USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. II > Part 19
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It must be held in mind that the pass of the Higlilands at West Point was considered as the link which held the states together. After the loss of Forts Montgomery and Clinton, in 1777, a strong boom had been thrown across the Hudson from West Point to the eastern shore. The point had been fortified, and Fort Putnam, the remains of which testify its strength, had been erected on the pinnacle of the rock and was deemed impregnable. It was con- structed of rock, was bomb-proof, and unassailable.
When General Washington, in consequence of the preparations of the British to attack Rhode Island, was moving his army towards New York, Arnold joined him, and had the post of honour assigned to him, as commander of the left wing ; but, to the general's sur- prize, he learned that this officer, who had ever been eager for the post of danger, had hinted to Colonel Tilghman his wish to be placed at West Point, as a situation better suited to his lameness.
Clinton having debarked his troops, and the plans of the cam- paign changing, General Washington complied with what he found to be the wish of Arnold; and on the 3d of August, 1750, the orders and instructions were accordingly issued at Peekskill. Ar- nold repaired without delay to the Highlands, and established his quarters at Robinson's house, two or three miles below West Point, on the opposite side of the river.
The main army recrossed the Hudson, at King's Ferry, moved down towards Hackinsack, and encamped with its left wing near Dobbs's Ferry. The right wing was commanded by Greene, and the left by Lord Stirling, while the light infantry, commanded by General Lafayette, were six miles in advance of the main body.
An incident which the gallant and honest Lafayette tells us, marks the character of Arnold more distinctly than even the denouement of his diabolical plot. Before leaving the army for West Point, he went to the marquis, and mentioning his knowledge that the noble Frenchman had spies in New York, employed at his own expense, he asked their names and address ; suggesting that their intelligence might reach him more certainly and expeditiously by- the way of West Point, and suggesting that if he was in possession of their names, he might facilitate the intercourse. The gallant and ever honourable Lafayette escaped the snare laid by the arch traitor, merely through his honest and upright sense of duty-replying that
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CORRESPONDS WITH THE ENEMY.
those individuals had confided in him, and he could not divulge their secret to any person whatever.
We have seen that this correspondence, in which all the arts of falsehood and deceit were exerted for the purposes of treachery, was begun by the chivalrous Major Andre, and the admired Miss Shippen, and continued by Mrs. Arnold with the same honourable gentleman. Under feigned names the parties communicated for months ; while the man in whose mouth the honour of the soldier and patriotism of the citizen were ever uppermost, was maturing the plan of traitorous mischief. When Andre and Arnold corres- ponded, the Briton assumed the name of John Anderson, and the traitor that of Gustavus.
We are told that in the first letters of Arnold to Sir Henry Clin- ton, the traitor merely expressed his dissatisfaction with the French alliance ; touched on topicks that he knew would be agreeable, and gave intelligence, which (as it proved true) excited the curiosity of the English general to know who his unknown correspondent was. From the nature of the information communicated, it was evident that the person held a post of consequence ; and at length it was obvious that the American General Arnold was the man, although nothing in the letters, if any one had fallen into other hands, could have discovered the writer. Arnold thus betrayed the confidence reposed in him by his countrymen, while his trial was going on ; and he was at this time pleading his patriotism, honour, and servi- ces, to prove that the charges made against him must be false. When he had been restored to active service by the acquittal of the court martial, Clinton saw in him a tool worth buying. Gustarus (his assumed name in their correspondence) soon let the English general know that he should have a command of importance, and when Arnold took possession of West Point, the English general saw the importance of the treachery thus put in the power of his correspondent.
A French army and fleet were at Rhode Island, ready to co- operate with General Washington. There was reason to think that the combined forces would be directed against New York. It was to be expected that West Point would be made the depository of vast magazines for this purpose, in addition to the stores already placed there. To seize upon tliese, would defeat the plans of his enemies, give him the command of the important post through, and magazines of, the Highlands, and would terminate the campaign with eclat ; and the British commander-in-chief was eager to complete the advantageous bargain which his correspondent Gustavus offered to him.
