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 21
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169
ESCAPE OF ARNOLD.
Talmadge, when a member of congress, thirty-four years after, ex- pressed his conviction of the justice of Andre's opinion, without considering that by the laws and customs of the country, the money of the captive was already the property of the captors. Andre had declared himself to be a British officer when unexpectedly he en- countered Paulding with a musket opposed to his passage : he doubtless took him for a Cow-boy ; when he found himself mis- taken, he presented Arnold's pass. The Americans had reason to believe him one of the traders who carried money to New York for illegal and selfishi purposes, and as such, they knew their right to seize the treasure. They ripped the hangings of his saddle and the cape of his coat, as Andre asserted, in search of money, but perhaps for that which they found in his boots-the evidence of his true quality-that of a spy. If in search of money, it was their lawful prize. When this discovery was made, Mr. Williams, evi- dently to obtain further evidence of his real character, asked what he would give them to let him go. Andre offered to give them any sum of money or quantity of dry goods that they would name. This convinced the yeomen that he was not only a spy, but that his detention was of consequence to this country. "No!" was the reply, " not for ten thousand guineas."
That power which had frustrated the designs of Arnold, and de- creed the destruction of Sir Henry Clinton's agent, for purposes beyond our ken, interposed to preserve the arch-traitor, Arnold, from immediate punishment. General Washington was on his way to West Point, and must have arrived at Arnold's head-quarters before the letter from Jameson, but that he was turned back by an accidental meeting with the French ambassador, who, having mat- ters of importance to communicate, prevailed on the General to pass the night at Fishkill. The messenger who had been sent with the papers taken on Andre. missed the General, by taking a road different from that on which he was returning. Next morning he despatched his baggage to Robinson's house, with notice that the party would be with General Arnold to breakfast. When they arrived opposite West Point, the General turned from the direct road to Robinson's house, for the purpose of examining the works below, and two of his aids rode on to give Mrs. Arnold notice of his detention. Accordingly, the breakfast being ready, the aids sat down with Arnold and his family, but shortly a messenger entered with Jameson's letter, which was delivered and read in presence of the company. Arnold controlled his emotion, and told the com- pany that his immediate attendance was required at West Point, desiring the gentlemen to tell General Washington that he was called over the river, but would immediately return. He went up stairs, sent for his wife, and after a short interview, descended, and mounting a horse which stood ready saddled at the door, rode
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190
ESCAPE OF ARNOLD.
alone precipitately to the river. He here entered the first boa! found readly, and ordered the oarsmen, six in number, to push off and row for the Vulture, as he was going on board with a flag, and must be back to meet General Washington. Of course they obeyed, and he hastened them by a promise of two gallons of rum. As they passed the posts, Arnold displayed a white handkerchief, and without impediment reached his asylum. Here he exhibited a trait of baseness of so mean a character as can scarcely be believed, even of Benedict Arnold-the oarsmen had saved his life, and in return, he informed them that they were prisoners. They, or one of them, remonstrated, and said as they came under sanction of a flag, they were at liberty to return. Arnold insisted upon their re:mining as prisoners. The captain of the Vulture, however, permitted one of the inen to go on shore on parole and bring off clothes and necessaries. When they were taken to New York, Sir Henry Clinton, justly ashamed of the meanness and infamy of the transaction, liberated them.
General Washington having inspected the works below, arrived at Robinson's house very shortly after Arnold's precipitate flight, and taking a hasty breakfast, concluded to cross and meet him at West Point, and return to dinner. All the suite attended the Ge- neral except Colonel Hamilton. On arriving at West Point, to the surprize of the commander-in-chief, no Arnold appeared or had there been heard of. The works visited, the General recrossed the river and soon after landing was met by Colonel Hamilton, who presented to him Andre's letter and the papers found on him when stopt at Tarrytown.
The mystery of Arnold's non-appearance at West Point, and the whole plot, were unravelled. Colonel Hamilton was despatched to Verplanck's Point to arrest the traitor, in case he should not have passed that post. This done, Washington communicated the papers to Lafayette and Knox, saying, " Whom can we trust, now ?"
