The Crisis of the Revolution

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THE CRISIS OF THE REVOLUTION
FROM THE ORIGINAL PAINTING BY ANDRE, IN THE POSSESSION OF J. W. BOUTON ESQ., NEW YORK.
THE CRISIS OF THE
REVOLUTION
BEING THE STORY OF
ARNOLD AND ANDRfi
Now FOR THE FIRST TIME COLLECTED FROM ALL SOURCES, AND ILLUSTRATED
WITH VIEWS OF ALL PLACES IDENTIFIED WITH IT
BY
WILLIAM ABBATT
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS BY
EDWIN S. BENNETT
Issued Under the Auspices of the
( Bmpxt % W % m% & MW of % Jmerkan ^ tinrMon
NEW YORK
WILLIAM ABBATT
1899
Copyright, 1899
By^ ' WII, I, IAM ABBATT
All Rights Reserved
Edition limited to 250 copies, of which this is No..
WSmmM
/ conceive that every circumstance connected with it cannot fail of being interesting
to Americans —
CAPTAIN ALDEN PARTRIDGE, U. S. A.,
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY,
WEST POINT, N. Y.,
1818.
I
*± J. « _? i O •
GREENBURGH PUBLIC LIBRARY
TOWN OF GREENBURGH
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N. &
TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE MEN OF " SEVENTY- SIX," AS REPRESENTED IN
OUR PATRIOTIC- HEREDITARY SOCIETIES, THIS RECORD OF THE
MOMENTOUS EVENTS ALONG THE HUDSON FROM
SEPTEMBER 21 TO OCTOBER 2, 1780,
IS DEDICATED.
PREFACE
I N putting forth a new book on so familiar a subject as the conspiracy of Benedict Arnold
with Major Andr6, I am not unmindful of the opening words of I/ sssing's Field- Book,
" The story of the Revolution has been well and often told." My excuse for again
telling this part of it must be, first, to again quote tossing: " A large proportion of our
people are but little instructed in many of the essential details of that event, so important for
every intelligent citizen to learn," and secondly, that while so much has been printed that I
cannot add much new material, it has not been published in any complete form. Hence the
student who seeks for all its details has been obliged to consult a wearisome succession of
books, periodicals, newspapers, and some MSS., many accessible only to the favored few
living within reach of our great libraries.
Finally, no complete itinerary of Andre's journey has been published, 1 nor has any
authority given more than a few illustrations of the various places identified with him. In
this last respect I flatter myself I have left no scene of any interest unrepresented; and to
this feature I trust in part for popular endorsement of my work. To obtain the photographs
Mr. Bennett and myself visited almost every site, and traveled over the greater part of
Andre's path.
The map showing his route has been carefully drawn from authentic surveys, and
shows every detail. I am greatly indebted for their aid in preparing it, and for valuable
topographical information, to Mr. I^ avalette Wilson, of Haverstraw; Rev. Amos C. Requa,
of Peekskill; Judge J. O. Dykman, of White Plains; Mr. William H. Bleakley, of Verplanck's
Point; Rev. David Cole, of Yonkers, and Mr. Edward Hagaman Hall, of New York; and
for access to their libraries, to Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet and Mr. William I,. Stone.
If my book shall increase interest in Revolutionary history and lead to further investi­gation
of the many events for which general histories cannot afford adequate space, it will
not have been written in vain. In that hope it is now confided to the individual whose
qualifying adjective, in view of the numerous membership of ladies in our patriotic societies,
assumes a new and pleasing significance — the '' Gentle Reader.''
W. A.
West Chester, N. Y., 18pp.
1 Save Judge Dykman's Last Twelve Days of Major Andre", in 1889.
DRAMATIS
ANDRE
ARNOLD
ARNOLD, MRS.
ABBOT, BENJAMIN
ABERCROMBY, LIEUT. Coi,. ROBERT -
ACKER, BENJAMIN -
ALLEN, CAPT. WIIAIAM
ALLEN, LIEUT. SOLOMON
" BALDWIN" - - - - Unknown Private of
BARLOW, JOEI.
BEEKMAN, GERARD G.
BEEKMAN, MRS. GERARD G. ( CORNSMA) -
BOWMAN, ENSIGN SAMUEI,
BOYD, CAPTAIN EBENEZER -
BRONSON, ISAAC, M. D.
BRUNDAGE, SYI, VANUS
BURNET, MAJOR ROBERT
BURR, AARON
BURROWES, MAJOR JOHN
CILLEY, COI,. JOSEPH
CLINTON, Gov. GEORGE
CLINTON, SIR HENRY
CLINTON, GEN'I, JAMES
COLQUHOUN, JOSEPH
COLQUHOUN, SAMUEI,
COOLEY, CAPT. JOHN
COX, MAJOR JAMES
CROSBIE, LIEUT. COI,. W I W A M - - - -
DEAN, SERGEANT JOHN
DEARBORN, LIEUT. COI,. HENRY -
DEWEES, SAMUEI,
DWIGHT, REV. TIMOTHY
EUSTIS, WIIAIAM, M. D.
FOOTE, CAPTAIN EBENEZER
FRANKS, MAJOR DAVID S.
GARDINER, NATHANIEI,, M. D.
GILBERT, JOHN
GLOVER, GEN'I, JOHN
GOUVION, Coi,. J. B. -
GREENE, GEN'I, NATHANAEI,
HALL, TIMOTHY, M. D.
HAMILTON, ALEXANDER
HAMMOND, DAVID
HAMMOND, SAIAY
PERSONS
Drummer, — Regiment.
37th Regiment.
Fourth. N. Y. Continentals.
Second Rhode Island.
Col. Seth Murray's Mass. Militia.
Col. Jeduthun Baldwin's Regiment, — Massachusetts.
- - - Chaplain Gen. Poor's Brigade.
- Third Massachusetts.
Third Westchester Militia.
Assistant Surgeon Second Dragoons.
- Second Westchester Militia.
Aid to Gen'i Greene.
Col. Spencer's New Jersey Regiment.
First New Hampshire.
Fourth Westchester Militia.
Ordnance Department.
22d Regiment.
- First Westchester Militia.
- - First New Hampshire.
- Fifer Tenth Pennsylvania.
Chaplain First Conn. Brigade.
Surgeon Knox's Artillery.
Commissary Department.
- Aid to Arnold.
Surgeon First New Hampshire.
Chief of Rochambeau's Artillery.
Surgeon Fifth Massachusetts.
HAMMOND, STAATS Sergeant First Westchester Militia.
HAND, GENERAL EDWARD
HARWOOD, MAJOR PETER sixth Massachusetts.
HAY, COL. ANN HAWKES Haverstraw Regiment, Orange County Militia.
HEATH, GEN'L WILLIAM
HERON, WILLIAM
HOOGLAND, CAPTAIN JERONEMUS Second Dragoons.
HOWE, GENERAI, ROBERT
HUGHES, CAPT. JOHN Second Canadian Regiment.
HUNTINGTON, GENERAL JEDEDIAH - -
JACKSON, Cot. HENRY Sixteenth Massachusetts.
JAMESON, LIEUT. COL. JOHN Second Dragoons.
JAMESON, WILLIAM — Regiment.
KIERS, MAJOR ( E.) WILLIAM Haverstraw Regiment, Orange County Militia.
KING, LIEUT. JOSHUA Second Dragoons.
KNOX, GEN'I, HENRY
LAFAYETTE
LAMB, COI,. JOHN Second Artillery.
LAMBERT, CORNELIUS Fourth N. Y. Continentals.
LAMBERT, HENRY First Westchester Militia.
LAMBERT, LAMBERT First Westchester Militia.
LARVEY, JAMES Fifth Massachusetts.
LAUNE, PETER Andre's Servant.
LAURANCE, COL. JOHN Judge Advocate General.
LIVINGSTON, Coi,. JAMES Second Canadian Regiment.
MASON, REV. JOHN Chaplain to Hudson River Posts.
MCHENRY, JAMES, M. D. Aid to Lafayette.
McKINLEY, ALEXANDER, DRUM- MAJOR — Regiment.
MCKNIGHT, CHARLES, M. D. Surgeon Gen'i of Hospital, Middle Dep't.
MEADE, LIEUT. COL. R. K. - Aid to Washington.
MEIGS, COI,. RETURN J. Sixth Connecticut.
MEKEEL, LIEUT. JOHN Second Westchester Militia.
MILLER, ANDREAS -
ODELL, REV. JOHN
OGDEN, CAPTAIN AARON -- Lafayette's Light Infantry.
PARSONS, GEN'I, SAMUEL H.
PATERSON, GEN'I, JOHN
PAULDING, JOHN - First Westchester Militia.
PETTINGILL, MAJOR THOMAS Ninth Massachusetts.
ROBERTSON, LIEUT. GEN'I, JAMES -
ROBINSON, COL. BEVERLY " Loyal Americans."
ROGERS, LiEUT. JEDEDIAH Second Dragoons.
ROMER, JAMES First Westchester Militia.
ROMER, MRS. JACOB
ROMER, JOHN
RUSSELL, BENJAMIN Worcester County Regiment, Massachusetts Militia.
SCAMMELL, COL. ALEXANDER - - Adjutant General U. S. A.
SCOTT, GEN'L JOHN MORIN -
SEE, ISAAC First Westchester Militia.
SHAW, MAJOR SAMUEL Aid to Knox.
SHELDON, COL. ELISHA Second Dragoons.
SHIPPARD, LiEUT. SAMUEL - First New Jersey.
SHREVE, COL. ISRAEL Second New Jersey.
SIMCOE, COLONEL JOHN G. Queen's Rangers.
SMITH, CAPTAIN EBENEZBR Thirteenth Massachusetts.
SMITH, JOSHUA HETT
SMITH, RICHARD
SMITH, THOMAS
SMITH, LIEUT Coi,. - WM. S. Aid to Washington.
STARK, GEN'I, JOHN
ST. CI/ AIR, GEN'I, ARTHUR
STEUBEN, GEN'I, BARON '
STIRLING, GEN'I, LORD
SUTHERLAND, LiEUT. ANDREW Royal Navy.
TALLMADGE, MAJOR BENJAMIN Second Dragoons.
THACHER, JAMES, M. D. Surgeon Sixteenth Massachusetts.
THORNE, JESSE
THORNE, STEVENSON
TOMLINSON, ENSIGN JABEZ H. - Ninth Connecticut.
UNDERHILL, MRS. ISAAC
VAN DYK, CAPTAIN JOHN Second Artillery.
VAN WART, ISAAC First Westchester Militia.
VAN WART, WIIAIAM
VARICK, Coi,. RICHARD Aid to Arnold.
WADE, Coi,. NATHANTEI, - Essex County Regiment Massachusetts Militia.
WASHINGTON Wflt
WAYNE, GENERAI, ANTHONY
WEBB, CAPTAIN JOHN Second Dragoons.
WEBB, COI,. SAMUEI, B. Ninth Connecticut.
WELLS, LIEUT. COI,. JONATHAN - - - - - - - - - - Nineteenth Connecticut.
WILLIAMS, ABRAHAM - - - - - First Westchester Militia.
WILLIAMS, DAVID First Westchester Militia.
YERKS, JOHN - First Westchester Militia.
YOUNGS, LIEUT. SAMUEI, Second Dragoons.
~ J3£ » -
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From the original engraving, after MAJOR ANDRE'S drawing, made the day before his execution.
By permission of the LENOX LIBRARY, New York. The extent of scene is a little over four miles.
THE CRISIS OF THE REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER I.
New York to King's Ferry— Safety.
The aspiring youth that fired the Ephesian dome
Outlives in fame the pious fool that reared it.
COI, I, BY CIBBER— Richard III.
S'
KIP HOUSE.
OMBTHING like Cibber's cynical words might be
applied to the men of the Revolution. Many a
brave patriot is less remembered than Arnold,
and distinguished British officers than Andre. Of the
latter's prototype in misfortune, the heroic Nathan Hale,
Thacher, the Revolutionary surgeon, quoting Hannah
Adams' History of New England, says: " Whilst
almost every historian has celebrated the virtues and
lamented the fate of Andr6, Hale has remained un­noticed,
1 and it is scarcely known that such a character ever existed;" and
Fenimore Cooper says, | Arnold has acquired a notoriety that promises to be
as lasting as that of Brostratus."
The reason for this is not far to seek. Hale's story is exceedingly brief,
and almost entirely lacking in details, while Andre's is just the reverse.
Hence it has always been invested with a peculiar degree of interest, height­ened
by the personal and social attractions which he possessed to such an
extent as won friendship and admiration from enemies no less than friends.
It is no part of my plan to repeat the familiar story of how Arnold, the
hero of Quebec and Saratoga, came to plan the surrender of West Point and
the betrayal of his country, to which in 1778, only two years before, he had
solemnly sworn allegiance. Nor shall I give any detailed account of Andr6' s
life. Both are to be had in general histories and other works easily accessible
to the reader.
1 1 am glad to know that a gentleman in New York has long been gathering materials for a new life of Hale,
which may be published in two or three years.
2
On the night of Monday, the 18th of September, 1780, there was a
brilliant military assemblage in New York City, then occupied by the British
army under General Sir Henry Clinton. The place was the ancient stone house
of the Kip family, built in 1696 ( and standing as lately as 1850), where is
now the corner of Second Avenue and Thirty- fourth Street. At the time it was
the quarters of Colonel Williams, 1 of the 80th regiment. The occasion was a
dinner given by him to Clinton and his staff. Andre, as Adjutant General
and Clinton's favorite, was prominent among the guests. 2 At the close of the
festivities he sang the song attributed to General Wolfe, and then very popular, 8
the second and best- known verse beginning:
Why, soldiers, why,
Should we be melancholy boys?
