of the plan to betray the General into the hands of the enemy. Arnold
was very anxious to ascertain from him the precise day of his return,
and the enemy’s movements seem to have corresponded to this point. But
if it was really the case it was very injudicious. The success must
have depended on surprise, and as the officers at the advanced posts
were not in the secret, their measures might have given the alarm, and
General Washington, taking the command of the post, might have rendered
the whole scheme abortive. Arnold it is true, had so dispersed the
garrison as to have made the defence difficult, but not impracticable;
and the acquisition of West Point was of such magnitude to the enemy,
that it would have been unwise to connect it with any other object,
however great, which might make the obtaining of it precarious.”
[43] There is preserved in the Library of Congress among the Washington
Papers, No. 20268, an interesting answer to this letter. It is in the
handwriting of Beverly Robinson, and reads: ‘Vulture off Tellers point,
Septr. 19, 1780. Sir. I am favoured with yours by Capt. Archibald and
am sorry I have missed the opportunity of seeing General Putnam, and
that it is not thought proper to allow me to see you, my business
being entirely of a private nature, only concerning my self & no ways
affecting publick matters of either side; I was induced to make the
application to you in hopes of meeting with a favorable reception from
a gentleman of your character. But I have not the least reason to
expect any civility from the Civil Authority of this State, neither
am I at all disposed to ask any favour from them. Had I known Genl.
Washington was with you I should certainly have made my application to
him as I flatter myself I should be allowed very reasonable indulgence
from him, I beg my best respects may be presented to him; I can
have nothing further to say to you at present, but must wait a more
favorable opportunity of doing something for my family. I return you my
thanks for your polite letter and Civil Expressions to me and am Your
verry Humble Servt. BEV: ROBINSON.”
[44] The excuse for this story was two intoxicated men with one gun.
They hung a shirt on the bushes which was mistaken for a flag; as the
boat approached they fired the gun as a warning to keep away.
ARNOLD AND ANDRÉ MEET
We now come to the evening of the 20th of September, 1780. Joshua
Hett Smith, returning from Fishkill, met Samuel Colquhoun[45] after
crossing the river near Stony Point, and asked him to accompany him
to his house. When they had ascended the stairs and were in Smith’s
private room he asked Colquhoun to go with him that night a piece down
the river. Colquhoun told Smith he had no mind to go, and did not want
to go, and Smith did not urge him. Then Smith told Colquhoun he must
send him up express to General Arnold, and they should go over to the
other house; but upon Colquhoun telling him again that he had no mind
to go Smith seemed to urge his going and said it was great business.
Colquhoun then agreed to go. They went over to the house of Smith’s
brother and there Colquhoun was furnished with a horse, and a paper to
Major Keirs[46] and started off to General Arnold.
The sun was rising when Colquhoun reached the headquarters of Arnold,
on the east bank of the Hudson River, below West Point. The General
was not up but he delivered the letter from Smith to a gentleman
there[47] and in a few minutes he was informed there was no occasion
for an answer. He was requested however to return as quickly as he
could. That afternoon Arnold passed him and rode to Smith’s house.
When Smith again hailed Colquhoun it was near sun down as he was going
for the cows. He told him to come up to his house as the General wanted
to speak with him. He found Arnold there and was asked by him to go a
piece that night. Colquhoun told him he could not go as he had been up
the night before, and he also told him he was afraid to go, but General
Arnold urged, and told him if he was a friend to his country he should
do his best. Colquhoun then asked Arnold where he wanted him to go and
was told on board the ship in the river. Smith told him there was a man
there the General wanted to see very much. Colquhoun then asked what
was the reason he could not stay till the morning and Arnold replied
that it must be done that night. Colquhoun’s next excuse was that he
could not go alone, and then Smith told him to go fetch his brother.
In a short time Colquhoun returned and reported that his wife objected
to his going and that the guard boats were out. Arnold told him there
was no danger from the guard boats and also that if he did not go he
would look upon him as a disaffected man. He then went for his brother
and when they returned they argued awhile before consenting to go. This
brother was Joseph Colquhoun, and he has left such a concise narrative
that much of it is here quoted.