Every delicate attention was paid by the truly great man to Mrs. Arnold, who was in great distress, and supposed to have been igno- rant of her husband's baseness.
When Hamilton arrived at Verplanck's Point, a flag was coming from the Vulture with a letter to General Washington from the traiter, which was immediately forwarded as directed, with one from the Colonel, mentioning the measures he had taken to coun- teract any movement of the enemy. But Sir Henry, by the arrival of the Vulture at New York, knew that his schemes were frustrated, and of course nothing of a hostile nature to be undertaken in this quarter.
The letter brought from the Vulture was to solicit protection for Mrs. Arnold and permission to go to Philadelphia or New York.
191 1
PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD TO ANDRE.
For himself, he said, " the heart conscious of its own rectitude," could not stoop to palliate an act which the world might think wrong. " Honour," and even " love of his country," as they had heretofore been ever in his mouth, were foisted into this impu- dent production of bis pen. The redeeming parts were, consider- ation for his wife, and a declaration which he said he was bound in honour to declare, that his aids-de-camp Majors Varick and Franks, and Joshua H. Smith, were ignorant of his transactions with the enemy. The two aids demanded a court of inquiry, which was granted, and the result was in every respect honourable to both.
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There came likewise from the sloop of war a letter, to General Washington from Colonel Beverley Robinson, little less extraordi- nary than that from Arnold : it was, in fact, a sort of demand for Andre's release, and represented him as a man going on shore with a flag of truce at the request of General Arnold, on publick business, and having his permit to return to New York. Under these cir- cumstances, he said, Washington could not detain Andre without the greatest violation of flags, and contrary to the custom and usa- ges of all nations.
It is needless to say, that such a letter had no weight with the American hero, whose first attention was to give such orders and directions as he thought necessary for the security of the garrison which had been thus bartered and sold to destruction, by the honour- able transaction which a power beyond the control of man had frus- trated. General Greene was ordered to move with the left wing of the American army towards King's Ferry. The necessary instruc- tions were given to the officer commanding at West Point. Deli- cate and embarrassing as General Washington's situation was, not knowing who was, or was not, implicated in the treachery just brought to his knowledge, it only increased his vigilance; but in respect to the officers commanding all the posts in the vicinity, he acted as though his confidence was unshaken in them, and his reli- ance unbounded upon their honour and patriotism. To Jameson an order was sent for the immediate removal of the prisoner, under a strong guard, to Robinson's house, where he arrived on the morn- ing of the 26th of September in custody of Major Talmadge. Ge- neral Washington made many inquiries respecting the prisoner, but declined seeing him .*
Major Talmadge whose admiration of the handsome and accom- plished prisoner appears to have influenced his opinions respecting' the plain and unpretending virtues of his captors, has left an inter-
* Andre was taken over to West Point on the evening of the 26th, and remained there until the evening of the 28th of September, when he was removed under the guard of the same officer, first in a barge to Stony Point, and thence to Tappan.
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192
CONTRAST WITH THE FATE OF HALE.
esting account of liis removal from West Point to Tappan, which Mr. Sparks has given in full as appropriate to his biographical work. When in the barge and on the Hudson, to inquiries of the Ame- rican officer who had, while Andre was at Salem, become familiar with him, he answered that he was to have had the leading of a select body of troops, and pointed to the spot where he was to have landed, and described the route he was to have taken up the mountain to the rear of Fort Putnam, which, as every tourist now knows, commands all the area below. As he knew Arnold's dis- position of the troops, he supposed that opposition on the American part would have been ineffectual, and that, sword in hand, he would have gained possession of the all-important key which commanded the northern continent, and the glory of the splendid achievement would have been his. To the question of the reward promised him, he talked of a course of military glory being what he wished, but owned that he was to have been made a brigadier-general. The glory of taking possession of a fortress that was already bought, and by agreement to be delivered into his hands by the . omman- dant, is not so easily understood. The reward was certainly stimu- lating.
At King's Ferry they left the barge, and with an escort of cav- alry proceeded to Tappan, where, by the commander-in-chief's orders, the prisoner was to be confined, but every civility accorded to him.