Though officers of the Highland regiments were present, no soothsayer
like he of Clan Ivor was there, to see the winding sheet almost as high on
Andre's breast as the Taishatr had seen it on Colonel Gardiner's the day before
Prestonpans. Little thought any of the party that just two weeks later he
would be a corpse, buried at the foot of an improvised gibbet in a little hamlet
of Orange County ( the present Rockland County was formed out of Orange).
From New York he went the next day, Tuesday, by way of King's
Bridge to Dobbs' Ferry, and thence to the sloop- of- war Vulture* then probably
at anchor off North Point, Teller's Point. 6 Reaching her about 7 P. M., he
waited all the next day ( Wednesday) without message or news from Arnold. 6
The next point of interest in the drama— its opening scene, in fact, regarding
the Williams dinner as the prologue,— is the spot where the interview with him
occurred. At the period we are noticing, the correspondence with Arnold had
continued for eighteen months, 7 or from about the spring of 1779, under the guise
of proposed mercantile transactions. His letters, in a disguised hand, were
1 It is significant that so early in the story I have to note that while I insert this name on the strength of Lossing,
I can find in Mr. Worthington C. Ford's valuable List of British Officers, 17J4-& 0, no Williams who was a
Colonel, nor any Williams among the 80th officers. Prom whom did Lossing quote?
For the view of the Kip House I am indebted to Mr. S. Victor Constant, of New York.
2 Lossing ( The Two Spies) says Clinton had intimated that he was about starting on a mission of importance,
and openly declared he would become Sir John Andre1 if he successfully accomplished it.
8 See Appendix.
* She was a third- rate, carrying fourteen guns, and commanded by Lieutenant Andrew Sutherland, R. N. " If any
omen might be derived from her name and history, she was a fortunate ship for the enterprise, having been
very successful in avoiding our privateers. Thirty- five years before ( 1745) a band of prisoners, some of
them detained as spies ( comprising not only Home, in whose tragedy of Douglas Andre had delighted to
bear a character, but Witherspoon, now active for the Congress, and Barrow, in arms for the King,) had
escaped from Charles Edward's hands, and flying from Doune Castle by Tullyallan, were received on board
her."— Sargent.
6 See map, post.
6 The meeting planned by Arnold for September 11 at Dobbs' Ferry had failed, owing to his never- explained
neglect to provide his boat with a flag of truce, and its consequent hostile reception by the British. He
then wrote again, September 15 : " I will send a person to meet you at Dobbs' Ferry, at the landing on the
east side, on Wednesday, the 20th, who will conduct you to a place of safety, where I will meet you. It
will be necessary for you to be disguised * * * * * . Smith { seepost.) failed to get one of the Colquhoun
brothers as boatman, hence the delay until Thursday. 1 It became necessary, page 3.
( Rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, N. J.)
( FROM THE COLLECTION OF DR. THOMAS ADDIS EMMET.)
3
signed " Gustavus," and addressed " Mr. John Anderson, merchant, to the care
of Mr. James Osborne, to be left at Rev. Mr. Odell's." 1
Aboard the Vulture Andr6 fpund Beverly Robinson, and after fruitlessly
waiting over Wednesday wrote thus to Clinton:
On board the Vulture,
21 September.
SIR : As the tide was favorable on my arrival at the sloop yesterday, I determined
to be myself the bearer of your Excellency's letters as far as the Vulture. I have suffered
for it, having caught a very bad cold, and had so violent a return of a disorder in my
stomach which had attacked me a few days ago, that Captain Sutherland and Colonel
Robinson insist on my remaining on board till I am better. I hope to- morrow to get down
again.
In this letter he enclosed one meant for Clinton only:
SIR : I got on board the Vulture at about seven o'clock last evening; and after
considering upon the letters and the answer given by Col. Robinson, 8 " that he would
remain on board, and hoped I should be up," we thought it most natural to expect the
Man I sent into the Country here, 8 and therefore did not think of going to the Ferry.
Nobody has appeared. This is the second expedition I have made without an ostensible
reason, and Col. Robinson both times of the party. A third would infallibly fire sus­picions.
I have therefore thought it best to remain here on plea of sickness, as my
enclosed letter will feign, and try further expedients.
From the vessel, a letter dated " Morning
of 21st September," and written by Andre though
signed by Sutherland, was sent to Colonel James
7 It became necessary at this instant that the secret correspondence under feigned names, which had so long been
carried on, should be rendered into certainty; both as to the person being General Arnold, 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 surprise or counterplot; and I was determined not to undertake 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 touching
both, from General Arnold. But it was certainly necessary that a meeting should be held with that officer,
for settling the whole plan. * * * General Arnold had also his reasons, which must be so very obvious
as to make it unnecessary 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 might be sent 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 his
peculiar situation at the time, from which I could not release him, prevented. * * * General Arnold
finally insisted that the person should be Major Andr£, who had been the person who managed and carried
on the secret correspondence.— CWNTON, in Sparks.
The " Hon. and Rev." ( as he is generally styled) Jonathan Odell was born in Newark, N. J., September 25,1737,
and died in Fredericton, N. B., November 25, 1818. He studied medicine, and became a surgeon in the
British army, but by 1767 had studied theology, and eventually became rector of the Episcopal church at
Burlington, N. J. His Toryism obliged him to leave the state, and he settled in New York, where he
became chaplain of one of the Loyalist regiments. He was possessed of considerable musical ability, and
one of his songs is said to have suggested t i e tune of Hail Columbia. He left the United States with the
British army, and settled in New Brunswick, where, and in Nova Scotia, his descendants still live.
2 To Arnold.
8 That Arnold or his messenger would come aboard.
^ ^ o O ^ ^ i ^ ^
4
Livingston, of the Additional Continentals, 1 who commanded at both Verplanck's
and Stony Points. It complained of a violation of a flag of truce the day before. 2
When the letter was shown Arnold, the handwriting of course showed him that
his correspondent | Anderson " was aboard the vessel. Having previously had his
own barge go up Canopus Creek, above Peekskill, and bring thence to Crom
Island, in Haverstraw Creek, a rowboat, he was now ready to have Andre and
Robinson8 brought ashore. To do this required a third person, as confidant.
Such an one he had found not long before, in Joshua Hett Smith, of Haverstraw.
This man's character is of great interest. He was very well connected, rich, if
not wealthy, intimate with prominent patriots, and was a lawyer by profession,
as were also two of his brothers. 4 He was born May 27, 1749, being a brother
of William Smith, the Chief Justice of New York, and in 1770 married Elizabeth
Gordon, of Belvedere, South Carolina. 6
When General Robert Howe turned over the command of West Point to
Arnold, the previous third of August, he recommended Smith to him as a man
who could be very useful in securing important news of the enemy's plans.
Having secured his consent to aid in the desired interview, Arnold gave him
an order on Major Kierse6 for the rowboat, furnished him with the necessary
passes, and left him to get the two rowers for the boat. Two tenants of his
own, the Colquhoun brothers, Samuel7 and Joseph, were asked to serve. Refusing
at first, Arnold threatened them with arrest as persons disaffected to the
American cause, and they reluctantly yielded.
1 James Livingston, not Henry B., as Lossing says. ( See Washington's letter to Lamb, Chap. II.) He
is also found as Colonel of the First Canadian regiment, and was with Montgomery at Chambly and
Quebec. He was born in Canada, March 27, 1747, and died in Saratoga County, N. Y., November 29, 1832.
Washington, after these events, wrote him: " I am gratified that the post was in the bands of an officer so
devoted as you were to the cause of your country.' Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton is his granddaughter.
2 To this occurrence a good deal of invention attaches, with the necessary result of confusing history. A
careful examination of all authorities leads me to summarize it thus : On the 20th, Moses Sherwood and
Jack Peterson ( a mulatto soldier of Van Cortland's— the 3d— regiment of Westchester militia, who had been
a prisoner in the Jersey ship, and who died at 103, in Tarrytbwn), concealed in the underbrush at North
Point, fired on a boat— presumably a flag— from the Vulture.
On this one fact a mass of traditionary and legendary romance has been built. As a specimen : So practical a
man of business as Freeman Hunt { Letters about the Hudson) states that the event was on the 22d; that
the boat was filled with men, but that they had only one musket among them (!) ; that it was to take
aboard Andr€, who, soon after its repulse, came down near the shore, but had to go back to Crompond (!!)
where he spent the night at the house of Mr. Smith (!!!)
Such is history " as she is wrote," even forty years nearer Andre1 than are we to- day.
The firing of Livingston's cannon, on the 22d, was an entirely separate affair.
8 There is no doubt he expected and wished to see Robinson.
* While previously living in New York, he is said to have been one of the " Sons of Liberty," with Marinus
Willett and other Whigs. Jones ( iV. Y. in the Revolution) says Smith was one of the mob which, in
1775, tried to seize Rev. Dr. Myles Cooper, President of King's ( now Columbia) College, and maltreat
him for his Tory sympathies. In 1776 he and his brother- in- law, Colonel Hay ( of whom more hereafter),
were members of the New York Convention, which drafted the State Constitution. He always asserted
his ignorance of Arnold's designs, but Dr. Thacher { Military Journal) says he " had long been suspected
of a predilection for the British interest." Compare Lamb's opinion of him, post. 6 They had three children— Joshua Gordon, Sarah and Laura Sophia ( the latter by his second wife, see Chapter
V.). Sarah married Thomas Hay, probably son of Colonel A. H. Hay. Laura married — West, and
a daughter of Thomas Smith ( Joshua's brother) married John C. Spencer, Secretary of the Navy in 1842,
and became the mother of the unfortunate Midshipman Philip Spencer, of the brig Somers.
Dr. Thacher, who had met her at West Point, at the house of Major Bauman, says: " Mrs. Smith was an
accomplished and interesting woman." 6 Major and Quartermaster, \
1 Samuel had previously, J " ^ e *'
*&* A# adfi&
- p.
9rUi
FROM THE ORIGINAL BY TRUMBULL.
5
T h e passes read:
Headquarters,
Robinson House,
Sept. 20, 1780.
Permission is given to Joshua Smith, Esquire, a gentleman, Mr. John Anderson,
who is with him, and his two servants, to pass and repass the guards near King's Ferry
at all times.
B. ARNOLD, M. Gen'l.
Headquarters,
Robinson House,
Sept. 21, 1780
Permission is granted to Joshua Smith, Esq., to go to Dobbs' Ferry with three
men and a Boy with a Flag to carry some letters of a private Nature for Gentlemen in
New York, and to return immediately.
B. ARNOLD, M. Gen'l.
N. B. He has permission to go at such hours and times as the tide and his
business suits. B. A.
To protect him still further he was given a letter to Beverly Robinson,
who had previously written Arnold for an interview on the subject of his con­fiscated
property: 1
'' This will be delivered to you by Mr. Smith, who will conduct you to a place of
safety. Neither Mr. Smith nor any other person shall be made acquainted with your
proposals. If they ( which I doubt not) are of such a nature that I can officially take
notice of them, I shall do it with pleasure. I take it for granted that Colonel Robinson
will not propose anything that is not for the interest of the United States as well as
himself.''
The start was made at about midnight of Thursday, the 21st. By Arnold's
orders the oars were muffled with pieces of sheepskin. As the moon did not
rise until six o'clock Friday morning, the flag of truce could not have been seen,
had it been used that night— a fact which had an important bearing on the
results of the trip. The countersign, to pass the American guard- boats, that
night, was " Congress." 2 The boat was allowed to come alongside, or seems to
have done so almost unperceived by the sentinel, and Smith got aboard by
a convenient rope, only to be received— as he says— with threats from the watch-
6 Major and Quartermaster William Kiers ( Kierse Or Kierce), seems to have been in charge at Stony Point.
It is to be presumed he was of Livingston's regiment, though the only record of 1- iitn in the State's
archives is as a captain of the Haverstraw militia, in 1778. ' This regiment was commanded by Colonel
Hay. I have found it impossible to find his descendants, or to obtain any definite information about
him.
7 Samuel had previously refused to row Smith to the Vulture on the twentieth, and Smith sent him on
horseback to Arnold, with a letter to that effect, which brought the traitor at once to Haverstraw.
1 On the seventeenth, when Washington and Arnold were together at Smith's house, Arnold showed the Chief
a letter from Robinson about his confiscated estates, addressed to General Putnam, or the officer com­manding
at West Point. The writer requested an interview, which Washington discouraged, adding that
Arnold might send a trusty representative if he chose. In telling the story to Luzerne he added: " I had
no more suspicion of Arnold at the time than of myself." 2 The question of, page6.
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 Andr6. 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.
Sept. 20, Wed.
21, Th.
22, Fri.
23, Sat.
24, Sun.
25, Mon.
26, Tues. May
27, Wed.
28, Thurs.
29, Fri.
30, Sat.
Oct. 1, Sun.
2, Mon.
High Water.
2 hr,
3 "
3 "
4 "
5 "
6 "
rain 7 "
8 "
9 "
10 "
11 "
11 "
12 "
, 2
0
54
5o
48
40
38
30
27
12
6
56
5o
Sun rises.
5- 57
5- 58
5- 59
6. 0
6. 1
6- 3
6. 4
6- 5
6. 7
6. 8
6.10
6.13
1 His son, Beverly, Jr., was lieutenant- colonel of his regiment.
2 See map, opposite page. 8 in the view, page 7.
R. W TUN A/ EL
MAP SHOWING
THE LANDING PLACE of
This map was drawn by Mr. Lavalette Wilson, A. M., C. E. of Haverstraw, and originally published in the Magazi;
of American History.
It has been enlarged to twice original size.
For its iise I am indebted to Mr. S. Victor Constant of New York.
" The Firs," where Arnold and Andre met, is on a line a little North, or South, where the word " Ancient" ends.
ANDRE'S LANDING- PLACE, FROM THE SOUTH. HAVERSTRAW IN THE DISTANCE.