In his letter to Lord George Germain as published, he says, the arrival of Sir George Rodney with a fleet at New York, "rendered it highly probable, that Washington would lay aside all thoughts against this place. It became therefore proper for me no longer
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to defer the execution of a project, which would lead to such con- siderable advantages, nor to lose so fair an opportunity as was pre- sented, and under so good a mask as an expedition to the Chesa- peake, which every body imagined would of course take place. Under this feint I prepared for a movement up the North River. It became necessary at that instant, that the secret correspondence under feigned names, which had been so long carried on, should be rendered into certainty, both as to the person being General Ar- nold, commanding at West Point, and that in the manner in which he was to surrender himself, the forts, and troops to me, it should be so conducted under a concerted plan between us, as that the King's troops sent upon this expedition should be under no risk of sur- prise or counterplot ; and I was determined not to make the attempt but under such particular security. I knew the ground on which the forts were placed, and the contiguous country, tolerably well- having been there in 1777-and I had received many hints respect- ing both, from General Arnold. But it was certainly necessary that a meeting should be held with that officer for settling the whole plan. My reasons, as I have described them, will, I trust, prove the propriety of such a measure on my part. General Arnold had also his reasons, which must be so very obvious, as to make it un- necessary for me to explain them. Many projects for a meeting were formed, and consequently several attempts made, in all of which General Arnold seemed extremely desirous that some person, who had my particular confidence, miglit be sent to him ; some man, as he described it in writing, of his own mensuration. I had thought of a person under this important description, who would gladly have undertaken it, but that his peculiar situation at the time, from which I could not release him, prevented him from en- gaging in it. General Arnold finally insisted, that the person sent to confer with him should be Adjutant-General Major André, who indeed had been the person on my part, who managed and carried on the secret correspondence."*
Major Andre appears to have been, both as an officer and man, highly engaging in appearance and manners. His prompt atten- tion to military duties had secured him the favour of Sir Henry Clinton, who received him as an aid, and on the resignation of the office of adjutant-general, by Lord Rawdon, Andre received the appointment, with the rank of major-obtained from the English minister, by the commander-in-chief's earnest solicitation. That he was a man of amiable disposition and fascinating manners, is testified by all, and confirmed by the rapidity of his military advance- ment without fortune or family influence.
* Sparks's Life of Arnold, (Am. Biog. Vol. III.) pp. 163, 169.
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It having been decided that Andre should go to meet Arnold and make a final bargain for the post he was entrusted with, and for the lives he was sworn to protect, the first consideration was to bring about an interview without exciting suspicion. On the 30th of August, Arnold, as Gustarus, wrote to his correspondent, John Anderson, (André,) that he expected soon to be able to meet him and settle their " commercial plan" satisfactorily to "both parties" -alluding to himself as a third person, he says : " He expects, when you meet, that you will be fully authorized from your house" -that is, will have ample powers from Sir Henry Clinton. " Spe- culation might at this time be easily made"-intimating that cir- cuinstances favour the delivery of the post and garrison-" with ready money"-thus letting Clinton know that the price of his per- fidy must he paid down, and that he would not trust him.
Arnold's plan appears to have been, that this definitive meeting should take place at his own head quarters, where Andre was to be introduced as one of those persons, who, habitually acted as spics upon the British. By letter Andre was informed of the arrange- ment, and Arnold sent notice to Colonel Sheldon, (who was sta- tioned at Salem, some miles from the river, on the east side of the Hudson,) that a person was expected from New York ; and should he arrive, immediately to send information to head-quarters.
André, however, did not choose to trust his correspondent Gus- tavus, quite so implicitly. But under his feigned name of John Anderson, and in a disguised hand, wrote to Colonel Sheldon, saying :- " I am told my name is made known to you, and that I may hope your indulgence in permitting me to meet a friend near your outposts. I will endeavour to obtain permission to go out with a flag, which will be sent to Dobbs's Ferry on Monday next, the 11th instant, at twelve o'clock, where I shall be happy to meet Mr. G -. Should I not be allowed to go, the officer who is to command the escort, between whom and myself no distinction need be made, can speak on the affair. Let me entreat you, sir, to favour a matter so interesting to the parties concerned, and which is of so private a nature, that the publick on neither side can be in- jured by it."