Joshua H. Smith, who, as Mr. Sparks remarks, " writes with much asperity against Washington and nearly all the American offi- cers," says, that Major Andre was comfortably lodged, and every attention was paid to him suitable to his rank and character. In- deed, the youth and demeanour of the prisoner, operating with the detestation felt for Arnold, created an interest and sympathy which was shown and expressed universally by those whom his plans had doomed to destruction, for the reward of military promotion.
The contrast in the conduct and fate of Major John Andre and Captain Nathan Hale,* occurs to us in every stage of this business. The youthful patriot volunteered to risk his life to encounter death in its worst form, for the service of his country, without promise or wish for individual reward. He was detected-avowed his pur- pose and his rank-was turned over to the brutal provost, Cunning- ham-denied the privilege of writing to his relations-and amidst taunts consigned to the gallows which he had braved from the purest motives. His enemies felt no sympathy or pity ; and when the author of the " Conquest of Canaan," years after, commemorated his virtues, it was to be asked, what was meant by " Hale, brave
* Anto p. 76.
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193
TREATMENT OF ANDRE.
and generous," and the English reviewers of the poem, not under- standing that " Hale". was the name of an individual, censured the poet for his ignorance of grammar !
Andre was a hired soldier, belonging to an invading army, and in the transaction we are considering, did not intend to risk his life in any way, but in personal safety to bring about a great national injury, and sacrifice many lives-the victims of a treachery matured by him-and his reward was promised by his commander-he was to be while yet a youth, brigadier-general in the armies of a king. His treatment when the discovery was made of the long meditated mischief, and liis person in possession of those whose injury was plotted, is notoriously a contrast to that inflicted on Captain Hale, and must occupy a few more lines before we return to Benedict Arnold.
On the 29th of September, General Washington having returned to head-quarters, summoned a board of general officers, (not as a court-martial) to enquire into the case of Major Andre, and report their opinion of the light in which he ought to be regarded and the punishment that should be inflicted.
Six major-generals and brigadiers met. General Greenc acted as president. The papers above mentioned and two letters from Sir Henry Clinton and Arnold were submitted to them. Clinton requested that the king's adjutant-general might have permission to return to his orders, and Arnold assumed that as Andre had acted by his direction, he as commander at West Point was alone responsible.
When Andre was brought before the board of general officers, the president told him he was at liberty to answer any questions, or not, and might take his own time. He in a frank manner avowed the circumstances already known beyond contradiction-confessed that the papers shown to him had been concealed in his boots- acknowledged the pass given him by Arnold, as John Anderson -- and when asked whether he considered himself as coming on shore under a flag, said " it was impossible for him to suppose so." He answered every question relative to himself freely. When asked if he had any remarks to make, he replied in the negative, and was remanded to his place of confinement.
The board reported, that, as a spy, he must suffer death. When informed of this decision, he asked permission to write to Sir Henry , Clinton, which was granted. He informed him briefly of his situ- ation-declared his gratitude for favours-requested his attention to liis mother and sisters-acknowledged the great attention he had experienced from General Washington and all others -- and con- cluded with assurances of respectful attachment.
This letter, with one from General Washington, and the pro- ceedings of the board of officers, was sent to Sir Henry. The VOL. II. 25
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194
PROPOSED EXCHANGE OF ANDRE AND ARNOLD.
American commander acknowledged the knight's letter, but gave his reasons for denying his request, as the king's adjutant-general had been taken when engaged in executing measures very different from the objects of a flag of truce, and such as a flag could not by any possible construction ever have been intended to authorize or countenance.
The final award for punishment or release yet remained with Washington. His duty was plain, and he never shrank from it : yet if the blow could be made to fall upon Arnold instead of Andre, it would be more consonant with his wishes. A formal proposition for such an exchange could not with propriety be made, but a plan was adopted by which to intimate to the enemy that if Arnold was surrendered to punishment, André should be released.