“Mr. Smith, last Thursday night week, sent word to me to come
over to his house, and he wanted to speak to me. I went. When
I came there he met me at the door, and sat down on the bench
with me, and on asking him what was his desire, he said he
wanted me to go with him that night. On asking Mr. Smith where
he wanted to go, he said, ‘A little way down the river.’ On
asking him how far and where, he said ‘On board the man-of-war
as a flag, on business of General Arnold.’ I told him I was
sorry I was wanted for that purpose, and said, upon any other
thing I was willing to serve him or the General. Mr. Smith
asked me why, and said there was no hurt in going, as it was
general business. On asking him whether he did not think we
should be taken up by the water-guard, (meaning the Continental
water guard,) he said, No, for he had a Pass from the General
to go, and the countersign he said was ‘Congress,’ which, when
he came up he must give, and so pass. Mr. Smith made answer to
me and said, ‘Have you not always heard that I was a friend
to the country, and did that which was always best for the
country?’ I told him, Yes, and always thought he was, upon
which I asked him why the flag was not sent down in the day
time, as it ought to be done? He said because it was to be kept
private from the inhabitants and common men. The officers, he
said, knew it, and said there was a man on board, that the
General wanted to speak to; and that he must be brought on
shore and carried on board again. I then told him I did not
chuse to go. He said there was no hurt in going, at all; and
said if anything should come against me he would defend me,
and clear me from all. I told him he could not clear me if
there was any bad in it; and Mr. Smith afterwards got up and
went into the house to General Arnold. General Arnold came out
soon after Mr. Smith went in, and said, upon his coming out, I
need not be afraid to go with Mr. Smith, and said it must be
done for the good of the country; and said it was not done in
private, for the officers at the Ferry knew it, the Captain of
the water guards also, and had the countersign; and that it
was not a secret to any persons but the inhabitants and common
men. I thought at first it was not good, but thought otherwise
upon the General’s mentioning that it was known. The General
also said Major Kierce had agreed to send him up a boat to the
creek at Colonel Hay’s landing place, but had not done it,
and he did not know the reason; upon which Mr. Smith asked me
if I would take his horse and ride down to the ferry, to see
whether the boat was come. I said No, he ought send his negro:
he ordered the negro to get the horse, and the negro went off.
While the negro was gone myself and my brother concluded not to
go; but both were afraid to tell the General of it, and afraid
not to go for him, and the time passed away until the negro
came. When he came I asked him what news concerning the boat;
and he said he did not know, and he brought a letter from Major
Kierce to the General, upon which I told my brother I would go
up and tell the General. I had no mind to go and as I was going
up, I met Mr. Smith in the entry, and he told me the General
wanted to speak with me; and he passed out to the stoop, and I
went into the room to the General, who was sitting by a table,
with paper, and his speaking to me, I acquainted him I had no
mind to go, as it was late; and said I would rather go in the
morning. General Arnold said he must go to headquarters by ten
o’clock in the morning; and if I would not assist when I was
required for the good of my country and Congress, he would put
me under guard immediately. Upon which Mr. Smith came in and I
went out; and just after this Mr. Smith came out to the stoop;
asked my brother and myself if we would have a dram, and gave
us each one, and afterwards the General came out, and Mr. Smith
and myself and brother were together. The General and Mr. Smith
talked together, but what they said I do not know. My brother,
Mr. Smith and myself went down to the landing, about a half
mile below King’s Ferry, and passed off in the boat; and I
think it was pretty well near midnight when we got off. Mr.
Smith had on a whitish coat, a pretty large one, which I have
seen him wear before.”
The boatman’s story is here interrupted to insert paragraphs in the
words of Joshua H. Smith, more complete in detail than Colquhoun’s.
“After General Arnold had given the order for muffling the
oars, that we might not be impeded by the boats that guarded
the shores, a precaution necessary, as there was a regular
water patrole, to prevent those disaffected to the American
interest, or Tories, as the friends to the royal cause were
called, from carrying provisions or intelligence to the British
ships occasionally lying in the river. This precaution,
however, staggered the confidence of the eldest of the
watermen, who bluntly told General Arnold that if the business
was of a fair and upright nature, as he assured them it was,
he saw no necessity for any disguise, or to seize the veil of
night to execute that which might be as well transacted in
broad daylight. The watermen were simple, honest men, had been
accustomed to their occupation, and were my tenants, in whom
I could place the utmost confidence. General Arnold insisted
on their pursuing the business, and assured them he had the
command of the militia of the county for 60 miles round West
Point by order of Congress....
“The Vulture was then lying at the extremity of Haverstraw
Bay. The night was serene, the tide favorable, and the silent
manner in which we passed the fort at Stony Point, at the mouth
of Haverstraw Creek, precluded any obstructions; in short,
although the distance was nearly 12 miles, we soon reached
the ship. On our approach we were hailed by the Sentinel on
deck, ordered to bring to, and questioned whither bound? I
answered, with a flag of truce to the Vulture sloop of war,
upon which I was heartily assailed with a volley of oaths, all
in the peculiarity of sea language, by the officer commanding
the watch on the quarter deck, and commanded instantly to haul
alongside, or he would blow us out of the water. Upon coming
alongside, I was saluted with another discharge of the same
nautical eloquence; and orders were given to hoist the rebel
rascal on board, which was prevented by my climbing up a rope
fastened to the main chains, and so reaching the main deck.
