42
told the assembled officers1 tlie letter required his immediate presence at West
Point, but that he would return to meet Washington, ordered a horse to be
saddled at once, and went upstairs to bid his wife3 farewell.4 At this moment,
Major Franks came up, to tell him of the arrival
Of Washington's servant. Naturally supposing that
the Chief would arrive at any moment, Arnold
fled
5 precipitately6 from the house, by a short cut
down the hill, since known as Arnold's Path, to
Beverly Dock,7 where his eight-oared barge was waiting, the boatmen having
been hastily summoned. He ordered the cockswain, James Larvey,8 to push
off, telling him that it was necessary he should reach the Vulture at once,
so that he might return and meet Washington at his quarters. Showing his
handkerchief as a flag of truce as the boat passed Verplanck's, he was soon
aboard the Vulture? Most historians agree that he escaped Washington by about
half an hour, though Thacher says the latter did not arrive until noon,10
while the breakfast party were assembled at ten. On his arrival, Major Franks
apologized for Arnold's absence, and Dr. Eustis 11 reported his wife's illness. The
Chief breakfasted, and then went to West Point, where of course he did not find
Arnold, and where Colonel Lamb was as much surprised to meet him as he was
not to be received with the proper salute of cannon. Thus it was not until his
return to the Robinson House, at four o'clock, that he met Hamilton and learned
1 Sargent says Major Burnet (see Chap. V.) was one. Thacher says Shaw and McHenry. (If so, where was
Hamilton?) Franks, one of Arnold's aids, was present, but not Varick, who was sick upstairs.
a One belonging to Varick or Pranks. —Lafayette.
8 Sargent says she noticed his agitation, and followed him from the dining room.
I<afayette (probably quoting McHenry) says he sent a servant to call her upstairs. He left the dining-room by the door seen above the screen on the right (the doors either side of the mantelpiece are of cupboards).
* At the abrupt announcement of the news that he must fly for his life, and they might never meet again, she fainted.
* Franks, astonished as he was at his abrupt departure, had to think of Mrs. Arnold, who came out of her swoon
only to fall into strong convulsions.
Dr. Eustis, surgeon of Knox's artillery, and who was hospital physician of the post, was hastily summoned to
attend her.
* The (supposed) approach of his Excellency left him hardly an instant to take measures for his own safety, or it is likely he would have attempted (to secure) that of Andre, and the matter might have remained in
obscurity.—Hamilton,
That trivial arrival of the servant upset once more any last chance for Andrews safety. Even a half-hour
might have been priceless to him at that juncture. A delay to that extent would not have endangered
Arnold's safety, for no one suspected him except Tallmadge, who was miles away. Allen could have been
immediately sent back with orders which would have sent Andre1 down to Dobbs' Ferry, or insured his
safety in some other manner.
7 This was a small affair, only io x 20 feet. It long ago disappeared.
8 He was a soldier in the Fifth Massachusetts, Colonel Rufus Putnam.
' Dr. Eustis, in a letter printed in the Collections of the Mass. Historical Society, Vol. XIV, p. 52, says he
retained his barge, the rowers returning in one furnished by the Vulture's captain.
He also says that on Arnold's trying to persuade the men to enter the British service, two did so, who had
been British deserters.
This, I think, must be a mistake, as the British invariably hung all of their deserters whenever they fell into
their hands.
10 The Allen Genealogy says Lieutenant Allen dined at the house, and returned to Jameson early next morning.
No mention of this is found in any other record. He was not a witness at either Andre's trial or Smith's.
As to the hour of Washington's arrival, see his own letter, page 51. "Some hours" would bring it to at least noon. 11 william Eustis was, page 43.