The General sent for Captain Aaron Ogden, and informed him that he had been chosen to carry despatches to the British post at Paulus Hook, which were to be conveyed to New York. The packet given to Ogden's care contained the letters above mentioned, and he was desired to call on Lafayette (commanding the troops - nearest the enemies' lines) for further instructions. This was on the 30th of September.
The instructions of Lafayette were, that the captain should con- trive to reach Paulus Hook so late, that he would be asked to stay all night. He was then to seek a favourable moment to communi- cate to the commandant of the post, or some of the provincial officers, as if incidentally, the idea about exchanging Andre for Arnold.
The scheme succeeded as was wished; and Captain Ogden was invited, as was expected, to remain all night with the British officer at the post, while the letters were sent across the river, and the boat with despatches from head-quarters should return. The trea- `son of Arnold and the detection of Andre were the prominent topick of conversation, as everywhere, and the English commanding offi- cer asked the opinion of Captain Ogden respecting the fate of the adjutant-general, and whether Washington would order his execu- tion. The American answered that undoubtedly he would ; that his army expected it, and justice to his country demanded it. The next question, as was anticipated, called forth the hint intended to be conveyed. " Can no method be thought of, to save Major An- dré ?" "Yes. And it is in the power of Sir Henry Clinton. Let him deliver up Arnold and take Andre in exchange." " Have you any authority for such an assertion ?" " None, from General Washington ; but I believe if such a proposal was made, it would be accepted. Major Andre would be set at liberty, and all Ame- rica rejoice in the event."
Upon this, the officer left the supper-table, crossed to New York, had an interview with Sir Henry Clinton, and returned before
195
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DEPUTATION IN FAVOUR OF ANDRE.
morning. He told Ogden that it could not be done : the com- mander-in-chief would not listen to the idea a moment.
When Sir Henry Clinton had perused the letters from Andre and the American commander-in-chief, he immediately called a council of general officers, and it was determined to send three persons of high standing to make such representations to General Washington as, it was hoped, might influence his determination in Andre's favour. These gentlemen were, General Robertson, (lately commissioned by Great Britain as the governour of her province of New York,) Andrew Elliot, Esq., in like manner ap- pointed lieutenant-governour, and William Smith, the historian of New York, his majesty's chief-justice for the province, and brother to Joshua H. Smith, so prominent in this affair. They were accompanied by Colonel Beverley Robinson, and carried, most injudiciously, a long, impudent, threatening letter, from Arnold.
Notice of the intended deputation had been given to General Washington, and the commissioners found General Greene at Dobbs's Ferry, who let them know that only General Robertson would be permitted to land.
General Greene, after the usual compliments, informed Robert- son that he was only permitted by General Washington to receive him as a private gentleman, and that the case of an acknowledged spy admitted of no discussion. The English general insisted that André landed under the sanction of a flag, and acted under the direction of Arnold : therefore could not be considered as a spy. Both these assertions had been under consideration by the board of American officers; and Andre had rejected the notion of his having landed under sanction of a flag. Greene said, on this head, Americans would believe Major Andre sooner than Benedict Ar- nold. Robertson asserted that no European military tribunal would decide as the American court had done, and proposed to leave the question to Generals Rochambeau and Knyphausen-thus avow- ing that insolent claim to European superiority, which had been so often put in practical operation while the United States were British provinces. The English general took his leave without obtaining any concessions from General Greene, but said he should remain on board the vessel in which he ascended the river until morning, hoping to take back with him Major Andre, or assurances of his safety.
Robertson despatched to Sir Henry Clinton his account of this conference, and mentioned that it was intimated to him by Greene, that if Andre were set free, it would be expected that Arnold should be given up, which he only replied to by a look of " indignant rebuke."
In the morning, General Robertson received a note from Gene-
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196
ANDRE'S EXECUTION.
ral Greene, saying that the determination of the commander-in- chief was not changed by the communication made to him of the .conference. The commissioners returned to New York, but Ilo- bertson wrote a letter to General Washington, recapitulating the arguments he had used, under pretence that Greene's memory might not have served to convey them.
