crossing the river at the King's Ferry, thence to make his way on horseback, with a guide. He was also induced to take charge of divers papers in the handwriting, though without the signature, of Arnold, explaining the state of the works at West Point, and indicating the scheme for its surrender; an imprudence the more signal since, as Sir Henry Clinton declares in his Memoirs, both Arnold and André must have known that these papers were not wanted for his information.

Without any mischance, André succeeded in passing the American lines, and was again on neutral ground, when on approaching the village of Tarrytown, three Militiamen, who were playing at cards near the roadside, sprung upon and seized his horse. In the first moments of surprise, André avowed himself to be a British officer; upon which, disregarding his pass, and proceeding to search his person, they found the secret papers concealed within his boots. They rejected the offer of his watch and money, and of a larger present from New York if they would let him go, and they took him with his papers before Lieutenant-Colonel Jameson, who commanded their nearest military post. The Colonel, as Washington said afterwards, appears to have shown "egregious folly."* He formed no suspicion of Arnold, although he read the papers, and although, as is alleged, he knew the handwriting. He decided upon detaining André as a prisoner, and forwarding the papers to Washington; but at the same time wrote to Arnold a full account of the whole transaction. Thus Arnold would become apprised that his treachery was on the eve of detection; since the papers were on their way to Washington, and since Washington, at all events, was well acquainted with the hand.

The house in which General Arnold had fixed his residence, Robinson's House by name, was not within the lines of West Point, but on the opposite or eastern bank of the Hudson, and two or three miles lower down the stream. There, on the morning of the 25th, Arnold was expecting a visit from the Commander-in-Chief on his return from Hartford. Washington was delayed by

* Writings, vol. vii. p. 256.

1780.

ARNOLD MAKES HIS ESCAPE.

63

the examination of some redoubts; but he sent forward his two Aides-de-camp, with whom, and with his own Staff, Arnold sat down to breakfast. They were still at table when an express arrived bringing the letter from Jameson to Arnold. It was opened and read by Arnold in presence of his guests; and so great was his selfcommand, that he was enabled to conceal from them the vehement emotions which it caused. He requested the Aides-de-camp to inform General Washington, whenever he came, that he had been unexpectedly called over the river by some sudden business at West Point. He ordered a horse to be got ready; and then leaving the table hastily, went up to his wife's chamber. With the

brevity required of one whose very minutes might be numbered, he told her that they must instantly part, perhaps to meet no more, and that his life depended on his reaching the British ranks without detection. Struck with horror, the unhappy lady swooned away. In that state he left her, as indeed he had no other choice; hurried down stairs; sprung upon the horse, which he found saddled at the door; and rode full speed to the river's bank. There he entered a boat, and bid the oarsmen push out to the middle of the stream. Next displaying a white handkerchief, he told them that he was going on board the Vulture with a flag of truce. To the Vulture they rowed accordingly; unmolested, since the white emblem was discerned, by any fire from the American lines. When they reached the English ship, Arnold made himself known to the Captain, and was conveyed by him in perfect safety to New York. Notwithstanding the utter disappointment of all the hopes which he had raised, he was appointed a Colonel in the British service with the local rank of MajorGeneral. He also received a payment of upwards of 6,000l. in compensation for the losses which he alleged himself to have sustained. Shortly after his arrival, he published an Address to the Inhabitants of America, and next a Proclamation to the Continental troops, alleging public grounds for his desertion, and exhorting them to follow his example.*

The details of André's capture, and of Arnold's escape (as also

Very shortly after the headlong flight of Arnold, General Washington arrived at his house. He had not yet received the papers, nor formed the slightest suspicion of the plot. On being told that Arnold had been called over to West Point, he decided not to wait, but to follow. He embarked accordingly, attended by all his officers, except Colonel Hamilton, who remained within doors. As the whole party were seated in the barge, moving smoothly, with the majestic scenery of the Highlands round them, Washington said, "Well, Gentlemen, "I am glad, on the whole, that General Arnold has "gone before us; for we shall now have a salute, and "the roaring of the cannon will have a fine effect among "the mountains." Yet, as they drew nearer and nearer to the beach, they heard no sound, they saw no sign, of welcome. "What!" said Washington, "do they not "intend to salute us?" Just then an officer was observed wending his way down among the rocks. He met the barge as it touched the shore; and on perceiving the Commander-in-Chief, asked pardon for his seeming neglect, since, as he said, he was taken wholly by surprise. "How is this, Sir?" inquired Washington, no less astonished, "is not General Arnold here?" "No, Sir," replied the officer; "he has not been here these two days, nor have I heard from him within that time.""This is extraordinary," Washington rejoined. "Since, however, we are come, although unexpectedly, we must look round a little, and see in what state things are with you." So saying, he proceeded to examine the works.

