jum the supreme duty, from which there was no escape, of crushing by all the terrors of mar- tial law whatever of vitality might still survive, in either army, of the portentous plot."

Ou Friday, September 15th, Arnold wrote to Andre again, appointing another conference, with a person upon whom reliance could be placed, at Dobbs Ferry, on Wednesday evening, September 20th. Before this letter was received and acted npon, Andre left Now York early on Wednesday, September 20th, and came up to Dobbs Ferry. The " Vulture" at this time was lying in Haverstraw Bay, a little above Teller's Point. To avoid suspicion, Arnold had expressed a wish that the vessel should not move from where she lay. As the tide was favorable, Andre determined to push on from Dobbs Ferry to the ship, and that evening at seven o'clock he boarded the " Vulture " just above Teller's Point.

On Thursday morning, September 2ist, Andre notified Arnold that he was then on board of the " Vulture." That evening at seven o'clock two boat- men started by Arnall's direction to bring Andre back with them in disguise to the shore. They landed him at the Long Clove, under the mountain south of Haverstraw, about six miles below Stony Point. Here Joshua Hett Smith brought Andre and Arnokl together among the bushes, in the thick darkness, to plot against the nation's life. They were so long at it that, by Arnold's advice, Andre was taken to Smith's house, three or four miles from the Clove, where he arrived just as the day dawned on Friday, September 22d.

lle had scarcely arrived when a cannonade was heard down the river, which proved to be directed from the Americans on the eastern shore against the " Vulture," which he had just left the evening before, and she was compelled to drop farther down, in order to get beyond the range of the shot.

On that same Friday morning, after breakfast, September 22d, at the house of Joshua Hett Smith, Arnold and Andre completed the treason. The plans for the execution of their conspiracy were all arranged, and the day was appointed. Before ten o'clock in the morning Arnold left Andre, and went up the river in bis barge to his headquarters in the Robinson house. Friday is said to be an nnlucky day. It was so eviphatically to the conspirators here engaged.

Andre desired to be put on board the " Vulture," a name, too, of ill omen as connected with this affair ; but as she had dropped down the river, and he found he could not be conveyed to her, he spent the day in solitude and concealment. The possibilities of his situation must have ocenrred to his mind in that lonely chamber, and awakened thoughts that were not conducive to repose.

Late in the afternoon of Friday, the 22d. a little before sunset, Smith started from his honse with Andre in disguise, and with a negro servant, for King's Ferry. The distance was about two and a half miles to the north. Here they crossed to Verplanck's Point, arriving there in the dusk of the evening. Thence they traveled on together in a northeasterly direction until near Crompond, about eight miles from Ver- planck's Point. There, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, they were hailed by the senti- nel of a patrolling party under Captain Boyd. The captain was disagreeably inquisitive, but after a good deal oftrouble they were finally allowed to go on, or to go back a short distance to Andreas Miller's, and stay all night. They decided to do the latter, and on reaching the house late, Smith and Andre were both sent to sleep in the same bed. Smith afterwards said that Andre had a very restless night. He could not sleep himself, and his wakefulness and tossing abont would not let Smith sleep. It was not strange !

On Saturday morning, September 23d, they took an early departure. Smith went with Andre to within a mile or two of Pine's Bridge across the Croton River. There he stopped to retrace his steps, and to let Andre go on alone. Before parting they breakfasted together at the house of Isaac Underhill at Yorktown, who gave them hasty pudding and milk, all his good wife had, as his house had been plundered the night before by a gang of marauding Tories. Smith went back to Peekskill, and so on up to Arnold's headquarters, where he reported to the traitor Andre's progress.

On parting at l'ine's Bridge it was aunderstood that Andre was to go on to White Plains ; but a short dis- tance below the bridge he turned off to the right, towards the Hudson River, and took what was called the Tarrytown road. Captain Boyd bad told him and Smith the night before that the Lower, or British, party were thick on that road ; but that was the very thing which Andre wanted. It was the con- sideration no doubt which induced him to change his course, thinking thereby to fall in with his own friends, and to secure his own safety.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 47

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286