7
We may now return to onr traveller for a brief retrospect of his career.
Having been captured at St. John's in 1775,1 and imprisoned successively at
Lancaster and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Andre was not unfamiliar with the
American character— in fact, by 1780 he had probably been longer in the country
than most of his companions in arms. It was to Clinton's esteem he owed the
personal request to the War Office, in the previous August, which had secured
his promotion to the rank of Major ( in the 54th Regiment), and the appointment
as Adjutant- General. That same esteem had won his Chief's consent when
Arnold asked that he be sent as the British representative; but, in spite of his
personal attractions and professional attainments, his course in the important
business now entrusted to him clearly shows him to have lacked the prudence
and readiness vital to success under such conditions. It was a fortunate choice,
for the patriot cause, for, as I shall have occasion to show, Arnold's treason was
several times almost successful, failing only because of trifles which a cooler head
than Andre's might have easily foreseen and as easily overcome. This leads me
to call these three weeks the crisis of the Revolution. Clinton remembered that
the capture of Fort Washington, the first great success of the British arms— if
we except the battle of Long Island— was achieved by the liberal use of gold,
securing the defection of the | first American traitor," 2 Demont ( or Dement), and
he naturally looked for much greater success in Arnold's case, for the stake was
greater, and he was as ready to buy at any cost as Arnold to sell. The time was
opportune, for the colonies had had five years' ceaseless fighting, Continental
money was practically worthless, and the future was very dark. Kven Washington
wrote that he had | almost ceased to hope." The plan was simple enough, and,
so far as Arnold was concerned, was carried out— the fatal weakness lay with
Andre. 8 West Point once in British hands, what might not have been the change
in our national history? Could independence have been achieved— and at how
much greater cost of time, blood and money ? 4
8 In the view from the south showing Haverstraw in the distance. The other view shows Teller's Point, nearly
opposite.
1 He was quartermaster of the post. His first commission was as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers
( 7th Foot), March 4, 1771. The regiment was sent to Canada by way of Philadelphia, in 1773, so that he
was in the future capital of the Colonies while the first Congress was in session. Lossing ( Two Spies)
says he did not arrive until September, 1774, and that he wore citizen's dress, visited New York and
Boston, and reached Quebec in November. He. thinks Sir Guy Carleton directed him to do this, to gain
information of the patriots' plans, etc.
After the battle of Long Island he was exchanged, and soon made Captain in the 26th Regiment— the
" Cameronians." While in Philadelphia during its occupation by the British, his fondness for social and
theatrical affairs brought him into the circle of acquaintance with Miss Shippen, who became Arnold's
second wife.
2 See W. R. Benjamin's chapter in the S. A. R.' s pamphlet, Fort Washington ( N. Y., 1897). -
Strictly speaking, he was not the first, for Dr. Church and Major Zedwitz preceded him and General De j
Fermoy followed them. Church was head of the army hospital at Boston, 1775, Zedwitz was Major of
McDougalPs— First— New York Regiment, and was cashiered for a treasonable correspondence with Tryon
after the battle of White Plains. De Fermoy set fire to his house on Mount Independence, at Ticonderoga,
in 1777, thereby revealing to the enemy the evacuation in progress.
s Had Andre1 exhibited a presence of mind worthy of his reputation for sagacity, the die had been cast which
sealed the fate of the Highland passes.— Leake. * In the first place, page 8.
*
Andre later acknowledged that Clinton had explicitly ordered him not to
enter the American lines, change his uniform or receive papers. A caution
against putting it out of his power to return to the Vulture would have seemed
superfluous— but it was just here he made his first mistake. True, part of the
responsibility rests on Robinson1 and Sutherland, but that he would go ashore
in a stranger's boat, without providing independent means of return, in the shape
of an armed boat from the Vulture, either to accompany or follow Smith's, could
never have suggested itself to anyone. 2 We may now return to the midnight
conference. Arnold awaited his visitor probably very near the centre of the spot
shown in the view of " The Firs." Smith says he was " hid in a clump of firs."
Though but few such trees are there now, there are enough to retain for the place
something of its original aspect. It was dim, even on a bright August morning,
when I visited it. At the historic hour we are concerned with, there was no moon,
and the stars could have given little or no light through the dense wood.
The steep ascent— nearly fifty feet— from the beach was easy for an
active young man like Andre, and he and his unknown correspondent were soon
met. Expressing surprise and regret at Robinson's non- appearance, the traitor
asked Smith to return to the boat. To be thus dismissed to the society of his two
boatmen- tenants must have been galling to the man whose aid in bringing about
the meeting had been sought by Arnold but a few days before. Of course he
could not refuse, and the two conspirators were left alone. The place was well
suited for a meeting which would not bear daylight— literally or figuratively. It
was easily accessible by either road or river, yet remote from any dwelling. Just
what passed during the long interview, none but the two principals ever knew.
Below, the tired boatmen probably slept, but Smith, suffering alike from wounded
pride and the ague to which he was subject, must have had a weary time of
waiting in the boat or on the beach. The exact length of the interview is
* In the first place, the mere acquisition of a fortress so important, with all its dependencies, garrison, stores,
magazine, vessels, etc., was •( would he) an achievement of no secondary magnitude. The supplies
gathered here were very great, and, once lost, could not have been readily, if at all, restored. The works
were esteemed our tower of salvation, an American Gibraltar, impregnable to an army twenty thousand
strong. Though yet unfinished, they had cost three million dollars and three years' labor of the army.
But the ulterior consequences of its possession were of even greater importance. It would have enabled
Sir Henry Clinton to have checked all trade between New England and the Central and Southern States.
It was, in Washington's eyes, the bolt that locked this communication. The Eastern States chiefly
depended for their breadstuff's on their sisters in the Union, were commercial rather than agricultural
communities, and the power that at once commanded the seaboard and the Hudson might easily bring
upon them all the horrors of famine. From Canada to Long Island Sound a virtual barrier would have
shut out New England from its supplies, as the wall of Antonine barred the free and rugged Caledonians
from the Roman colonies and the south of Britain.— Sparks.
1 Colonel Robinson observed that as they had but two men in a large boat, they would find some difficulty in
getting on shore, and proposed that one of ours should tow them some part of the way, to which he
( Smitfi) objected, as it might, in case of falling in with any of their guard- boats, be deemed an infringe­ment
of the flag.— Sutherland to Clinton, Oct. 5.
2 Andrews testimony upsets the flag theory ( see Chapter V). Smith says he asked for two rowers, to aid the
Colquhouns, but was refused. This was very natural on Sutherland's part. Leake pertinently remarks,
" This portion of the plot seems to have been most clumsily contrived, and unless it was changed in part
of its details, failed from its own stupidity. Why the Vulture should not have been ordered to anchor
nearer the place of meeting is very difficult to imagine.'' She was now twelve miles further up- stream than
when at Dobbs' Perry.
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" T H E FIRS," JUST BELOW HAVERSTRAW.
Scene of the Arnold- Andre Midnight Conference.
9
uncertain, but as Smith says he went up to warn Arnold of the approach of day­light,
it could not have been less than three hours, if we allow two hours from
midnight to reach the dock from Haverstraw, and the sun to rise at six. Arnold
had foreseen a prolonged discussion, and had caused a negro servant1 to ride a
horse to some spot convenient to the meeting place, so that Andre might have a
mount if necessary. The warning of Smith ending the conference, Andre
mounted, the negro going to the boat, which the Colquhouns rowed back up
stream to Hay's dock in Haverstraw Creek. 2 The mounted pair took their way
over the old highway ( now disused and closed by a locked gate). At some
distance from the | Firs," it joins the present highway, called the Clove road.
Haverstraw in 1780 was a mere hamlet, the original buildings of which
have long since disappeared before the advance of the cavernous brick yards,
some of which have in their turn been abandoned. Its southern limit was
probably about the spot now called Kierse's dock ( formerly owned by descendants
of the Stony Point quartermaster.) Near this must have been the sentry8 whose
unexpected challenge must have sent a thrill through Andre, showing as it did
that he had— unwittingly— violated Clinton's first injunction, by entering the
American lines. It was too late to draw back— Arnold gave the countersign, and
they passed on. The way to Smith's house, whither they were bound, led
through a thinly popu-
^ & y ^ Z< 4-~/' A ^ ^ k t e d tlBCt U n t i l C 0 l 0 n e l
VMfr^ fr& 0~ y'' rri* 7* V* r wx< Hay's4 house was seen,
( 7 x^ ftLtCf& p). in the gray of morning.
Near this was the dock,
all traces of which have
been obliterated by one
of the all- devouring brick
yards. Hay's house has also gone, its site alone being identified by an old frame
building on an eminence left by cutting down the rest of the plateau for brick- clay.
t Probably Smith's own, whom we shall meet again.
On September 19th Arnold wrote to one Jefferson:
Headquarters,
Robinson House, Sept. 19, 1780.
To Mr. Jefferson,
Fredericksburg, N. Y.
Sir— You will please to pick out of the horses you have now in your custody, or which you may hereafter
receive, a pair of the best wagon- horses, as also two of the very best saddle horses you can find, for my use.
You ' 11 send them to me as soon as possible.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
B. ARNOLD, M. G.
The saddle horses may have been those used on this occasion.
2 The vexed question why they did not take Andre1 back to the Vulture, may be compared with his own state­ment
in Ch. V. He evidently expected to return to the vessel next day. My own idea is that the
Colquhouns, both tired by their work and angry at being compelled to it by Arnold, were also suspicious
of the whole business, and anxious to be rid of it; so they used the adverse tide as a convenient excuse for
refusing Smith's request to return to the Vulture. Very probably they were not sorry for the chance of
thus " getting even with Arnold.
s Of Spencer's New Jersey Regiment ( see page 15). * Ann Hawkes Hay, page 10.
IO
Smith's is about a mile and a half distant, in what is now West Haver-straw,
nearly a mile north by west of the West Shore railroad station, and half a
mile from the station of the New Jersey and New York road. Here the Stony
Point highway comes in from the north at a right angle to that which extends to
Garnersville. It is quite straight for some distance, at the foot of a bluff forming
the western boundary of the alluvial plain on which stands the greater part of the
two Haverstraws. An old road which extended to it from Hay's dock, and which
our two riders probably followed, has long disappeared. The tourist is apt to be
misled as to which of the residences on the ridge is the landmark he seeks. Two
are white, and very similar, but the northernmost is our goal. It is but a short
distance from the other, and reached by a very steep road, directly up the face of
the ridge. Up this Arnold and Andre must have ridden. Smith's name for the
property was | Belmont." It is just four and one- tenth miles1 from the scene of
the interview at § The Firs." The Smiths— there were fourteen sons and
daughters — were extensive landowners in this region, and Joshua seems to have
built his house on land belonging to his brother Thomas. This was about 1770,
probably just before his marriage. It remains practically as in 1780, save in
two minor particulars: the eastern piazza is modern, 2 and the roof balustrade.
The east side originally had only the narrow Dutch " stoep " ( stoop) with a seat on
either side. The hallway is broad and the stairs make a square turn half- way up.
The east half of the ground floor comprises a single room, the parlor. Its
windows command a magnificent view south and east, only excelled by the same
prospect from the second story. Everything about the building ( which is locally
known as <( Treason House" and its site as " Treason Hill) shows its connection
with the eighteenth century. Its form is nearly square— 55- by 45 feet— its
material stone, stuccoed white. The wings are wooden and probably— certainly
as to the exterior— of the second generation since 1770, but the same as the
4 Ann Hawkes Hay ( whose singular Christian name recalls that of De Montmorency, the historic Constable
of France) was the son of a Scotch planter in the island of Jamaica, where he was born about 1754. He
was sent to New York to be educated, and in 1772 married Martha Smith, sister of Joshua Hett Smith. ( A
coincidence is that his distinguished contemporary, Alexander Hamilton, was, like him, born the son of a
Scotch planter, in the island of Nevis, 1757, and sent to New York for his education. The two may have
met at King's College.)
The Tory influence of some of his wife's relatives was exerted to the utmost, to win him to the British cause
at the outbreak of the Revolution. Twice a commission in the royal army was offered him, but refused.
He was appointed ( 1776) Colonel of the Haverstraw militia regiment, which did duty on the west bank of
the Hudson from Haverstraw to Fort Lee. He attracted the notice of Washington, who was a frequent
visitor at his house. Soon after the execution of Andre1 a British force was sent, at the instigation of
Tryon, to Haverstraw, to burn the dwelling. A negro slave betrayed the place in the garden where the
family silver and other valuables had been buried, and they were carried off.
Colonel Hay died suddenly in New York, about 1786, leaving a large family. The present members of it now
reside in South Carolina and in Clinton County, New York. I am indebted to his great- grandson, Mr.
L. D. Hay, of West Chazy, N. Y., for most of these facts.
In the last letter written by Washington to Arnold ( September 14) he says: " I hope Colonel Hay's plan for
obtaining a supply of flour from the State of New York, and his application to the people of the [ New
Hampshire] Grants will both meet with success. He is a faithful and indefatigable officer."
1 Measured by B. H. Hall, 1897.
2 Possibly the western, also, but I am not sure of this. An odd feature is, that while there is no approach by
road from the west, the house really faces that way, as is shown by the brass knocker still in place on the
hall door.
C==£* o ^ A KINCS Ft « R\
MAP OF
H A V E R S T R A W 4 - * l
IN THE T ( M £ OFTHE { j Ay^ tt'fl Ja tl » 4#
FtEVO LUTION. o
BY L^ VAur7E W/ LSON A. M.. C £.. ^
JotXjuciHttt Smith * S/ J
\ / ANDRE'S Uwomc PLACE
O N E M I LL
JOSHUA HETT SMITH'S HOUSE, " TREASON H I L L , " HAVERSTRAW.
Major Andre's room is the second- story, left- hand.
