6
officer, who evidently Bad not been taken into his superiors' confidence. He was
allowed to enter the cabin, where he found Sutherland and "old Colonel
Robinson."1 The third person, who was to play so important a part in the
events of the week—Andre himself—was in his berth at the moment, but soon
came out and joined the party. After Smith had given Robinson the letter from
Arnold and announced his errand, Andre offered to go ashore with him, as Robinson refused. Several authorities agree that both Robinson and Sutherland
expected Arnold, though it is difficult to. understand why, in view of his letter.
In fact each party to the transaction seems to have expected the other to take the
risk of coming to him. Robinson and Arnold were each too cautious to run into danger, but not so Andre 6. Though both Robinson and Sutherland opposed him,
he was tired of inaction aboard ship, and was not to be dissuaded from trying to
close the long correspondence by a personal interview. Entering Smith's boat,
both were soon on shore, at a spot at the foot of Long Clove Mountain, about two
miles below Haverstraw. It is now identifiable only by the remains—visible at low tide—of I Andre's dock," on the beach at the terminus of a road extending
from the Clove to the river. The slope is steep, and the road itself, many years
disused, is overgrown with trees and underbrush, yet its course, northeast from
the old highway,2 is still fairly plain. In the view of the landing-place8 the large
boulder on the left stands almost on a line with the north side of the dock, and is the most prominent object on the shore. Suitably inscribed, this would constitute an admirable monument for the spot identified with an event of so much historic importance.
2 The question of the tide on this occasion is one which apparently does not admit of solution. Sargent says
the boat was started on the last of the ebb, and by the time the Vulture was reached it was young flood.
But Gaine's Register for 1780 says high tide was at three a. m. of Thursday, or about four a. m. of Friday.
"Thus the tide would have been against the rowers all the way down—nearly twelve miles. The Coast
and Geodetic Survey authorities at Washington give me the time of high water as 3.12 a. m. Friday, which
makes no material difference." (E. H. Hau,, Spirit of'76, March, 1898.)
Smith's historic statement is that it was strong ebb at about that time.
In this connection the table from Gaine's Register will be found interesting :
Moon, September, 1780.
First Quarter, Tuesday 5th, 5 P. m.
Full Moon, Wednesday, 13th, 8 "
I<ast Quarter, Thursday, 21st, 6 a. m.
New Moon, " 28th, 2 "
Ttdss. High Water. Sun rises.
Sept. 20, Wed. 2 hr, , 2 5-57
21, Th. 3 " 0 5-58
22, Fri. 3 " 54 5-59
23, Sat. 4 " 5o 6. 0
24, Sun. 5 " 48 6. 1
25, Mon. 6 " 40 6- 3
26, Tues. May rain 7 " 38 6. 4
27, Wed. 8 " 30
28, Thurs. 9 " 27 6- 5
29, Fri. 10 " 12 6. 7
30, Sat. 11 " 6 6. 8
Oct. 1, Sun. 11 " 56 6.10
2, Mon. 12 " 5o 6.13
1 His son, Beverly, Jr., was lieutenant-colonel of his regiment.
2 See map, opposite page. 8 in the view, page 7.