This letter Sheldon enclosed to Arnold, at the same time in- informing him, that his health not permitting him to go to Dobbs's Ferry, he hoped the General would either go thither himself, or send some other person to meet the spy. It may be remarked, that Dobbs's Ferry, was about twenty miles from Sheldon's station, which was distant from head-quarters, about fifteen miles, and that Arnold by the nearest route, was twenty-five miles from the ferry ; and must on the route cross Croton River. It appears that Sheldon did not fully understand, why the spy was to be accompanied by an escort, and Arnold seemed to think it necessary to make an ex-
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cuse to Sheldon for the circumstance ; he, therefore, wrote to him that he had been obliged to express himself with great caution to this Mr. Anderson, and to use the signature of Gustarus, to prevent discovery if his letter fell into the enemy's hands : he noticed that passages in Anderson's letter must appear mysterious to Colonel Sheldon, and said he would himself, as he had business at Ver- plank's Point, proceed to Dobbs's Ferry, and meet the flag. Now, Verplank's Point, is about a third of the way from Arnold's head- quarters to the ferry. He further told Sheldon, that should the ex- pected meeting not take place, and Anderson should come within the lines, he wished an express immediately to be sent to him, and the visiter to be forwarded to head-quarters, with an escort of horse- men-he gave as a reason for not meeting Anderson at Sheldon's quarters, the difficulty which attended his riding. From this we infer, that his visit to Dobbs's Ferry was by water : Robinson's house, or Arnold's head-quarters, being but a short distance, east from the Hudson. Further to blind the eyes of Sheldon' and others, he requested the Colonel, if his health permitted, to accompany Mr. Anderson ; and if General Parsons arrived, as he was ex- pected with a body of troops from Connecticut, to show him. the . letter relative to Anderson.
On the 10th of September, Arnold proceeded by water down the river from Robinson's house, his head-quarters, to King's Fer- ry, thus crossing to the west side of the Hudson. There he took up his quarters for the night at Joshua Hett Smith's, about two and a half miles from the ferry, on the Haverstraw road.
'This Mr. Smith* was connected with men of respectability in the city of New York. He was a brother to the King's Chief Justice William Smith, known as author of a history of the carly times of the province, (to which frequent reference has been made in the course of this work,) and subsequently, as Chief Justice of Canada; but the property of Joshua, had placed him (and he had evinced the wish to be) on the part adverse to his brother. The predecessor of Arnold in command at West Point, had been in the practice of employing this Joshua Smith to procure intelligence from the city, which his respectable connexions gave him opportunities of doing that were denied to meaner agents. Besides, his residence so near the out-posts, made him acquainted with the people on both sides of the lines, and on the neutral ground. His standing in society and education, gave him influence over his neighbours, and as his cha- racter and connexions were communicated to Arnold, he, upon his arrival at West Point, had made a point to gain Mr. Smith's fa- vour and confidence, seeing in him a valuable tool for his purposes.
* Smith says, he was suspected of favouring the British cause.
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He visited Smith ; appeared to confide in him ; invited him to head-quarters, and furnished him with written permission to pass the guards at all times. Such permissions were used by many to hold communication with others within the English lines, for the purposes of obtaining goods for their own profit, and intelligence for the officers granting the passports.
After passing the night at Smith's, Arnold proceeded down the river to meet André and Colonel Beverley Robinson, at Dobbs's Ferry, but as his barge approached the place, it was fired upon by the British gun boats, who pursued him to the eminent risque of his being captured. He landed on the west side, and went down to the Ferry, but the previous accident seems to have disconcerted the plan of meeting, and he returned to his head-quarters. With the conspirator's caution, he wrote to General Washington, and among other affairs relative to the post entrusted to him, mentioned that he had gone down the river to give orders relative to precau- tions in case the enemy should ascend.
