Part 37 (1/2)
The doc.u.ments which he took, being in Arnold's handwriting and unmistakable in their purport, were such as to put him in Clinton's power, and compel him, for the sake of his own safety, to perform his part of the contract. Andre intended, before getting into the boat, to tie up these papers in a bundle loaded with a stone, to be dropped into the water in case of a sudden challenge; but in the mean time he put them where they could not so easily be got rid of, between his stockings and the soles of his feet. Arnold furnished the requisite pa.s.ses for Smith and Andre to go either by boat or by land, and, having thus apparently provided for all contingencies, took leave before noon, and returned in his barge to his headquarters, ten miles up the stream. As evening approached, Smith, who seems to have been a man of unsteady nerves, refused to take Andre out to the Vulture. He had been alarmed by the firing in the morning, and feared there would be more risk in trying to reach the s.h.i.+p than in travelling down to the British lines by land, and he promised to ride all night with Andre if he would go that way.
The young officer reluctantly consented, and partially disguised himself in some of Smith's clothes. At sundown the two crossed the river at King's Ferry, and pursued their journey on horseback toward White Plains.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FACSIMILE OF ARNOLD'S Pa.s.s TO ANDRe]
[Sidenote: The roads infested by robbers]
The roads east of the Hudson, between the British and the American lines, were at this time infested by robbers, who committed their depredations under pretence of keeping up a partisan warfare. There were two sets of these scapegraces,--the ”Cowboys,” or cattle-thieves, and the ”Skinners,” who took everything they could find. These epithets, however, referred to the political complexion they chose to a.s.sume, rather than to any difference in their evil practices. The Skinners professed to be Whigs, and the Cowboys called themselves Tories; but in point of fact the two parties were alike political enemies to any farmer or wayfarer whose unprotected situation offered a prospect of booty; and though murder was not often committed, n.o.body's property was safe. It was a striking instance of the demoralization wrought in a highly civilized part of the country through its having so long continued to be the actual seat of war. Rumours that the Cowboys were out in force made Smith afraid to continue the journey by night, and the impatient Andre was thus obliged to stop at a farmhouse with his timid companion. Rising before dawn, they kept on until they reached the Croton river, which marked the upper boundary of the neutral ground between the British and the American lines. Smith's instructions had been, in case of adopting the land route, not to leave his charge before reaching White Plains; but he now became uneasy to return, and Andre, who was beginning to consider himself out of danger, was perhaps not unwilling to part with a comrade who annoyed him by his loquacious and inquisitive disposition.
So Smith made his way back to headquarters, and informed Arnold that he had escorted ”Mr. Anderson” within a few miles of the British lines, which he must doubtless by this time have reached in safety.
[Portrait: John Paulding]
[Ill.u.s.tration: FACSIMILE OF ONE OF THE PAPERS FOUND IN ANDRe'S STOCKINGS]
[Sidenote: Arrest of Andre, Sept. 23]
[Sidenote: Colonel Jameson's perplexity]
Meanwhile, Andre, left to himself, struck into the road which led through Tarrytown, expecting to meet no worse enemies than Cowboys, who would either respect a British officer, or, if bent on plunder, might be satisfied by his money and watch. But it happened that morning that a party of seven young men had come out to intercept some Cowboys who were expected up the road; and about nine o'clock, as Andre was approaching the creek above Tarrytown, a short distance from the far-famed Sleepy Hollow, he was suddenly confronted by three of this party, who sprang from the bushes and, with levelled muskets, ordered him to halt. These men had let several persons, with whose faces they were familiar, pa.s.s unquestioned; and if Smith, who was known to almost every one in that neighbourhood, had been with Andre, they too would doubtless have been allowed to pa.s.s. Andre was stopped because he was a stranger. One of these men happened to have on the coat of a Hessian soldier. Held by the belief that they must be Cowboys, or members of what was sometimes euphemistically termed the ”lower party,” Andre expressed a hope that such was the case; and on being a.s.sured that it was so, his caution deserted him, and, with that sudden sense of relief which is apt to come after unwonted and prolonged constraint, he avowed himself a British officer, travelling on business of great importance. To his dismay, he now learned his mistake. John Paulding, the man in the Hessian coat, informed him that they were Americans, and ordered him to dismount.