I was questioned as to my business, and how I could presume
to come on board his Majesty’s ship under colour of a flag of
truce at night? To which I answered, I was so authorized by my
papers, which I requested he would give to captain Sutherland,
the commander of the ship, and Colonel Robinson, as I knew
they were on board; this request, however, seemed to have no
effect; but he poured on me torrents of abuse, threatening to
hang me at the yard-arm, as he said another rebel had been a
few days before; being nevertheless unintimidated, and seeing
Colonel Robinson and the Captain, for whom I had letters, I
raised my voice and said, he must be answerable for my being
delayed: whether I was heard in the cabin or not I cannot say,
but soon afterwards a boy came on deck and said, ‘the captain
orders the man below.’ He conducted me into the cabin, where
on my entrance I saw a venerable looking gentleman, whom
I recognised to be Colonel Beverly Robinson, dressed in a
regimental uniform. He received me politely, desired me to be
seated, and shortly introduced me to Captain Sutherland, who
lay ill in his birth. Colonel Beverly Robinson having perused
the letter from General Arnold, apologized for retiring a few
minutes, ordering some refreshments, and left me to converse
with Captain Sutherland, to whom I related my uncourtly
reception on deck; and his amiable urbanity compensated me for
the incivility of his officer on deck. Having conversed with
Captain Sutherland for twenty minutes on indifferent subjects,
Colonel Robinson returned, and introduced Mr. Anderson to me,
saying he was mentioned in General Arnold’s letter, for whom he
had sent a pass to come on shore, in case he Colonel Robinson
should be unable to accompany me. Colonel Robinson pleaded
indisposition, and said Mr. Anderson could as effectually
answer all the purposes by going on shore as himself; there
seemed no reluctance on the part of Anderson to supply Colonel
Robinson’s place, and he appeared in a dress equipped for the
purpose, wearing boots and a large blue great-coat. For my own
part it made no difference to me who bore me company, so that
the object of my mission was fully answered, and the great
national ends obtained, which Arnold assured me would be the
result of the affair.
“Mr. Anderson being ready, we left the ship, and were rowed in
a short time to the western shore, to the place which General
Arnold had appointed for the interview; this was at the foot
of a mountain called the Long Clove, near the low water mark,
whither my servant had conducted General Arnold, on horseback,
he being still lame from his wounds.
“Very little conversation passed between Mr. Anderson and
myself, excepting trivial remarks about the tide, the weather,
and matters of no concern. Mr. Anderson, from his youthful
appearance and the softness of his manners, did not seem to me
to be qualified for a business of such moment....
“On my approach to the place of appointment, I found General
Arnold ready to receive me; he was hid among firs. I mentioned
to him Colonel Beverly Robinson’s reason for not accompanying
me, and the delegation of a young gentleman, a Mr. Anderson,
whom I had brought with me, and who was then with the watermen
on the strand. He appeared much agitated and expressed chagrin
at the disappointment of not seeing Colonel Robinson. He
desired me, however, to conduct Mr. Anderson to him, which
being done, he requested me to remain with the hands at the
boat. I went as directed, but felt greatly mortified at not
being present at the interview, to which I conceived myself
entitled from my rank in life, and the trouble I had taken to
effect the meeting. At length they continued such a time in
conference, that I deemed it expedient to inform them of the
approaching dawn of day. Shortly afterwards both came down to
the boat, and General Arnold, with much earnestness, solicited
me to return with Mr. Anderson to the Vulture: But I pointed
out the impracticability of effecting his wish, from the great
distance, and the fatigue of the hands. He then applied to
the men, who declared themselves unable to gratify his wish,
through want of strength to accomplish it, and the ebb tide
being against them. Convinced of the apparent impracticability
of the attempt to reach the ship and return before day without
being discovered from either shore by the inhabitants, whose
eyes were constantly watching the movements on the river,
not only from the forts, but the surrounding shores, he
relinquished his solicitations, and desired I would endeavour
to return the boat to the place from whence we first embarked:
this with much labour, and taking the circuit of the eddies,
was nearly effected, (as we left the boat at Crane’s Island)
when our attention was called to the cannonade from Gallows
Point against the Vulture, which was compelled to fall down the
river and appeared to be set on fire.”
Joseph Colquhoun continues the narrative by saying: “When we
landed at Crom’s Island, I stepped out and got down under a
bush, and was drowsy, and had no conversation with Mr. Smith
and I declare I have not seen Mr. Smith from that time until
this day. General Arnold promised me fifty weight of flour
for going on board the vessel; but I never saw it.... When we
came to Mr. Smith’s house it was after day-light. I saw Mr.
Arnold there. He walked lame and had on a blue coat and white
breeches.”