I I
originals in size and form. The whole design is that of the best residences of its
day, and when new and in good condition it must have been a handsome and
dignified abode for a man of means and good social position, which Smith certainly
was. A complete list of its visitors of note would be interesting. In its dining-room
Arnold, his host and Mrs. Smith dined when the former made his frequent
visits from West Point. Mrs. Arnold, with her child, was there overnight,
Tuesday, the twelfth1 of September, and there were to be other and more
distinguished guests soon after. Wayne was there on the twenty- seventh, and
wrote to Washington, dating from " Smith's white house." William Irvine
followed, then Lafayette, and finally Washington, again, 2 nearly a year later, on
his way to Cornwallis and Yorktown.
Though contemporary opinions as to Smith's politics varied widely, he was
in excellent repute with many good Whigs. Though Colonel Lamb, commanding
the artillery at West Point, would not visit him ( although their wives were
relatives) as he deemed him a Tory, Knox and Robert Howe testified in his favor
at his trial, and Major Kierse, of Stony Point, testified that Smith had lent him
a thousand dollars that very summer, to aid in shipping quartermaster's stores,
and that his predecessor, Quartermaster Henry, had had a similar loan. Colonel
Hay testified that in July, 1776, Smith was one of thirteen men who, in the
absence of the militia, successfully resisted the landing of a force from some
British vessels, to carry off some stores from Haverstraw.
In the parlor, the floor boards attest the building's age. They are spruce,
unusually wide and thick, and but little worn, considering their century and a
quarter of use. The grate, fender, and iron- work of the fireplace are said to be
the originals, but the marble mantel and jambs have been transferred to the
dining- room and replaced by others. They are of white marble and were brought
from England. On the mantel, some Vandal has roughly scratched the name
BURR. 8 In the second story the visitor is shown a curious secret closet under the
garret stairs, and then the most interesting apartment of the house, the southeast
bedroom, where Arnold and Andre breakfasted. 4 Smith himself brought the
meal upstairs, and Arnold returned to the Robinson House as soon as it was over.
Every detail of the conspiracy had been settled between Andre and himself, and
1 There has been some variance of opinion about this date, some writers claiming it was the nineteenth. I have
followed Leake, who says Arnold " brought Mrs. Arnold to the Robinson House, the next day," which
was the thirteenth.
2 King ( see Ch. I l l ) says he heard Washington tell Luzerne in October, that he dined with Arnold at Belmont
the day he started for his conference with Rochambeau at Hartford.
As Washington was crossing from King's Ferry, in Arnold's boat, two incidents occurred, which although
almost unnoticed at the time, assumed some importance when the treachery became known. The_ Vulture
was in full view, and while Washington was regarding her through his spyglass, and speaking in a low
tone to one of his officers, Arnold was observed to appear uneasy. A second was Lafayette's remark to
Arnold, apropos of the expected arrival of the French fleet under Count de Guichen. Alluding to the
frequent communications by water between New York and the Hudson river posts, he said: " General,
since you have a correspondence with the enemy, you must ascertain what has become of Guichen."
Arnold was disconcerted, probably for a moment thinking his- plot was discovered; but nothing more was
said, as the shore was reached at that moment.— SPAJRKS, quoted by Lossing.
s After Aaron Burr. * According to Thacher, page 12.
13
the return of Washington from Hartford on the twenty- seventh was to be
signalized by the capture of the Chief as well as that of West Point. During
breakfast, or, as some accounts have it, as soon as they had reached the house, 1
the two heard the sound of distant cannon, and from the southeast window, which
commands an uninterrupted view for miles up and down the Hudson, saw the
Vulture lying close to Teller's Point— too close for safety. Colonel Livingston
had noticed her position a day or two before, and asked Arnold for two cannon to
use against her. Arnold evaded compliance, and he was obliged to content
himself with a four- pounder, which seems to have been the only gun at Ver-planck's.
Securing from Lamb a small supply of powder, 2 which the veteran
artillerist grudgingly furnished, 8 he went on Wednesday to Croton Landing and
thence to the farmhouse of William Teller on the Point, to get a horse4 to draw
the cannon down. By Thursday night— the twenty- first— this was accomplished,
and the gun in place on or very near Northwest Point, as shown on the map.
This was not over a thousand yards, or two- thirds of a mile, from the sloop. The
river here, between Squaw Point and Andre's dock, is quite two miles wide. The
success of the cannonade is historic. Smith says the vessel seemed to be afire.
Had she not got away downstream with the tide she must have been sunk or
captured. 6 Thus the historic four- pounder was the first link in the chain of
events which were to array themselves against him who, as Smith says, was so
vehemently wishing himself again aboard the vessel. The return to her, on
which he— and perhaps Arnold also— had counted, was henceforth impossible.
With her went the safe and easy return to New York, where promotion and
honors awaited him. Now, alone within an enemy's country, without means of
escape except such as Smith was willing to furnish, he must have passed a day of
s After Aaron Burr resigned from the army, in 1779, with the rank of lieutenant- colonel and an honorable record
of four years' service, he began to study law, and in the spring of 1781 went to Haverstraw. Thomas Smith
was then occupying " Belmont," Joshua being in jail at Goshen ( see Chapter III). Thomas seems to have
been forced out of New York City, whether by want of practice during the British occupancy, or because
suspected of Whig sympathies is uncertain. The first seems more likely, as a third brother, William, was
Chief Justice of New York and in Clinton's confidence ( see Chapter IV). As Joshua says he himself
had met Burr before, this was apparently not his first visit to Haverstraw. He read law with Thomas at
" Belmont" for six months. In the New York Packet of November 15, 1783, Thomas advertises " Bel­mont"
for sale or to let, as containing " 150 acres or more of good land, situate three miles from King's
Ferry, good house, with six fireplaces." ( The property was his, not Joshua's).
* According to Thacher, this was not until ten o'clock. Smith had sent his wife and children away to Fishkill
( see Chapter H).
1 Smith says he saw the firing begin while he was returning in his boat. This, however, may mean just as he
was landing. He says,, " firing from Gallows Point," and several who quote him have evidently not looked
at his errata, where he says it should be Teller's. On some old maps the name is printed Tallus. That
printed opposite is from the latest survey ( 1898) made by Mr. E). H. Hall, of the Sons of the American
Revolution.
2 This must have been without Arnold's knowledge.
8 " Firing at a ship with a four- pounder," he wrote, " is in my " opinion a waste of powder." Yet, as Leake very
truly says, in commenting on this remark of Lamb, " Had Colonel Lamb been aware of the blessed effects to
be produced by this cannonade," etc. ( see Leake, page 258) " h e would not have dispensed his munitions so
grudgingly; for never were balls so well expended as those which were fired upon that occasion."
* In 1863 the late Mrs. Williams, one of Teller's twin daughters, told Miss Cornelia Van Cortland that she
remembered the event, and that she and her sister followed the party all the way over " Cortland's Neck"
to Teller's, weeping for fear the horse would never be returned to the farm. 6 just here I, page 13.
JOSHUA HETT SMITH'S HOUSE.
The Andre1 Window ( whence he saw the firing on the Vulture).
EXPLANATION OF MAP.
i. Place whence Peterson and Sherwood fired on the boat from the Vulture, September 20th, 1780. Descend­ants
of Peterson have the musket. 2. Linden Cottage. 3. Cannon ball found by Eugene Anderson, who now
has it. It weighs five pounds. 4 Old musket ram- rod found in clay. In possession of H. G Morehouse. 5. Under­bill
Homestead. 6. Old oak tree, a landmark. No one knows how old. 7. Vine Cottage. 8. Fish house.
9. Cannon ball weighing nearly six pounds, plowed up in meadow. 10. Squaw Point. Directly opposite, on the
western bank, Andre landed from the Vulture and first met Arnold. 11. Picnic Point, where Enoch Crosby,
Cooper's Spy, once enticed ashore and helped capture a boat- load of British soldiers. 12. Farm house 135 years
old. 13. Italian villa built by Dr. Robert T. Underhill, deceased. 14. Cannon ball found lodged in a tree about
eighty years ago, by Dr. Underhill. The ball is now in possession of S. W. Underhill and weighs about six
pounds. The tree is not now standing, and the oldest inhabitant does not remember in which side of the tree the
ball lodged. 15. Place where earthworks were thrown up by Americans* when they brought the cannon down
to the point. Vouched for by S. W. Underhill, who lived there for sixty years. Dotted shore is low and sandy.
Where the shore has declivity marks it is high and rocky.
E. H. Hall.
• Livingston's cannon may have been shifted from one place to another, as the Vulture got under way.
13
exquisite discomfort. Smith served him dinner1 in the same upper room, and he
accepted— as he had to— his offer to escort him to the British lines, near White
Plains. ( It was really Arnold's plan. See Andre's statement later.) In
changing his uniform coat and hat for such as Smith lent him, he made another
mistake, as he had previously made one in accepting from Arnold the various
papers— now preserved at Albany— containing details of the post and garrison
at West Point. 2 Thus, in less than one day, Clinton's three specific cautions
had all been disregarded. The transaction of the papers is incomprehensible, as
they were in no way necessary to his mission. As Sargent suggests, their salient
points could easily have been memorized,
or embodied in a brief form, intelligible
only to himself. To receive and carry
them was surprising rashness. 3 Sargent
may be right in thinking he exacted them
of Arnold as a proof of sincerity, or that
the latter offered them as such. The
latter seems more likely, as he had them
ready. During the day Smith must have
crossed the river on the errand which
was so nearly successful, and would have
changed the whole subsequent history if it
had been. The incident has never received
the historical prominence it deserves. In
1844 Mrs. Gerard G. Beekman ( Cornelia
Van Cortland, daughter of General Pierre)
was living at Tarrytown, and, although THE ANDR6 TABIA
nearly ninety years old, in full mental
I Just here I may remark on what seems to me a singular omission on the part of all authorities— viz., the action
of the Vulture herself during the cannonade. Does anyone suppose the commander of a vessel mounting
fourteen guns would remain quiescent while a four- pounder was firing on her? Yet no one seems to have
thought the " fire " which Smith saw was what it must undoubtedly have been— the flashes of fire and the
dense cloud of smoke through which they spurted in rapid succession, giving the vessel the appearance of
being actually in flames as her seven guns— the battery on one side— were rapidly replying to Livingston's
one small cannon. No doubt part of the crew were making every effort to get her under sail and out of
range, but the finding at different places on the Point of cannon balls larger than Livingston's piece could
use shows conclusively, I think, that at least part of her battery was actively engaged with the daring foe.
It is much to be regretted that no report from Lieutenant Sutherland of the action is accessible.
An unpublished diary of General Henry Dearborn ( then Major of the Hirst New Hampshire) records:
" Orangetown ( the present Tappan), 22 September, 1780. At daybreak two cannon and a howitzer began
to play briskly on a ship of war that lay in the river. The wind and tide being unfavorable for the ship,
she was not able to get out of reach for more than an hour." Could this have been the Vulture! Tappan
is about nine miles below Teller's Point. A tradition in the family of Lieutenant- Colonel Ebenezer
Stevens, of Lamb's regiment, is that he had himself taken out cannon and fired on the vessel, following
her down the river— on the west bank.— Magazine Am'n History, August, 1880.
Possibly the two items refer to the same case. Stevens may have taken his guns some distance up- stream, and
thus for a while the vessel would be under fire from both banks.
1 The table on which breakfast and dinner were served is now owned by Mr. C. W. Gordon, Haverhill, Mass. It
is circular, of mahogany, claw- footed and with a tilting top.
» See Andre's statement, Chapter V, on this point. 2 The following are, pages I( J— 18.
vigor. She told Lossing then ( and in 1845 repeated the story to J. Watson Webb,
with trifling variations) that Colonel Samuel B. Webb's younger brother John,
usually called Lieutenant Jack, 1 came to the Van Cortland house, 2 at North Peeks-kill,
where she was living, about the seventh of September. He brought a valise
containing considerable specie and his new uniform, and left it with her, caution­ing
her not to give it to any one without a written order from himself or his
brother. Riding on, he dined at Peekskill, presumably at a tavern, for Joshua
Hett Smith was present. In the latter's hearing he mentioned the call he
had just made, and the fact was not lost upon his auditor, for on the twenty-second
Smith rode to Van Cortland's, where he asked for the valise, saying
Jack Webb had sent him. Mr. Beekman was about to send a servant for
it, when his wife, overhearing the conversation, appeared on the scene and
demanded the stipulated written order. Smith readily answered that Webb had
not had time to write it; whereupon she refused to give up the valise, and despite
Smith's angry remonstrance, he was forced to leave without it. Had his effort
succeeded, Andre's escape in the uniform would have been certain. Fortunately
for Smith, Mrs. Beekman does not seem to have told the story at the time, for
she was not summoned as a witness at his trial. Her story seems to establish
Colonel Lamb's opinion that Smith was a Tory.
Thus Cornelia Beekman is justly entitled to the credit of indirectly, at
least, causing Andre's capture. 8
To return to the latter— Leaving his hat and scarlet uniform coat in the
room we have illustrated, he reluctantly put on a coat belonging to Smith, 4
apparently of a shade between crimson and claret, and a civilian's round beaver
hat, also Smith's. Over all he put the long, light- blue cloth cloak, with a cape,
which he had worn when leaving the Vulture. Thus attired, he started with
Smith and the negro5 for King's Ferry, just before sunset on Friday. His mount
was a Government horse, brown, branded U. S. A. on the near shoulder ( Smith
claims to have furnished the saddle and bridle). From Smith's to King's Ferry
is three miles, by a winding, hilly and picturesque road, which crosses two small
creeks ( Miner's Falls and Florus Falls), passes behind Stony Point and ends at a
little cove just north of it. West of the cove, the cut made in constructing the
West Shore Railroad destroyed its last hundred yards, and few traces of it
remain. Its course, however, was pointed out to me by the venerable John Ten
Eyck, son of him who was the ferryman from 1784 to 1844. The dock of 1780,
1 I do not know why, for his actual rank was Captain, in Sheldon's dragoons.
2 Called the Mansion house, to distinguish it from the Manor house at Croton.
3 In Harper's Monthly for April, 1876, it is stated that Washington afterwards thanked her. If so, he could not
have known of the event at the time of Smith's trial, as it would infallibly have hanged Smith.