Another appointment was now to be made, and additional pre- cautions were rendered necessary, as Arnold knew that the com- mander-in-chief would cross the Hudson at King's Ferry, on his way to meet Count Rochambeau at Hartford. Two days after his disappointment, he found an opportunity of conveying a letter to An- dré, couched in the phraseology of mercantile transactions, in which he warned him not to be too free in his letters to Colonel Sheldon, and invited him to come to the landing on the east side of Dobbs's Ferry on Wednesday, the 20th of September, at which time and place, a person would meet him and conduct him to the writer, " It will be necessary for you to be in disguise. You may rest as- sured, that, if there is no danger in passing your lines, you will be perfectly safe where I propose a meeting."
Before this letter reached Andre, the anxiety of Clinton to finish this negociation had induced him to send Beverley Robinson up the river in the Vulture sloop of war as far as Teller's Point, to seek an opportunity of communication with Arnold. Pretending to believe Putnam still at West Point, the emissary wrote a letter directed to him as commanding officer, but certain of being opened by Arnold. It expressed a desire to have an interview on private business. A flag was made use of to forward this design of trea- chery, and these letters (for there was an enclosure directed to Ar- nold, requesting the same favour of Arnold, if Putnam should be gone) were signed by Robinson ; and if intercepted would appear to relate to his former property in that part of the country, which was very extensive, and to other private affairs. The house in which Arnold resided had been Robinson's, but was confiscated to the state of New York, with the tract of land adjoining.
Arnold received Robinson's letter publickly, and communicated
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the contents to those around him. Colonel Lamb remarked, that it was strange Beverley Robinson should open a correspondence with a military officer on a subject to which the civil authority was alone competent. , This remark must have startled the guilty con- science of the traitor. But Robinson's intended interview was em- barrassed by a circumstance known to Arnold, but not to the Colonel ; which was, that General Washington would arrive at King's Ferry to cross the Hudson on his way to Hartford, and must of course know that a flag from the Vulture had been sent to Arnold just before his arrival. To guard against suspicion, as well as to meet and show respect to a commander whose confidence he was betraying, the traitor proceeded in his barge to meet General Washington and convey him to the east side of the Hudson. The Vulture was in full view of the barge in crossing, and it was recol- lected afterwards by the officers in the suite of the commander-in- chief, that while he was looking at the sloop of war through his glass, and speaking in a low voice to those around him, Arnold manifested uneasiness and emotion. Another circumstance was
at a future time called to mind. Lafayette said in a tone of plea- santry, " General Arnold, since you have a correspondence with the enemy, you must ascertain as soon as possible what has become of Guichen"-a French admiral, whose squadron was anxiously looked for. Arnold hastily demanded what he meant ?- looked confused-controlled the hasty impulse-and was relieved by the barge at the moment striking the shore.
He accompanied General Washington to Peekskill, and placed Robinson's letter in his hand. This was necessary to account for the arrival of the flag from the Vulture. The General advised him to avoid the requested interview, and remarked, as Colonel Lamb had done, that the subject of Robinson's property belonged to the civil authority of the state. After this decision, it would be too hazardous to meet the agent of Sir Henry, as had been intended. These events occurred on the 18th of September. What a day of wretchedness this must have been to the traitor! Fear of detec- tion-suspicion that he was already detected, and permitted by the commander-in-chief to proceed only the further to entangle him- self in his own snare-the most trifling event startled him-for "the thief does fear each bush an officer." There is no peace for the guilty.
When relieved from his immediate fears by the departure of Washington, an answer was openly returned to Robinson's letter by the flag boat. Arnold said that the general disapproved of the interview. But an enclosed letter made an appointment for the night of the 20th, when a person would be sent to Dobbs's Ferry, or "on board the Vulture" who would be furnished with a boat and a flag, and whose secrecy and honour might be depended upon. VOL. II. 23
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He advised that the sloop of war should remain stationary. A pre- cautionary postscript added that General Washington would be at West Point on Saturday next, and any matter communicated should be laid before him. A copy of the previous letter to Andre, appointing the time of meeting at Dobbs's Ferry was likewise en- closed, and all three were immediately forwarded by Robinson to his employer.