During his confinement, and at the hour of his execution, Major André evinced composure and firmness, which, with his character and amiable deportment, gained the respect, admiration, and sym- pathy of the American officers who were the witnesses-many of whom were to have been sacrificed by the completion of the plot concerted by him with Arnold. He was executed as a spy, at twelve o'clock, on the 2d of October, and buried near the gallows. His regimentals, in which he was executed, were given to his ser- vant. More has been written and published about the death of this gentleman, than, perhaps, of all the brave spirits who were sacri- ficed by the swords of an army of mercenaries, employed by Great Britain to enslave these United States. The torrents of abuse poured upon Washington, for making this sacrifice to the safety of his country, and for suffering the due course of stern military law to How regularly, are only to be equalled by the pure stream of gratitude which flowed in thanks and blessings from the hearts of his countrymen. The objections raised against his decision, by . Englishmen, at the time, have been swept into oblivion by the ver- dict of that great tribunal, the world, and the praises of heroes, patriots, and philosophers, from that time to the present moment.
"However anxious Sir Henry Clinton might be to save this young gentleman, (who was prompted to the course which ended in his death, by the persuasions and promises of his commander,) and however he may have complained in private of the pretended injus- tice of Andre's execution, he did not venture officially to censure the conduct of the American commander -- in-chief. In his general orders he only says, " The unfortunate fate of this officer calls upon him to declare that he ever considered Major Andre a gentle- man of the highest integrity and honour, and incapable of any base action or unworthy conduct." The manner of his death was not mentioned, nor any accusation made against those by whom he had suffered.
The captors of Andre were recommended by General Washing- ton to congress, who, by a formal vote expressed a highi sense of of their virtuous and patriotic conduct, and granted to each of them an annual pension of two hundred dollars for life, with the further con:pliment of a silver medal, for each, inscribed on one side " Fi- delity," on the other " Vincit amor Patrix."
Joshua H. Smith was tried by a court martial, upon a charge for aiding and assisting Benedict Arnold, etc., in a combination with
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197
NATHAN HALE.
the enemy to take, kill, and seize, such of the loyal citizens and soldiers of the United States, as were in garrison at West Point and its dependencies." Smith drew up and read his own defence. He was acquitted. He confessed that he assisted Arnold ; but it was not proved that he had any knowledge of his designs. Mr. Sparks says, " Although no one would be willing to condemn Smith upon the evidence adduced to the court, yet whoever reads it will be satisfied, that he conld not have fallen into such extreme stupidity, as not to suspect something wrong in the business he was engaged in carrying on." The impressions against him are strengthened by his narrative, published in London, in 1SOS-a work unworthy of credit, where it rests on his own authority. It differs from the testimony on the trial, and from the defence he then made. Although acquitted by a court martial, General Wash- ington thought proper to place him in the hands of the civil authio- rities of the state of New York, and he was confined at Goshen some months, from whence he managed to escape and took refuge with the British in New York. Much of his " narrative" is occu- pied with this escape. He was thus saved from personal dangers ; but he found in the city of New York that his conduct was censured by the British and Tories as much as it had been without the English lines by the friends of his country.
Although I have already spoken of the contrast between the treatment of André and that of Hale, I cannot quit the subject without quoting from Mr. Sparks his view of the superiority of the motives which influenced the American over those actuating the English officer.
"Captain Hale was a graduate of Yale College, and had but recently closed his academick course when the war of the revolu- tion commenced. Possessing genius, taste, and ardour, he be- came distinguished as a scholar; and, endowed in an eminent degree with those graces and gifts of nature which add a charm to youthful excellence, he gained universal esteem and confidence. To high moral worth and irreproachable habits were joined gentle- ness of manners, an ingenuous disposition, and vigour of under- standing. No young man of his years put forth a fairer promise of future usefulness and celebrity.
" The news of the battle of Lexington roused his martial spirit, and called him immediately to the field. He obtained a commis- sion in the army, and marched with his company to Cambridge. His promptness, activity, and assiduous attention to discipline, were early observed. He prevailed upon his men to adopt a sim- ple uniform, which improved their appearance, attracted notice, and procured applause. The example was followed by others, and its influence was beneficial. Nor were his hours wholly ab-
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