* This advice— to change his dress— perplexing to unravel as it is, Andrei, with all his sagacity and- good sense,
was prevailed upon to pursue, for what reason nobody ever knew.—- Jones, I, page 372.
<• As Sargent remarks, it is very possible this humble retainer, had he been given a " half- joe " ( about $ S specie),
and warned to keep silent; might readily have contrived a way to put Andre1 safe aboard the Vulture
again. But nobody gave his possible aid a thought.
ii/^-^^ i^'^^ rjn^ r
JOSHUA HETT SMITH'S HOUSE, HAVERSTRAW.
The Dining Room.
15
of which a timber or two can be seen at low tide, was between the two rows of
huge old willows seen in the view. This was taken from the Ten Byck property
on the north, and the boulder seen on a line with the post in the nearer stone
wall shows the exact spot. Lonely and deserted as it now is, it is hard to realize
that during the Revolution it was the ferry- place of the patriot army and the
public, and a link of communication1 between New England and the South. As
a natural sequence, it was constantly occupied by the ferrymen and a detail of
soldiers, and near it our party met some of Livingston's officers. One was
Captain Cooley, probably Adjutant John, late of the Third Westchester militia
but then of the Fourth ( Colonel Crane's). A second was William Jameson. 2
Smith asked Cooley if they could get a boat, and was told they might catch the
Government boat if they were quick about it. They had previously met Maior
John Burrowes, of Spencer's New Jersey Regiment
( often called the Fifth Battalion of the Jersey Line), 8
to whom Smith dexterously gave the slip after a brief
colloquy, and near a tent— of either Livingston or /•% -- —-
these officers, probably the latter4— Smith stopped, \^ K^ Z- K..- - M.—•* f\
chatted, and without dismounting drank grog or
punch from a bowl handed him. Andre and the negro meanwhile rode on. It
may easily be supposed the former was in no mood for unnecessary conver­sation
with the officers, to whom Smith was well known. The ferryboat which
was probably a bateau ( flatboat or scow) was just starting as they boarded
her. Among the rowers were Cornelius, Lambert and Henry Lambert and
Benjamin Acker. Henry Lambert6 was steersman, William Van Wert or Van
Wart— was the ferrymaster, and on reaching the eastern shore Smith paid him
eight dollars Continental money for the ferriage. Smith's presence doubtless saved
Andre from unwelcome questions, and once the boat reached her dock, in the deep
bay called Green's Cove, nearly a mile southeast of the extremity of Verplanck's
Point, he was free to continue his journey— henceforward to be full of danger.
1 It - was called the lower route, to distinguish it from the upper, terminating at Fishkill. At this time there
were 166 " bateau- men " at Verplanck's and Stony Points.
2 He was apparently an officer, as, witnessing at Smith's trial, he spoke of " my tent." Possibly the company
tent was meant. The New York records do not contain any officer of the name. Another account says
they also met Major Kierse. '
3 John Burrowes first appears as Captain in Forman's New Jersey Regiment, 1776, then in 1779 as Major in
Spencer's. After the war he became Sheriff of Monmouth County, N. J.
He seems to have been commanding officer at Haverstraw, as Smith, on his trial, asked him whether his
guards at the lower end had reported to him " meeting ( being passed by) two strange gentlemen the night
before" ( Thursday). These two must have been Arnold ana Andr£.
i On his trial Smith stated that he met Livingston at Verplanck's Point Livingston corroborated him, adding
that he gave Smith two letters to deliver, one each for Arnold and Governor Clinton. Smith adds that
Livingston was related to Mrs. Smith, and that he asked Andre and W « i to remain to supper, but Andre
declined. While Smith, as a rule, is a discredited authority, I think he may be trusted on minor points.
5 Names which show the craft must have been the Government boat, for all were soldiers. Cornelius was
a veteran who had served in the Third New York Levies ( Colonel Morris Graham). In the previous May
he had enlisted in the Fourth New York Continentals ( Colonel James Hughes) in which Acker was also
a private. Lambert was a private ( Combs' company) and Henry a lieutenant ( Orser's company) of the
First Westchester militia.
i6
The following are true copies of the several papers :
" West Point, September 5th, 1780.
" Artillery Orders. — The following disposition of the corps is to take place in Case of an alarm :
" Capt. Dannills with his Comp'y at Fort Putnam, and to detach an Officer with 12 men to Wyllys's
Redoubt, a Non Commissioned Officer with 3 men to Webb's Redoubt, and the like number to Redoubt No. 4.
" Captain Thomas and Company to repair to Fort Arnold.
" Captain Simmons and Company to remain at the North and South Redoubts, at the Fast side of the
River, until further Orders.
" Lieutenant Barber, with 20 men of Capt. Jackson's Company, will repair to Constitution Island; the
remainder of the Company, with Lieut. Mason's, will repair to Arnold.
" Capt. Lieut. George and Lieut. Blake, with 20 men of Captain Treadwell's Company, will Repair to
Redoubt No. 1 and 2 ; the remainder of the Company will be sent to Fort Arnold.
" Late Jones's Company, with Lieut. Fisk, to repair to the South Battery.
" The Chain Battery, Sherburn's Redoubt, and the Brass Field pieces, will be manned from Fort Arnold
as Occation may require.
" The Commissary and Conductor of Military stores will in turn wait upon the Commanding Officer of
Artillery for Orders.
" The artificers in the garrison ( agreeable to former Orders) will repair to Fort Arnold, and there receive
further Orders from the Command'g Officer of Artillery.
" S. BATJMAN, Major Comm't Artillery."
This and the following document are in Arnold's handwriting :
" Estimate of Forces at Wst Point and its Dependencies, September 13, 1780.
" A brigade of Massachusetts Militia, and two regiments of Rank and File New Hampshire, Inclusive of
166 Batteaux Men at Verplanck's and Stony Points 992
" On command and Extra Service at Fishkills, New Windsor, & c, & c, who may be called in occationally 852
'' 3 regiments of Connecticut Militia, under the com'd of Colonel Wells, on the lines near N. Castle . . . 488
" A detachment of New York levies on the lines 115
Militia, 2447
" Colonel Lamb's Regiment 167
" Colonel Livingston's, at Verplank and Stoney Pts. 80
Continent: 247
" Colonel Sheldon's Dragoons, on the lines, about one half mounted 142
" Batteaux Men and Artificers 250
Total, 3086."
The following document is in the handwriting of Villefranche, a French engineer :
'' Estimate of the Number of Men necessary to Man the . Works at West Point and in the Vicinity.
" Fort Arnold 620 Redoubt No. 2 150
Putnam 450 ditto 3 120
Wyllys 140 ditto 4 100
Webb 140 ditto 5 139
Redoubt No. 1 150 ditto 6 no Total, 2438
" N. B.— The Artillery Men are not Included in the above Estimate."
Redoubt No. 7 78
North Redoubt 120
South Redoubt 130
KING'S FERRY, WESTERN END.
17
The following table is in the handwriting of Bauman, Major Commandant of Artillery :
" RETURN OP THE ORDNANCE IN THE DIFFERENT FORTS, BATTERIES, & C , AT WEST POINT AND ITS DE­PENDENCIES,
SEPT. 5, 1780.
South Battery. . . .
Webb's Redoubt
Sherman's R e d o u b t . . . .
Megg's Redoubt
South Redoubt
North Redoubt
Wyllys's Redoubt. . . . .
Rocky Hill, No. 4
" No. 1
" No. 2
Verplanck's Point
Total
. . . .{
. . . . {
Metal.
Brass
Iron
Brass
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Iron
Brass
1
Garrison Carriages.
24
I
Garrison Carriages.
Traveling Carriages.
is
6
5
/\
3
I I18
Garrison Carriages.
Stocked Carriages.
12
rjfa
2
1
*
2
4
T
T
I
T
3
1
I
2
Garrison Carriages.
9
T
2
4
2
1
141 5 | 9
Garrison Carriages.
5
2
1
/[
2
14
Stocked Carriages.
5
2
3
5
Traveling Carriages.
2
- Garrison Carriages.
Traveling Carriages.
4
1
I
1
I
1 3
Traveling Carriages.
3
|
3
Mortars
Inches.
O
5
6 | 5
Inches.
5%
5
4
2
Inches.
« i
j3?
1
11 2
Howit­zers.
8
1
1
Tot
}* 3
}.,
10
5
3
2
4
5
2
5
6
5
2
5
2
3
4
100
3 brass 24 pounders.
7 " 12
1 '' 8- inch howitzer.
N. B.— The following ordnance not distributed :
No. 6 iron 12 pounder.
4 " 9 "
1 " 6
1 " 4
2 " 3 "
14
The following description of the works at West Point and its dependencies is in the handwriting of Arnold,
endorsed " Remarks on Works at West Point, a copy to be transmitted to his Excellency General Washington.
Sep'r, 1780."
'' Port Arnold is built of Dry Fascines and Wood, is in a ruinous condition, incompleat, and subject to take
Fire from Shells or Carcasses.
" Fort Putnam, Stone, Wanting great repairs, the wall on the East side broke down, and rebuilding From
the Foundation ; at the West and South side nave been a Chevaux- de- Frise, on the West side broke in many
Places. The East side open; two Bomb Proofs and Provision Magazine in the Fort, and Slight Wooden
Barrack.— A commanding piece of ground 500 yards West, between the Fort and No. 4— or Rocky Hill.
" Fort Webb, built of Fascines and Wood, a slight Work, very dry, and liable to be set on fire, as the
approaches are very easy, without defences, save a slight Abattis.
'' Fort Wyllys, built of stone 5 feet high, the Work above plank filled with Earth, the stone work 15 feet,
the Earth 9 feet thick.— No Bomb Proofs, the Batteries without the Fort.
" Redoubt No. 1. On the South side wood 9 feet thick, the Wt. North and East sides 4 feet thick, no
cannon in the works, a slight and single Abattis, no ditch or Pickett. Cannon on two Batteries. No Bomb
Proofs.
" Redoubt No. 2. The same as No. 1. No Bomb Proofs.
" Redoubt No. 3, a slight Wood Work 3 Feet thick, very Dry, no Bomb Proofs, a single Abattis, the work
easily set on fire— no cannon.
i8
" Redoubt No. 4, a Wooden work about 10 feet high and fore or five feet thick, the West side faced with a
stone wall 8 feet high and four thick. No Bomb Proof, two six pounders, a slight Abattis, a commanding piece
o KT^ J^ j^ j^ rtj, Redoubt, on the East side, built of stone 4 feet high; above the Stone, wood filled in with
Earth Very Dry, no Ditch, a Bomb Proof, three Batteries without the Fort, a poor Abattis, a Rising piece of
ground 500 yards So., the approaches Under Cover to within 20 yards.— The Work easily fired with Faggots
diptd in Pitch, & c. .
" South Redoubt, much the same as the North, a Commanding piece of ground 500 yards due East— 3
Batteries without the Fort."
This was in Arnold's handwriting:
Endorsed:
At a Council of War held in Camp, Bergen County, Sept. 6, 1780.
" Present the Commander in Chief. The Commander in Chief states to the Council that since he had
the honor of laying before the General Officers, at Morristown, the 6th of June last, a general view of our
circumstances, several important events have occurred which have materially changed the prospects of the
Campaign. That the success expected from France, instead of coming in one body and producing a Naval
Superiority in these Seas, has been divided into two Divisions, the first of which only consisting of seven ships of
the line one forty- fonr and three smaller Frigates, with five thousand land Forces, had arrived at Rhode Island.
That a reinforcement of six ships of the hue from England having reinforced the Enemy, had made their Naval
Force in these seas amount to Nine Sail of the Line, Two Fifties, two forty- fours and a number of smaller
Frigates, a Force completely superior to that of our Allies, and which has in consequence held them blocked up
in the harbor of Rhode Island till the 29th ult, at which period the British Fleet disappeared, and no advice of
them has since been received.
" That accounts received by the Alliance Frigate, which left France in July, announce the Second
Division to be confined in Brest with several other ships, by a British Fleet of thirty- two sail of the Line, and a
Fleet of the Allies, of Thirty- six or Thirty- eight Ships of the line ready to put to sea from Cadiz to relieve the
Port of Brest.
'' That most of the States in their answers to the requisitions made of them, give the strongest assurances
of doing everything in their power to furnish the men and supplies for the expected Co- operation. The effect of
which, however, has been far short of our expectations, for not much above one third of the Levies demanded
for the Continental Batallions nor above the same proportion of Militia have been assembled, and the supplies
have been so inadequate that there was a necessity for dismissing all the Militia whose immediate services could
be dispensed with, to lessen our consumption, notwithstanding which the Troops now in the Field are severely
suffering for want of Provision. That the army at this Post and in the vicinity, in operating Force, consists of
10,400 Continental Troops and about 400 Militia, besides which is a Regiment of Continental Troops of about
500 at Rhode Island, left there for the assistance of our Allies against any attack of the Enemy, that way, and
two Connecticut State Regiments amounting to 800 at North Castle.
'' That the Times for Service for which the Levies are engaged will expire the first of January, which if
not replaced, allowing for the usual Casualties, will reduce the Continental Army to less than 6000 men.
" That since the State of the Council above referred to, the Enemy have brought a detachment of about
3000 men from Charles Town to New York, which makes the present operating Force in this Quarter between
Ten and Eleven Thousand men.