When he now showed them Arnold's pa.s.s they disregarded it, and insisted upon searching him, until presently the six papers were discovered where he had hidden them. ”By G.o.d, he is a spy!” exclaimed Paulding, as he looked over the papers. Threats and promises were of no avail. The young men, who were not to be bought or cajoled, took their prisoner twelve miles up the river, and delivered him into the hands of Colonel John Jameson, a Virginian officer, who commanded a cavalry outpost at North Castle. When Jameson looked over the papers, they seemed to him very extraordinary doc.u.ments to be travelling toward New York in the stockings of a stranger who could give no satisfactory account of himself. But so far from his suspecting Arnold of any complicity in the matter, he could think of nothing better than to send the prisoner straightway to Arnold himself, together with a brief letter in which he related what had happened. To the honest Jameson it seemed that this must be some foul ruse of the enemy, some device for stirring up suspicion in the camp,--something, at any rate, which could not too quickly be brought to his general's notice. But the doc.u.ments themselves he prudently sent by an express-rider to Was.h.i.+ngton, accompanying them with a similar letter of explanation. Andre, in charge of a military guard, had already proceeded some distance toward West Point when Jameson's second in command, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, came in from some errand on which he had been engaged. On hearing what had happened, Tallmadge suspected that all was not right with Arnold, and insisted that Andre and the letter should be recalled. After a hurried discussion, Jameson sent out a party which brought Andre back; but he still thought it his duty to inform Arnold, and so the letter which saved the traitor's life was allowed to proceed on its way.
[Portrait: Le duc de la Luzerne]
[Ill.u.s.tration: BEVERLY ROBINSON'S HOUSE]
[Sidenote: Was.h.i.+ngton returns from Hartford sooner than expected]
Now, if Was.h.i.+ngton had returned from Hartford by the route which it was supposed he would take, through Danbury and Peekskill, Arnold would not even thus have been saved. For some reason Was.h.i.+ngton returned two or three days sooner than had been expected; and, moreover, he chose a more northerly route, through Farmington and Litchfield, so that the messenger failed to meet him. It was on the evening of Sat.u.r.day, the 23d, that Jameson's two letters started. On Sunday afternoon Was.h.i.+ngton arrived at Fishkill, eighteen miles above West Point, and was just starting down the river road when he met Luzerne, the French minister, who was on his way to consult with Rochambeau. Wis.h.i.+ng to have a talk with this gentleman, Was.h.i.+ngton turned back to the nearest inn, where they sat down to supper and chatted, all unconsciously, with the very Joshua Smith from whom Andre had parted at the Croton river on the morning of the day before. Word was sent to Arnold to expect the commander-in-chief and his suite to breakfast the next morning, and before daybreak of Monday they were galloping down the wooded road. As they approached the confiscated country house of the loyalist Beverly Robinson, where Arnold had his headquarters, opposite West Point, Was.h.i.+ngton turned his horse down toward the river, whereat Lafayette reminded him that they were late already, and ought not to keep Mrs.
Arnold waiting. ”Ah, marquis,” said Was.h.i.+ngton, laughing, ”I know you young men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold: go and get your breakfast, and tell her not to wait for me.” Lafayette did not adopt the suggestion. He accompanied Was.h.i.+ngton and Knox while they rode down to examine some redoubts. Hamilton and the rest of the party kept on to the house, and sat down to breakfast in its cheerful wainscoted dining-room, with Arnold and his wife and several of his officers.
[Ill.u.s.tration: STAIRCASE IN ROBINSON'S HOUSE]
[Sidenote: Flight of Arnold, Sept. 25]
As they sat at table, a courier entered, and handed to Arnold the letter in which Colonel Jameson informed him that one John Anderson had been taken with compromising doc.u.ments in his possession, which had been forwarded to the commander-in-chief. With astonis.h.i.+ng presence of mind, Arnold folded the letter and put it in his pocket, finished the remark which had been on his lips when the courier entered, and then, rising, said that he was suddenly called across the river to West Point, but would return to meet Was.h.i.+ngton without delay; and he ordered his barge to be manned. None of the officers observed anything unusual in his manner, but the quick eye of his wife detected something wrong, and as he left the room she excused herself and hurried after him. Going up to their bedroom, he told her that he was a ruined man and must fly for his life; and as she screamed and fainted in his arms, he laid her upon the bed, called in the maid to attend her, stooped to kiss his baby boy who was sleeping in the cradle, rushed down to the yard, leaped on a horse that was standing there, and galloped down a by-path to his barge. It had promptly occurred to his quick mind that the Vulture would still be waiting for Andre some miles down stream, and he told the oarsmen to row him thither without delay, as he must get back soon to meet Was.h.i.+ngton.