66

66

66

66

During the absence of Washington at West Point, there arrived for him, at Arnold's house, the despatch of Colonel Jameson; it was opened by Colonel Hamilton. No sooner, then, did Washington, when his inspection was concluded, return across the river, than he was eagerly drawn aside by Hamilton, and the evidence or

many of the following), are derived from Mr. Sparks's careful and judicious Life of Arnold (pp. 192-242.). He had the advantage of perusing, while in England, Sir Henry Clinton's detailed despatches on the subject, at the State Paper Office. Another narrative by Sir Henry, extracted from his MS. Memoirs, will be found in my Appendix.

1780.

THE PLOT OF ARNOLD DISCOVERED.

65

Arnold's plot laid before him. The calmness and equanimity of Washington were now, as usual with him in all emergencies, displayed. To no one in his train, except to La Fayette and Knox, did he that day impart the painful news. His only remark was to La Fayette: "Whom can we trust now?" And when dinner was shortly afterwards announced, he said to the other officers, without the smallest change in his demeanour, Come, Gentlemen, since Mrs. Arnold is unwell " and the General is absent, let us sit down without "ceremony."

66

66

66

Arnold, when on board the Vulture, had sent back a flag of truce, with a letter to Washington. In this he asserted that he had " a heart conscious of its rectitude' in the step which he had taken, and for the wife whom he had left, he solicited the General's pity and protection. He declared her, with great feeling, to be "as good and as innocent as an angel, and incapable of doing wrong." At this very time, the poor lady was well nigh frantic with distress. Thus in a few sentences written next day, does Colonel Hamilton describe her state: "She, for a considerable time, entirely lost her"self. The General went up to see her, and she up"braided him with being in a plot to murder her child. "One moment she raved, another she melted into tears. "Sometimes she pressed her infant to her bosom and "lamented its fate, occasioned by the imprudence of its father, in a manner that would have pierced insensibility itself. All the sweetness of beauty, all the loveliness of innocence, all the tenderness of a wife, and all "the fondness of a mother, showed themselves in her 66 appearance and conduct. We have every reason to "believe that she was entirely unacquainted with the plan." It is only just to the Americans to add that — far unlike the Spaniards in some similar cases of late years - they did not, even when most flushed with their anger against Arnold, wreak it in any, even the smallest, act of injury or insult to his wife. She was allowed, ere the close of the year, to rejoin her husband at New York, and share his subsequent fortunes.

66

66

66

66

It was for Major André that their whole resentment was reserved. Soon after his arrest, that young officer

had written to Washington, frankly avowing his name and rank. By Washington's orders he was conveyed, in the first instance, to West Point, and next to the head-quarters of the army at Tappan, where his case was forthwith referred to a Court of Inquiry. That Court consisted of fourteen officers, all Americans, except Baron Steuben and the Marquis de La Fayette; their President was General Greene. Having assembled, the prisoner was brought before them and examined; but was not allowed the presence of any advocate, any witness, or any friend. Even under such depressing circumstances, it is owned by American writers, that he maintained throughout a manly, dignified, and respectful deportment, replied to every question promptly, showed no embarrassment, and sought no disguise. His main anxiety appeared to be to avoid endangering the safety, by disclosing the name, or relating the conduct, of any other person but himself. *

Of procrastination, at least, that Court of Inquiry cannot be accused. At the close of their first and only meeting, they reported it as their opinion that Major André ought to be considered as a spy, and, according to the law and usage of nations, to suffer death. On the Commander-in-Chief it now depended to confirm or to annul, to execute or to remit, their judgment. André himself received the news with unshaken firmness. At his request, he was permitted to write and send a letter to Sir Henry Clinton. That letter has been published. It expresses, in most affectionate and affecting terms, his gratitude for his General's many acts of kindness. And of himself it adds: "I am perfectly tranquil in "mind, and prepared for any fate to which an honest " zeal for my King's service may have devoted me."

Already, even some days before, Sir Henry, full of solicitude and concern for his young friend, had made an earnest appeal to General Washington for his release. He rested his demand on two grounds: first, that André had gone ashore from the Vulture with a flag of truce sent for him by Arnold; and secondly, that at the time of his arrest, he was under the protection of a pass,

* Life by Jared Sparks, Esq., p. 261.