" That the Enemies Force now in the Southern States has not been lately ascertained by any distinct
accounts, but the General supposes it cannot be less than 7000 ( of which about 2000 are at Savannah). In this
estimate the Diminution by the Casualties of the Climate is supposed to be equal to the increase of Force derived
from the Disaffected.
1' That added to the loss of Charles Town and its Garrison, accounts of a recent misfortune are just arrived
from Major General Gates, giving advice of a general action which happened on the 16th of August near
Campden, in which the army under his command met with a total defeat, and in all probability the whole of the
Continental Troops and a considerable body of the Militia would be cut off. The State of Virginia has been
some time exerting itself to raise a Body of 3000 Troops to serve till the end of December, 1781, but how far it
has succeeded is not known.
" That Maryland^ has resolved to raise 2000 men, of which a sufficient number to compose one Battalion
was to have come to this army. The remainder to recruit the Maryland line— but in consequence of the late
advices, an order has been sent to march the whole southward.
" That the Enemies force in Canada, Halifax, St. Augustine and at Penobscot remains much the same as
stated in the preceding Council.
. " That there is still reason to believe the Court of France will prosecute its Original intention of giving
effectual Succor to this Country, as soon as circumstances will permit; and it is hoped the Second Division wifl
certainly arrive in the course of the fall.
" That a Fleet greatly superior to that of the Enemy in the West Indies, and a formidable land Force had
sailed some time since from Martinique to make a combined attack upon the Island of Jamaica— that there is a
possibility of a re- inforcement from this quarter also, to the Fleet of our Ally at Rhode Island.
" The Commander in Chief having thus given the Council a full view of our present situation and future
prospects, requests the Opinion of each member, in writing, what plan it will be advisable to pursue, to what
object Our Attention ought to be directed in the course of this fall and winter, taking into consideration the
alternative of having a Naval superiority, whether any offensive operations can be immediately undertaken and
against what Point. What ought to be our immediate preparations and dispositions, particularly whether we can
afford or ought to send any reinforcement from this army to the Southern States, and to what amount.
" The General requests to be favored with these opinions by the 10th instant at the furthest."
ON THE KINGS FERRY ROAD, EAST OF VERPLANCK'S POINT.
CHAPTER II.
King's Ferry to Tarry town— Danger.
As
OFFICER'S BUTTON,
26TH BRITISH REGIMENT.
I have not quailed to danger's brow
When high and happy— need I now?
BYRON — Giaour, line 1035.
S with the western, so the eastern end of King's Ferry
— nothing but a few logs, submerged at high water,
identify it.
The I King's Ferry Road1 extends for a mile and a half
almost due east. There, on top of a ridge extending north
to Peekskill, it joins the old Albany Post Road a little north
of where another road leads east, down the ridge to the
Montrose station of the New York Central. Our travellers
turned north at the junction and in about two miles and a half reached the present
Peekskill, and turned east on the Crompond Road. This is a winding, hilly road,
now bordered after settled Peekskill is past, by modern residence property and
well- kept farms. Diversified by hill and dale, open fields, trim dwellings and
spreading trees, it affords a most delightful drive to the lover of Nature. In
1780 the region must have been rather a lonely one, with here and there a
farmhouse whence, in most cases, had gone a son or brother to the army
or militia. At about four miles from Peekskill, and eight from Verplanck's,
occurred Smith's first check, and the one which ultimately caused his companion's
capture. Here, at about half- past eight,* the party met a sentry, who halted them
until his officer, Captain Bbenezer Boyd, 3 of the Third Westchester militia,
appeared. Smith dismounted, and talked some time with him, producing Arnold's
pass. He took this into his quarters* to read by lamplight, and was satisfied with
it, but proved uncomfortably inquisitive as to the travellers' business and their
wish to proceed that night. Smith tried to meet and parry his questions, but
For this button and succeeding similar ones, I an indebted to Mr. W. I*. Calver, of New York. All three
regiments— the 26th, 7th and 54th were Andre's.
1 The view shows it at about midway of its length.
2 Sunset was at seven that day, so it must have been deep gloom by this tune.
• Bbenezer Boyd was born either in Scotland or near Bedford, Westchester County, about 1735, and died at
Boyd's Corners, in the town of Kent, Putnam County, June 29, 1792. He was Captain of what would now
be called the second or " B " company. Colonel Van Cortland had been promoted to Brigadier, and was
succeeded in command of the regiment by Lieut. Colonel Drake.
4 The house long since disappeared, and was replaced by a barn, which is just west of Stony Street. On the
map it is marked by the figure 3.
20
made a false step by saying they would stop overnight further on, with either
Colonel Gilbert Drake1 or Major Joseph Strang, both of Boyd's regiment. At this
Boyd must have suspected him, for he told him Strang was absent, and Drake
removed to another town. He represented the danger of travelling White Plains-ward
by night as so great, because of a band of § Cowboys " known to be within
the lines, that Smith's fears were aroused2 ( probably also by Boyd's evident
suspicions of him), and he agreed to stop at a house nearby. Andre, to whom the
marauders were far more likely to be friends than foes, and who was depressed by
his anomalous and dangerous position, disguised and in the enemy's country, was
naturally anxious to push ahead. But Smith carried his point, and they went back
to Andreas Miller's house, 3 on the south side of the road, about one- third of a
mile east of Hog Lane ( an existing road now bearing the more euphonious but
absurd name of " Lexington Avenue") and just over the boundary line in the
town of Yorktown ( Peekskill is in the town of Cortland). Miller's accommoda­tions
for travellers were decidedly limited— apparently to one bed, which Smith
shared with Andre, who went to bed in his boots, not even removing his spurs,
and spent the time in restless weariness, disturbing Smith's slumbers. The
dwelling4 has disappeared, save the foundation and a few timbers. A growth of
young locust trees and flowering shrubs surrounds the spot, and some search is
required to find it.
Before dawn— Saturday, the twenty- third— the trio were again in the
saddle, and rode to a point half a mile east of the Presbyterian church, 5 at
Crompond Corner. By this time Andr6 had recovered his spirits, as though
feeling entirely safe, and displayed to the full those accomplishments of mind and
manner which had invariably charmed all who met him, and which had their
effect on Smith. At the Corner, in the angle made by the junction, from the
north, of the Somerstown road, stood a tavern known as Strang's6 ( or Mead's).
Near it, the three riders were suddenly halted by a picket- guard, and detained
1 One account has lieutenant Colonel Delavan instead of Drake.
2 If Smith. suspected Andrews real character, he knew there could not be much danger from these marauders;
but, on the other hand, his Whig reputation would be endangered by the very fact, if they were met, and
yet suffered nothing by the meeting. He was, in short, trying to '' run with the hare and hunt with the
hounds." It was more prudent to allay Boyd's suspicions by staying over night— but the delay was fatal
to Andre' the next day.
3 Marked 2 on the map. Smith's Narrative is clearly misleading here, when he speaks of going " back some
miles, to a tavern kept by one McKoy." At his trial, Captain Boyd testified that Miller's house was
" close by."
* In the case of this house tradition has especial value, as there is but one life between 1780 and 1898. In 1784 the
dwelling was sold to John Strang, son of Major Joseph, and a new one took its place. In 1795 this was
bought by Abraham Requa, a soldier of the Westchester militia, of much active service. His son Edmund
inherited it, and his grandson Amos C. was born in it. The son of Edmund, and grandson of Abraham,
Rev. Amos C. Requa, lives in Peekskill,. and is. my authority for identifying the house.
5 Marked 4 on the map. The edifice itself was not then standing, for on June 24, 1779, Tarleton's and Simcoe's
cavalry came up from White Plains by way of Pine's Bridge, and burnt it. The parsonage, ten days
earlier, had met the same fate, at the hands of a detachment from Verplanck's Point, under lieutenant
Colonel Robert Abercromby, of the 37th Regiment.
The two incidents well illustrate the harassed condition of the Neutral Ground at the time.
6 Marked 5 on the map. On a map made by Erskine, the patriot geographer, it is called Mead's Tavern.
-•^ i'VV^'
aMtl
1£& 3>& FG
m> w » & m* i& L
RUINS OF ANDREAS MILKER'S HOUSE, YORKTOWN.
S I T E OE STRANG'S TAVERN, CROMPOND CORNER.
( The site is just inside the bars.)
V
21
while the officer in command, Captain Ebenezer Foote, 1 of the Commissary
Department, was notified. Arnold's pass was again produced, but the morning
was yet too dark2 for open- air reading, and the Captain went into Strang's—
his headquarters— and read it by lamp- light. The scene outside at the
moment is readily imaginable to one who has visited the spot, and is
worthy the brush of a historical painter. The atmosphere was foggy,
threatening rain. Nearby objects were indistinct and distant ones invisible
through the gloom. In the foreground the watchful guard, the sentry in front
of the tavern, the two white men, one muffled in a light- blue cloak covered
with moisture, sitting his horse like a soldier, the other in civilian's dress, and
intently awaiting the opening of the tavern door and the re- appearance of
the officer. In the middle foreground, a small frame building, and inside, seen
through the small- paned window, a grave- faced young officer intently scanning the
paper— since grown historic and carefully preserved at Albany— which allows
" Mr. John Anderson " to " pass the guards to the White Plains and below if he
Chuses."
Nothing wrong about it, thinks the Connecticut Captain, less suspicious
than Boyd, so he returns it, and, like Boyd, misses his chance of historic dis­tinction.
3 Andre's spirits must have risen again with this second escape, and the
i Ebenezer Poote, son of Daniel and descendant of Nathaniel, who settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1633, was
born in Colchester, Conn., April 12, 1756, and died December 28, 1829, in Delhi, N. Y. At nineteen we
find him in the ranks of the Minute Men at Bunker Hill, and afterwards as a sergeant of the Second
Connecticut. He was taken prisoner at the surrender of Port Washington. With several companions he
escaped from the Bridewell in New York, at night, in the month of December following, gained what were
then the open fields, and reached the Hudson at the village of Greenwich, eluding all the British sentinels.
On the bank they found no means of escape but an unseaworthy boat, and here the party divided, and his
companions, going further, were most or all recaptured. He determined to trust himself to a single plank,
rather than run risk of capture. Accordingly he proceeded to swim the Hudson by means of the plank,
and after being several hours in the icy water, and safely passing an anchored British man- of- war, he was
floated ashore below Hoboken. At first unable to stand after his terrible experience, he eventually reached
a house where he was succored. Reaching the American lines we find him in the army at the capture of
Trenton, and during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. This, however, added to his previous experience,
broke down his constitution, and soon afterwards he secured a transfer to the Commissary Department,
where he remained until the end of the war, rising to t h e rank of Major. After 1783 he began mercantile
life in Newburgh, and then went into politics, eventually becoming member of the Legislature, and
holding many minor offices until appointed First ( Presiding) Judge of Delaware County, an office he held
for many years, and to universal satisfaction.
His military ability was inherited by his son, General Frederick Foote, who died prematurely as a result of
hardships endured on the frontier during the war of 1812, and by his grandson, Captain and Brevet- Major
( really acting Colonel) William Rensselaer Foote, of the Sixth U. S. Infantry, who was killed at the
battle of Gaines' Mills, in 1862.
2 Sunrise was at six. This shows how early the party must have left Miller's— apparently without breakfast.
s Foote told Smith— who did all the talking— that the only American forces below were Sheldon's dragoons,
who were chiefly at Robbins' Mills ( now Kensico) and would give him an escort to White Plains if he
wanted it. A few days later this note was written:
" Continental Village,
" 28 of Sept. 1780.
" Captain Foote,
" Sir.— Your letter to the General was delivered me on the road. You will on receipt of this permit
the officer with the flag to return, delivering him the enclosed letter. This I know to be his Excellenc
intention, and he yesterday sent orders which seem not to have reached you.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
A. HAMILTON,
Aid De Camp.
Captain Foote has endorsed this :
" Ordering the return of the flag sent out from New York on account of Arnold's desertion."
I am unable to decide what flag of truce this refers to.
22
proof of the value of Arnold's pass. Strang's tavern was demolished about 1825,
but the hewn frame of a part of it was moved from the original site, just across
the road, to the rear of the house now occupied by Mr. Anson Lee. With
modern siding, its exterior is completely changed, but inside the bare, hewn
posts, braces and cross- beams attest its age. It is now used as a kitchen, but the
chairs, brass warming- pan and polished powder- horn, 1 all older than the Revolu­tion
itself, are quite in keeping with its history, and it is not impossible that it is
the very room in which Foote read the pass.
Up a long hill and down into a little valley, where now is the track of the
New York and Putnam Railroad, rode our party, and, at a point not identifiable,
Andre had a meeting which he afterwards said | made his hair rise." Colonel
Samuel B. Webb, of the Third Connecticut, 2 then and since December 29, 1777, a
prisoner to the British in New York, and at this time out on parole, met him.
Coming on him in this sequestered place at such an hour, Webb— who had often
met him in New York, and probably not long before— stared hard at him. Andre
knew him at once, and gave himself up for lost. But Webb's star was not in the
ascendant that morning, any more than had been Boyd's or Foote's, and he failed
to recognize his acquaintance, 8 and once more fate spared him. As the riders
went past the house of Major Strang ( where Smith, the night before, had proposed
to stop) they were observed by the inmates, who thought them Continental
officers. 4 Daylight appeared as they followed the road south and east about three
miles and a half, to where, just before it forks on Cat Hill, a small two- story frame
house6 stands, close to the road, on the west side.
Modernized by a narrow " lean- to " in the rear, an addition on the western
end and ordinary siding all round, it does not seem old; but it actually dates from
1 The horn is inscribed: " Belong'd to Daniel See— Seth Allen his Horn, 1775." See is still a well- known
family in upper Westchester County.
J Samuel Blachley Webb was born in Wethersfield, Conn., December 13, 1753, and died at Claverack, N. Y.,
December 3, 1801.