A brisk row of eighteen miles brought them to the Vulture, whose commander was still wondering why Andre did not come back. From the cabin of the Vulture Arnold sent a letter to Was.h.i.+ngton, a.s.suring him of Mrs. Arnold's innocence, and begging that she might be allowed to return to her family in Philadelphia, or come to her husband, as she might choose. Then the ill-omened s.h.i.+p weighed anchor, and reached New York next morning.
[Portrait: MRS. BENEDICT ARNOLD AND CHILD]
[Sidenote: Discovery of the treasonable plot]
Meanwhile, about noonday Was.h.i.+ngton came in for his breakfast, and, hearing that Arnold had crossed the river to West Point, soon hurried off to meet him there, followed by all his suite except Hamilton. As they were ferried across, no salute of cannon greeted them, and on landing they learned with astonishment that Arnold had not been there that morning; but no one as yet had a glimmer of suspicion. When they returned to Robinson's house, about two o'clock, they found Hamilton walking up and down before the door in great excitement. Jameson's courier had arrived, with the letters for Was.h.i.+ngton, which Hamilton had just opened and read. The commander and his aide went into the house, and together examined the papers, which, taken in connection with the traitor's flight, but too plainly told the story. From Mrs. Arnold, who was in hysterics, Was.h.i.+ngton could learn nothing. He privately sent Hamilton and another aide in pursuit of the fugitive; and coming out to meet Lafayette and Knox, his voice choking and tears rolling down his cheeks, he exclaimed, ”Arnold is a traitor, and has fled to the Britis.h.!.+
Whom can we trust now?” In a moment, however, he had regained his wonted composure. It was no time for giving way to emotion. It was as yet impossible to tell how far the scheme might have extended. Even now the enemy's fleet might be ascending the river (as but for Andre's capture it doubtless would have been doing that day), and an attack might be made before the morrow. Riding anxiously about the works, Was.h.i.+ngton soon detected the treacherous arrangements that had been made, and by seven in the evening he had done much to correct them and to make ready for an attack. As he was taking supper in the room which Arnold had so hastily quitted in the morning, the traitor's letter from the Vulture was handed him. ”Go to Mrs. Arnold,” said he quietly to one of his officers, ”and tell her that though my duty required no means should be neglected to arrest General Arnold, I have great pleasure in acquainting _her_ that he is now safe on board a British vessel.”
[Sidenote: Andre taken to Tappan, Sept. 28]
But while the princ.i.p.al criminal was safe it was far otherwise with the agent who had been employed in this perilous business. On Sunday, from his room in Jameson's quarters, Andre had written a letter to Was.h.i.+ngton, pathetic in its frank simplicity, declaring his position in the British army, and telling his story without any attempt at evasion.
From the first there could be no doubt as to the nature of his case, yet Andre for the moment did not fully comprehend it. On Thursday, the 28th, he was taken across the river to Tappan, where the main army was encamped. His escort, Major Tallmadge, was a graduate of Yale College and a cla.s.smate of Nathan Hale, whom General Howe had hanged as a spy four years before. Tallmadge had begun to feel a warm interest in Andre, and as they rode their horses side by side into Tappan, when his prisoner asked how his case would probably be regarded, Tallmadge's countenance fell, and it was not until the question had been twice repeated that he replied by a gentle allusion to the fate of his lamented cla.s.smate. ”But surely,” said poor Andre, ”you do not consider his case and mine alike!” ”They are precisely similar,” answered Tallmadge gravely, ”and similar will be your fate.”
[Portrait: Benj'^{n}. Tallmadge]