Sir Henry having received all this information, despatched André on the 20th of September, to Dobbs's Ferry, who in his way stopped at the Vulture, expecting that Arnold might himself come off to that vessel. At 7 o'clock on the evening of the 20th, he reached the sloop of war, but Arnold had already contrived another mode of meeting, and had made Joshua H. Smith his tool to bring it about.
We have already seen that Smiith had been in the habit of con- veying intelligence, as well as other profitable merchantable com- modities from New York, and that Arnold had ingratiated himself with this man as one fit for his clandestine purposes. He now informed him that he expected a man from New York, with whom it was necessary to have a personal conference, and in a most secret manner ; that this person must be conducted within the American lines, and a man of Mr. Smith's prudence and intelligence could alone manage so nice an affair. He persuaded Smith to consent that this expected messenger should be received at his house, and the important interview take place there. For this purpose, Mrs. Smith and family were, (under pretence of a visit to friends at Fishkill,) removed.
It was then arranged between Arnold and Smith, that the latter, should go on board the Vulture, or to Dobbs's Ferry, and convey the person expected, to the place of intended meeting. The quar- ter-master at Stony Point, had previous orders to supply Smith with a boat whenever required ; and Arnold gave him the neces- sary passport, with orders for a flag, and such letters as would be understood on board the Vulture, or by the person expected.
Smith had relied upon one of his tenants as a boatman, but the man refused to go on a night expedition, for fear of the guard-boats. He was therefore, despatched with an express letter, to Robinson's house, to let Arnold know of the delay. This moved the general towards Smith's house early in the day, to concert further mea- sures.
André, disappointed that Arnold did not meet him as he expect- ed on board the English ship of war, wrote to his friend Clinton, and expressed his fears, that his frequent journeys up the river would lead to suspicions or discoveries. He therefore thought it best to remain for a time under pretence of sickness, in the hope that Arnold might find means of communicating with him. It was
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his earnest wish to inform the traitor that he awaited him, and an opportunity presented the day after his arrival on ship-board.
A white flag was displayed at Teller's Point by some of the country people, which being interpreted as they wished, the captain of the Vulture sent off a boat with a flag, which was fired at as soon as it approached the shore. This gave Andre the opportunity he desired, as it was a proper subject for a remonstrance to the commanding officer, and a flag with a letter was accordingly despatched. The letter was dated on the 21st of September; it was in the hand writing of Andre, signed by the captain of the ves- sel, and countersigned "John Anderson." It may be remarked that the flag used by some ignorant boors as a decoy to their ene- mies, whose presence in an armed vessel annoyed and alarmed them, was considered dishonourable : but to use a flag for the purpose of basest treachery, by the accomplished and chivalrous gentleman, loaded with honours by the source of all honour -- a king-was strictly within the rules of honourable warfare. This honourable flag, covering dishonourable treachery, was sent to Ver- planck's Point, and Arnold, on his way to Smith's, arrived at that post, as the boat returned to the Vulture.
The letter was handed to him, and by him was fully understood ; he therefore hastened to prepare Smith for a visit to the enemy's vessel on the approaching night.
Crossing from Verplanck's to Stony Point, he made all the requisite arrangements respecting the boat Smith would want, and then proceeded to his house to remove the difficulty which had occurred respecting boatmen. The guard-boats, which had fright- ened Smith's tenant from agreeing to accompany him, were always stationed to prevent communication with the shore when English vessels came up the river. These boats had now received orders not to stop Smith, and he possessed the countersign for the next night, which was "Congress."
In the evening, Smith brought his tenant, Samuel Colquhoun, to a conference with Arnold, who requested him to accompany his landlord on a visit that night to the Vulture. The man refused. He had the previous night rode as express to head-quarters-he wanted sleep-he would go by daylight, and with a flag, but did not like the night service. Arnold represented the necessity of bringing a gentleman on shore that night on business of importance to the country ; and as a friend to the cause, urged Colquhoun to waive his objection. Smith joined in the same strain, asking the man if he did not think it his duty to oblige the General, for the good of his country, and especially as he, Smith, was ready to share all risks by going with him. Still the plain countryman ob- jected. He did not like this business in the dark. Arnold assured him that the officers of the adjacent posts were informed of the
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