He was wounded at Bunker Hill, was aid to General Putnam, and in 1776 was appointed aid to Washington,
with the rank of Lieutenant- colonel. He was again wounded at White Plains, and at Trenton ; was at the
battles of Long Island and Princeton, and raised and organized the Third Connecticut almost at his own
expense. It was first styled the Additional Continentals, then the 9th and finally the 3d. Webb was
not exchanged until January, 1781.
He and Colonel Joseph Reed it was who refused to receive Howe's letter to Washington, because of its address
to " George Washington, Esquire." His regiment acquired the sobriquet of the Decoy Regiment, owing to
its being uniformed in red— the uniforms, in fact, captured aboard a British vessel, and slightly changed
to adapt them to patriot use. To this circumstance was due the capture ( October 10, 1777,) of the British
spy, Daniel Taylor, who mistook them for the royal forces, found himself in the presence of General James
Clinton instead of Sir Henry, and was hanged at Hurley, Ulster County, N. Y., October 14th. On his
expedition to Long Island, in December, 1777, Webb was captured.
Soon after his return to active service he was brevetted Brigadier- General.
When Washington took the oath of office as President, in 1789, Webb held the Bible on which it was
administered. His son, Henry L., was Colonel of the 18th U. S. Infantry, during the Mexican War, and
General Alexander S. Webb, president of the College of the City of New York, is his grandson.
3 It is a coincidence that on February 12, 1778, Webb's brother Joseph wrote him from New Haven: " Should
you meet Captain Andr€, acknowledge from me his politeness to Major Huntington, and I think you will
find him much the gentleman."
* Dykman. The house is marked 6 on the map.
6 Marked 7 on the map.
INTERIOR OF STRANG'S TAVERN, CROMPOND CORNER.
Captain Foote's Headquarters. Never before identified.
T H E UNDERHIIX HOUSE, YORKTOWN.
The small rear window is opposite the " Andre door.
23
about 1700. For more than a century, and up to 1895, it was owned and occupied
by those by whose name it is still known— the Underhills. In 1780 its owner was
Isaac, whose widow, Sarah, survived until i8ia. Tradition— practically history,
as in the case of the Miller- Requa house— says that a band of Cowboys—
( probably those Captain Boyd had referred to)— had driven off all but one of her
cows the previous night. The present highway wall did not then exist, so our
travellers rode up to the backdoor— now hidden by the " lean- to"— where both
alighted and asked for breakfast. All Mrs. Underhill could give them, under the
circumstance of her loss, was the humble dish of " suppawn m ( mush and milk).
Seated on the step of the back door, 2 the talented young Adjutant ate his last
meal as a free man. At this stage of the journey, Smith and he parted— to his
speedy ruin. Nothing has ever been disclosed as to why this was done. White
Plains was still fifteen miles distant; Andre knew nothing of the region between,
while Smith knew it well. He had agreed to take his companion there, but made
no further effort to that end. 8 The other could not force him to do it, 4 and
possibly did not greatly desire his further company, feeling tolerably confident, as
Smith told him he was now beyond the American outposts. 6 So, paying Mrs.
Underhill, dividing with Andre his Continental money, and giving him a message0
to his brother William, the Tory Chief- Justice at New York, whom Andre knew,
he and his servant returned to Crompond and thence northwest to Arnold's
quarters at the Robinson House, just below West Point on the east shore, and
told his story to the expectant traitor, with whom he says he dined. 7 Unless
Arnold was concerned about Andre's being abandoned short of White Plains, he
must have felt assured of the success of his plot. Smith went on to Pishkill to
rejoin his family. His Whig connections have a fresh proof here. Colonel Ann
Hawkes Hay, of the Haverstraw militia, was married to Smith's sister, Martha,
and lived at Fishkill at this time. It was to his house that Mrs. Smith and the
i A curious coincidence is that of Andrews contemptuous reference to this homely dish, in the Cow Chace. See
Appendix.
2 The view of this was made under difficulties, it being necessary to place the camera outside the back window.
The house is in good condition, and may last another century. If the owner, Mr. George Gregory, carries
out his expressed intention of removing the " lean- to," the back will appear in its original condition,
showing the " Andre" door." In the side view Miss Gregory is shown standing just where the " lean- to"
joins the original building.
3 The horse and equipments Andre" promised should be returned or paid for.
4 A singular fact is that Andr£, although knowing he was entering the enemy's country when leaving the
Vulture, was unarmed.
s Had Smith forgotten Foote's statement that Sheldon's force was at Robbins' Mills?
* One of his captors subsequently stated that when first seen by them he was intently studying a piece of paper
containing a rough map of the region south of Fine's Bridge. An obvious inference would be that Arnold
or Smith made it for him. No trace of it exists. It may have been lost when his boots were taken off at
Tarrytown.
7 He was no stranger to the house, but Colonel Richard Varick, Arnold's senior Aid, thoroughly disliked and
distrusted him, and not lone before had tried to pick a quarrel with him at dinner, until Mrs. Arnold
became annoyed and asked him to desist. Varick was so unsuspicious of the real relations existing between
Smith and his chief that he warned Arnold against him. Leake says Smith and Lamb were invited guests
at dinner on the eighteenth of September. This may have been the date of the quarrel between Varick
and Smith, but Leake does not mention it.
H
children had been sent, to have them out of the way while Arnold's mysterious
visitor should be at " Belmont," and Smith now proposed to take them back with
him. On Monday, 1 the twenty- fifth, he rode to Poughkeepsie on business, and
returned in time to be present at the dinner given by General John Morin Scott
in honor of Washington. He is said to have had a seat at the same table with
the Chief. 3
We will now return to Yorktown. Andre continued on the road which
passes Underbill's to Pine's Bridge, which then spanned the Croton river about
half a mile further up stream than the present structure. 8 Crossing it, he turned
to the right and followed the highway down the south bank about a mile, to Hog
Hill. Then turning to the left he ascended the hill to Underbill's Corners, where
Henry C. Allen now lives, about three miles from the bridge. 4 Here the road
extends nearly north and south, and at its intersection with the Chappaqua road,
becomes Kipp Street. In the angle between the two on the east side of Kipp
Street, is the dwelling of Mr. Allen. In 1780 the house6 then existing was
occupied by Stevenson Thorne, a member of the Society of Friends. The fugitive
reached the spot about ten o'clock, 6 when the fog had changed to a fine, drizzling
rain. In doubt as to whether he ought to keep on the road, or take that to
Chappaqua, southeast, he checked his horse, and seeing Jesse Thorne, a twelve-year
old boy who was standing on the wood- pile near the front of the house, asked
his way to Tarrytown. 7 Jesse jumped from the wood- pile and went to the house-door
to call his father, who came out. A brief colloquy ensued between them, the
way to Tarrytown was pointed out, the stranger touched his horse with the
spur" and galloped away southwards on Kipp Street. 0
Jesse, with the curiosity of a country boy, watched him whilst he spoke
with his father, and many years afterwards described him accurately, as " very
genteel in his manners and intelligent, wearing a wide- brimmed hat, military cape
overcoat, high boots with spurs, and riding a brown horse branded U. S. A. on the
shoulder, and having one white forefoot and a white star on his forehead."
Andre pursued his journey down Kipp Street to the Hardscrabble road.
So far, no obstacle had arisen, and the way to safety seemed open, if he could
but follow Smith's directions for reaching either White Plains or Dobbs' Ferry.
1 Smith's Narrative.
2 Another authority" says he called on Washington that day, at the house of Dr. McKnight, where the Chief was
quartered, and where the dinner was probably given. If Smith is to be believed, he and Colonel Hay
dined with General Knox that day at " Dr. McKnight's, where General Scott also lived."
After supper, he says, Washington came out and stayed a few moments with them.
3 The old abutments were visible until the recent raising of Croton Dam increased the depth of water.
* Dykman.
6 Marked S on the map.
• Jesse Thorne to his grandson, Rev. C. C. Thorne, of Windham, N. Y., who is my informant.
T That inquiry was fatal. Had he taken the Chappaqua road he would almost certainly have reached the
British lines.
8 This spur, of silver, was in 18S2 preserved in Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh.
» The road shown in the centre, ascending the hill.
( The Outside.) ( The Dining Room Side.)
THE UNDERIIILL HOUSE, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS.
The Andre Door.
THE THORNE HOUSE, NEAR CHAPPAQUA, N. Y.
( Andre came by the " Hog H i l l " Road, which is not shown. That in front is the Chappaqua Road,
and Kipp Street is seen ascending the hill.)
SERGEANT SYLVANUS BRUNDAGE'S HOUSE, PLEASANTVH, I. E.
* 5
At the house1 in Pleasantville then occupied by Sylvanus Brundage, and now by
his grandson, William H. Brundage, on this road, he stopped to water his horse
at the spring opposite the house. Brundage, himself a soldier, of the Second— or
Middle— regiment of Westchester militia ( Colonel Thomas) was then at home. 8
Some words were exchanged between them, and the traveller went on. Con­tinuing
on he reached the old Bedford road, and passed down it to Rossell's— now
Mekeel's— Corners. 3 Here he turned to the left. At a point about a mile
further, the road descends to the little valley where the Nepperhan4 river, here a
mere brook, is crossed, and feeds the pond for the sawmill still existing and known
as Hammond's. To his left, on a slight eminence, stood the dwelling of Staats
Hammond, 5 the miller. Here, for the second time that morning, the fugitive
unwittingly met a patriot soldier. Hammond was a sergeant in the First West­chester,
and had been wounded through the left leg in an encounter near Sing
Sing, June 17, 1779.6 The unhealed wound still disabled him and he was lying
on the floor in his house. 7
It was a beautiful September day when I visited the scene. Hammond's
house disappeared long ago, but that lately occupied by Floyd Powell stands on
the same site.
Riding quite close to the well, where stood David and Sally Hammond,
fourteen and twelve years old, the stranger asked for a drink. Sally filled a cup
or bowl and handed it to him, while David held the horse and noticed the hand­some
double- snaffle bridle, and the mane full of burrs. Andre remarked on the
excellence of the water, 8 gave Sally a sixpence, which was treasured for many
years afterwards, and then asked David9 about the distance to Tarrytown and the
likelihood of meeting a Whig force at Young's tavern, about a mile further on.
The boy told him there was a party of scouts there. Alarmed at this, he turned
his horse and retraced his journey as far as Mekeel's Corners. Here he continued
over the old Bedford road, on to Tarrytown Heights to the old Albany Post road,
which he followed to Tarrytown.
Here Fate awaited him, and the consequences of the night's delay at
Miller's house, and his fear of the party at Young's tavern were to deliver him
into the hands of his enemies. Had he gone on, towards Dobbs' Ferry, past
1 Marked 9 on the map.
2 The term of service of many of the militia had expired the previous June.
3 Marked 10 on the map. John Mekeel was a first lieutenant in the Third Westchester militia.
* Spelled also Nepperau, but generally known by the barbaric name of Sawmill.
5 Marked 11 on the map.
< i Howe was there in July — possibly " June " should be July.
% Through the window he had a glimpse of the rider, and afterwards expressed distrust of him on account of his
being muffled to the chin in his cloak.— David Hammond in 184J.
8 The " Andre well" still furnishes excellent water. In the illustration it is not shown, but is directly on a line
with the left end of the house.
9 Mrs. Hammond, according to Campbell.
David lived until 1853, and to the end clearly recalled the scene.
26
Young's tavern, which was doubtless the route Arnold laid out for him, or had he
been but an hour and a half earlier, all would have been well with him, for the
road was then free. At this point I would digress a moment, to consider the state
of that part of Westchester County— its greater part— then known as the Neutral
Ground, from not being permanently occupied by either army. Strictly speaking,
the Neutral Ground was all below the Croton river, but the frequent British
forays beyond that line rendered its actual extent indefinite. Dr. James Thacher, 1
surgeon of the Sixteenth Massachusetts, whose Military Journal is so full of
valuable details of the period, was present with his regiment during November,
1780, when a large detachment of Washington's army, under Stark, crossed the
Hudson and moved down through the county as far as West Farms, only eight
miles from King's Bridge, and endeavored to draw the British into a general
engagement. 2 He thus graphically describes the region and inhabitants :
'' The miserable inhabitants are not much favored with the privileges which their
neutrality ought to secure to them. They are continually exposed to the ravages and
insults of infamous banditti, composed of royal refugees and Tories. The country is rich
and fertile, but now has the marks of a country in ruins. The few farmers who remain
find it impossible to harvest the produce. The meadows and pastures are covered with
grass of a summer's growth, and thousands of bushels of apples and other fruit are rotting
in the orchards. Some on either side have taken up arms, and become the most cruel and
deadly foes. There are within the British lines, banditti of lawless villains who devote
themselves to the most cruel pillage and robbery among the defenceless inhabitants
between the lines; many of whom they carry off to New York after plundering their
houses and farms. These shameful marauders have received the names of Cowboys and
Skinners. By their atrocious deeds they have become a scourge and terror to the people.''
Rev. Timothy Dwight, of New Haven, who was Chaplain to General
Silliman's Connecticut Brigade^—- the First— in 1778- 9, and afterwards President
of Yale College, has left a still more distressing description of the same region :
'' These unhappy people were exposed to the depredations of both armies. Often
they were actually plundered, and always were liable to this calamity. They feared
everybody whom they saw, and loved nobody. Fear was apparently the only passion by
which they were animated. The power of volition seemed to have deserted them. They
yielded, with a kind of apathy, what you asked and what they supposed it impossible for
them. to retain. Their houses were in a great measure scenes of desolation, and their
furniture was extensively plundered or broken to pieces. The walls, floors and windows
were injured both by violence and decay, and were not repaired, because they had not
the means and because they were exposed to the repetition of the same injuries. Their
cattle were gone, their enclosures were burnt where they were capable of becoming fuel,
and thrown down where they were not. Their fields were covered with a rank growth of
1 James Thacher was born in Barnstable, Mass., February 4, 1754, and died in Plymouth, May 24, 1844.
He entered the army in 1775, and served throughout the war, successively as surgeon of the First Virginia and
the Sixteenth Massachusetts. He was prominent professionally and socially throughout his life after the
end of the war, and exerted a marked influence for good on the community in which he dwelt.
i Under pretext of a foraging expedition, this force was intended by the Commander in Chief to co- operate with
the main army in an attack against the Enemy's post on ( New) York Island. By some cause, known only
to the Chief, this enterprise was unfortunately defeated.— Thacher.
THE ROADSIDE SPRING, OPPOSITE THE SYLVANTJS BRUNDAGE HOUSE, PLEASANTVIIXE.
STAATS HAMMOND'S HOUSE, PLEASANTVIIXB.
27
weeds and wild grass. Their world was motionless and silent, except when one of these
unhappy people went upon a rare and lonely excursion to the house of a neighbor no less
unhappy, or a scouting party alarmed the inhabitants with expectations of new injuries
and sufferings. The very tracks of the carriage roads were obliterated by disuse, and
when discernable resembled the faint impressions of chariot wheels said to be left on the
pavements of Herculaneum. The grass was of full height for the scythe, and strongly
realized to my own mind, for the first time, the proper import of that picturesque allusion
in the Song of Deborah : ' In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jael,
the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through by- ways. The inhab­itants
of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel.' " { Judges V., 6, 7.)
It was through, this very region, and among a people thus harried and ruined
that Clinton's Adjutant- General was now making his way— and it was to the
recent brutalities of a party of Cowboys that he was indirectly to owe his
capture, within an hour of the time he left Hammond's house.
At about one o'clock in the afternoon of the previous day— Friday, the
twenty- second— John Dean, John Paulding, James Romer, Isaac See, Isaac Van
Wart, Abraham Williams and John Yerks, 1 all young men, 2 left Salem on a
" scout" or errand of more or less independent and irregular warfare, having for its
object the capture of any Cowboys or others who might drive cattle towards New
York. As they passed the house of Joseph Benedict, where David Williams was at
work, he recognized them, asked their errand and volunteered to join them. His
personal aim was to revenge the death of a neighbor named Pelham, killed by Cow­boys
the day before, and his property stolen. All of Yerks' party were militiamen, 8
and had secured, through Paulding, leave of absence from their officers to take part
in the scout. Sleeping that night in John Andrews' hay barn at Pleasantville, 4
they reached Tarry town Saturday morning, at about half- past seven, and went to
the house of Jacob Romer, father of James, which has now disappeared. It stood
close to the present reservoir, near the Tarrytown station of the New York and
Putnam road. Here they had breakfast, and Mrs. Romer put up dinner for them
in a basket. 6 They went next to Isaac Reed's house, borrowed a pack of playing
1 Yerks originated the scout, having proposed it to Paulding.
2 David Williams, the oldest, was not quite twenty- three. Van Wart and Paulding were cousins; also, apparently,
Romer and Paulding. Yerks was a cousin of Dean's on his mother's side.
To Williams, more than anyone else, history is indebted for many minute details about the capture and the
events immediately preceding it. He only it is that has given the particulars about the party of Cowboys
of which Boyd, Foote and— later— Jameson and Washington himself, were apprehensive. He says the
band had raided Pound ridge ( the easternmost town in the county, lying next to Connecticut) the night
before his party started ( Thursday the twenty- first) and that they were led by a noted Tory named Smith.
Tory Smiths were numerous, and three were noted bandits— Claudius, of Orange County, the greatest
villain of the three, had been hanged in 1778, and a second's head was cut off, in Schoharie County, by
infuriated Whigs in 1779, so the son of Claudius, Richard, is the one probably meant. While they were
on Pelham's farm, driving off his live- stock, the unfortunate owner had run out in his nightshirt to save
his horse, when the ruffians killed him.
What a graphic picture of a midnight foray on a defenceless homestead in the Neutral Ground this brief
statement gives!
8 The First Westchester.
4 Paulding says Pleasantville; Williams, Salem. It was a few yards from the present Methodist church at
Pleasantville.
5 The pewter basin accompanying it is now in the possession of Colonel J. C. L. Hamilton, of Elmsford, N. Y.
28
cards, and then proceeded to the spot where the business of the day might be
looked for— the two roads leading to New York. Here they separated into two
squads. Paulding, David Williams and Van Wart were posted on what was
known as the old Post Road, near where stood an enormous white- wood or tulip
tree, 1 just south of the little stream then known as Clark's Kill, but ever since as
Andre Brook, Just opposite was afterwards built St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
( The old Bedford road at that time came into the Post road at that point.) The
other five were to watch the old Bedford road on Davis' Hill. 2 The two were
not far apart, and it was agreed that either party needing aid should fire a gun,
and that any plunder taken should be shared equally by all. While they are
waiting, we may consider the epithets of " marauders," " banditti," etc., after­wards
applied to them, and the irregularity which some have insisted attended
their action and nullified their patriotism. Certainly they were not an organized
body, detached by superior authority for a definite military expedition. But all
were militia accustomed to active service— Dean, David Williams and Paulding
particularly so. Paulding had been twice a prisoner in British hands8 in New
York. The party was actually under the direction of one of their number who
was a veteran, not only of militia service, but of the Canada expedition of 1775.
There he had endured great hardships, and left behind him an elder soldier-brother,
entombed in the tremendous snowdrifts of the Plains of Abraham. He
alone of the party was not a private, being at the time a sergeant in the First
Westchester, and was later promoted and commissioned as ensign. I refer to
John Dean, 4 to whose methodical disposition of the party
^ - 7 / Cf) c> a/ n ^ s s u c c e s s w a s probably largely due, yet whose modesty
0/ prevented his receiving a just share of the praise bestowed
on the three known to history. 6 To return to our story—
they, whom Fortune was to favor that day, had the pack of cards, and drew lots to
see who should watch while the others played. Van Wart lost, and took his place
by the roadside, 6 at about eight o'clock. None but persons whom he knew passed
until about half- past nine, when the sound of horse hoofs was heard on the bridge
1 Liriodcndron. It was 112- feet high, and stood, a noted landmark, until July 31, 1801, when destroyed by
lightning, A coincidence was that on the same day the news reached Tarrytown of Arnold's death in
London. The spot is marked 12 on the map.
- It is a curious fact that on Tarrytown Heights Andrfi rode past those who were watching the Bedford road
from Davis' Hill, without being seen by them.— Judge J. 0. Dykman, in a note to the author.
s He says the first time he was confined in the Sugar House, and the second in the North Dutch Church.
* That he was recognized as the leader appears from Jameson's question. See post,
B John Dean was born September is, 1755, and died in Tarrytown April 4, 1817. After his service in Canada,
as noticed, he was in the militia almost constantly until the end of the Revolution. In most of the
encounters between the patriots and their enemies, whether British regulars, their Tory allies, or the
Cowboys, he bore a prominent part, and his death was directly due to an injury received in a skirmish at
, _ King's Bridge in 1781.
His entire life after the close of hostilities was spent in Tarrytown, where his descendants still reside, and
where his name appears amongst those of his companions in arms of the Neutral Ground, on the monument
erected in 1894 to the memory of the soldiers of the Revolution.
* Williams says all sat down.
* * • < * * : • :
MEKEEI.' S CORKERS, PLEASANTVILLE.
Here Andre mistook his way, taking the right- hand road.
29
spanning the | kill." 1 The rider was intently scanning a small map, though his
animal was galloping. 2 On this, either Van Wart or Williams said, " Here
comes a gentleman- like looking man, who appears well- dressed, and whom you had
better step out and stop, if you don't know him." 8 Paulding did so, presenting
his musket at the rider's breast. 4 " I asked him which way he was going."
" My lads," he replied, " I hope you belong to our party." 8 " What party?"
" The lower." 6 " We do— my dress shows that," artfully said Paulding, who
wore the uniform coat, green, faced with red, of a German J'ager. This dress
naturally helped to deceive Andre. 7 As a matter of fact, Paulding had but a few
days before escaped from a British prison— the North Dutch church, Fulton
Street— in New York, and by the friendly keeper of a livery stable had been
furnished with the coat, to help him pass the King's Bridge outposts. 8 The
horseman, now addressing the group collectively, said: " I am a British officer,
have been up the country on particular business, and would not wish to be
detained a minute"— and to prove his claim to be an officer, took out his gold
watch. 9 " Upon this, I told him to dismount, 10 and we told him we were
Americans." 11 At this the stranger started, changed color, and " fetched a deep
sigh." 11 " God bless my soul," he exclaimed, " a body must do anything to get
along uow- a- days," 11 and produced Arnold's pass. Paulding, who alone of the
three could read or write, read it. " You had best let me go, or you will bring
yourselves into trouble, for your stopping me will detain General Arnold's
business: I am going to Dobbs' Ferry, to meet a person there and get information
for him," said the rider, whom Van Wart afterwards accurately described as " a
light, trim- built man of a bold military countenance, and with dark eyes." The
party hesitated— Arnold's pass was undoubtedly genuine, and his authority
1 Van Wart.
3 Williams. Van Wart says be was riding slowly, whicli seems more likely. Both may be right, for he may
have checked the animal just as he crossed the bridge. As he was halted he thrust the map ( which
Arnold or Smith had given aim) into his off boot- leg.
8 Paulding.
4 Van Wart says all three presented their guns.
* Williams.
6 Andrews fatal question has been the wonder of all historians. With the pass in his pocket which had brought
him safely through so many dangers, he made his crowning blunder.
The suddenness of the surprise seemed to deprive him of his wonted presence of mind.— Jones.
Instead of producing Arnold's pass, which would have extricated him from our parties, and could have done
him no harm with his own, he asked the men if they were of the " upper" or " lower" party.— Hamilton.
With a want of self- possession so difficult to be accounted for in a mind equally brave and intelligent that it
would almost seem Providential, instead of producing the pass from Arnold, he asked the man ( Williams)
where he belonged.— Marshall.
I General Van Cortland says Andre! exclaimed: " Thank God ! I am once more among friends." The buttons
of this coat were long preserved at the Van Cortland manor house at Croton.
8 Xhe " fierce spirit of liberty" which the British acknowledged actuated the people of New England, was
found also in the devastated Neutral Ground. Twice a prisoner, yet in arms again as soon as he escaped,
is a typical record of a young militiaman.
• He carried two, one of silver.
io Paulding.
II Van Wart.
3°
extended to Tarrytown. 1 Once more Andre's fate hung in the balance, 2 but he
had just avowed himself a British officer, 8 displaying as a proof a gold watch, an
article possessed by but very few Americans at the time— and Paulding, the
master spirit of the three, whose acquaintance with British officers was recent and
probably painful, was not satisfied, and said, doubtfully, " I hope you will not be
offended, we do not mean to take anything from you, but there are many bad
people on the road, and I don't know but you may be one. What is your
name?" " John Anderson," was the reply. 4 Still unsatisfied, Paulding told him
he must dismount and accompany them into the thicket, where they would be out
of sight of passers- by. 6 This was done, Williams bringing up the rear and
replacing the fence rails behind them. 6 Paulding told Williams to search him,
which was done, and even his outer clothing removed, but to no purpose. Then
he was told to sit down and take off his boots, " which," naively adds Williams,
" he seemed to be indifferent about, but we got one off and found nothing in it."
Van Wart says: " We found his stocking sagged a little, and, taking it off, found
three unsealed letters within. Paulding hastily read them, and exclaimed, ' He ' s
a spy!'"
Williams continues: " We found three more papers in the other stocking,
then made him dress himself, and I asked him what he would give us to let him
go." 7 " Any sum you want," was the prompt reply— if money could save him,
the fugitive had no fear of the result. " A hundred guineas, with the horse,
saddle, bridle and your watch?" queried Williams. " Yes, and the money shall
be sent here if you want." " Will you not give more ?" pursued the relentless
1 As Sheldon's regiment, on duty as low as White Plains, was under Arnold, I infer that his authority extended
to Tarrytown. Yet on August 3, Washington, in appointing him commander at West Point, made out his
notice: " West Point and its dependencies, in which all are included, from Fishkill to King's Perry."
Possibly this refers only to the fortifications.
' We were about allowing him to pass, and he was reining his horse into the road, when Paulding exclaimed, in
an undertone, " D n him! 1 don't like his looks."— Williams,
8 " I would have let him go, had he shown his pass before he said he was a British officer," Paulding afterwards
admitted.
A curious story may be found in the " Life and Observations of Rev. B. F. Newell" ( C. W. Ainsworth,
Worcester, Mass., 1849,) t 0 *- his effect: In 1799 he was told by Rev. Duncan McColl, a well- known
Methodist clergyman, in Connecticut, and an associate of Rev. Jesse Lee, the founder of New England
Methodism, that during the Revolution he was employed as a clerk by the British " field- officers " ( Head­quarters?)
and in such capacity was aboard the Vulture when she lay in the Hudson awaiting the return
of Andre, " who bad gone ashore to ascertain whether Burgoyne had reached Albany, and to secure
information about the American troops." That he ( being then recently converted) desired to prevent
further hostilities and, with another man on the Vulture ( whose name he did not give), prayed to that
effect— and that the two believed Andre's capture was an answer to their prayers.
The story comes so directly that it may receive more consideration than it would otherwise, considering the
variance in time between Burgoyne's campaign ( 1777) and Arnold's treason.
6 A singular circumstance is that on July 4, 1807, at the '' Old South " Theatre, Philadelphia, a play concerning
Andre1 was produced, in the course of which was used a drop scene which he had painted for the theatre
used by the officers of Howe's army during the occupation o