Smith says that on his return he found General Arnold and Mr. Anderson
had arrived long before him. Mr. Anderson having mounted the horse
his servant rode when he followed Arnold to the Long Clove. Anderson
appeared vexed that the ship had been compelled to leave her position.
Breakfast was soon served and during the meal one of the topics of
conversation was the arrival of the fleet at New York under Arbuthnot.
A recurrence of his chronic complaint, together with loss of sleep
obliged Smith to retire as soon as they had finished the meal. Arnold
and André were left alone the greater part of the day.
There is no reliable statement as to where they went but it is probable
that Arnold improved this opportunity to show Major André the West
Point approaches. Major Tallmadge found André thoroughly familiar with
them, and outlined his intentions when six days later he was escorted
down the river in a barge. On that trip with Tallmadge André could
point to a table of land on the west shore, which he said was the spot
where he should have landed at the head of a select corps, and he
was able to traverse the course up the mountain in the rear of Fort
Putnam, which overlooked the whole Parade of West Point, with great
exactness. Later in the day they returned to Smith’s house, and there
was some talk of going to the “Vulture,” which it was noticed had
nearly regained her former station; but probably the cannon that could
hit the mark with one shot deterred them; General Arnold returned to
West Point after suggesting that it would be necessary for Anderson
to discard his military coat in exchange for a plain one, which Smith
furnished. Smith says he showed André the prospect from the upper
part of his house, from whence there was an extensive view over the
capacious bay of Haverstraw, to the opposite shore and adds: “He cast
an anxious look towards the Vulture and with a heavy sigh wished he
was on board.” Smith having promised to accompany André at least part
way to the White Plains by land was now urged to prepare for their
departure, and his servant having been ordered to get the horses ready
they started for the ferry about sun down.
Major Burroughs was the first to notice the party on their way to
King’s Ferry on that 22d of September, 1780. His testimony follows:
“Between sundown and dark I was overtaken on the road, about
three quarters of a mile from Stoney Point, by Mr. Smith and
another gentleman; Mr. Smith’s servant, a negro boy, was with
him: Mr. Smith as he passed by, spoke, and said ‘How do you do,
Captain Livingston?’ I told him he was mistaken; on that he
stopped, and said: ‘How do you do, Major Burroughs?’ and turned
about his horse, and talked to me for about a minute, in which
time, I rode up between the gentleman who was with Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith while he stopped told me he was going for Mrs. Smith
and the ladies, to West Point and should be happy to see me at
tea the next afternoon; Mr. Smith then turned about his horse,
and rode off pretty fast; I told him I thought it rather late,
and he said he had business. André had a round hat on and a
blue coat or cloak, the cape of which was buttoned up tight
around the neck, and the other part was also buttoned.”
Another half mile and they are before the tent of William Jameson,
who records that on Friday evening, just as it was getting dusk, the
twenty-second day of September, 1780, Mr. Smith came to his tent at
King’s Ferry, on Stoney Point side, after sun down, with a gentleman
who was in company and a waiter; the gentleman who was in company with
Mr. Smith rode a little past the tent, and Mr. Smith made a halt; there
were some gentlemen sitting in the tent, who handed him a bowl of
liquor they had been drinking out of, upon which Mr. Smith dismounted
his horse and handed the bowl to him and desired he would fill it,
which he did; as he handed him the liquor again Mr. Smith spoke to Mr.
Cooley, and said, “in three weeks’ time we shall all be in New York;”
Mr. Cooley made answer, “Sir, I don’t know,” upon which Mr. Smith said,
“Let it be three months;” Mr. Smith upon this, took his horse and went
off, down to the ferry-stairs; the person with Mr. Smith had on a
flopped hat and a great coat, the color I cannot recollect; the person
rode a little past when Mr. Smith halted, made a little halt and he was
on the ferry-stairs when Mr. Smith got down; Mr. Smith at his tent,
took one drink out of the bowl, handed it about, and then went down to
the Ferry-stairs.” William Jameson’s statement above was confirmed by
William Cooley.
* * * * *
Cornelius and Lambert Lambert, with their brother Henry Lambert, were
the ferrymen. Smith urged them to greater speed and when they reached
the shore he gave Henry, who steered the boat, an eight dollar bill.
Benjamin Acker was also an observer.
The party, still consisting of André, Smith and the colored boy, all
mounted, are now on the east bank of the Hudson river near Verplanck’s
Point. Here James Livingston, who fired the cannon that morning at
daylight, landing the first shot on the deck of the Vulture, has a
word to say: “Just after dark Smith stopped at my marquee for a few
minutes. I asked him where he was going. He said up toward General
Arnold’s, or that route, and I gave him one letter to be delivered to
General Arnold and another to General Clinton as he had informed me it
was likely he would go that route. I then urged him to stay awhile and
take supper or a drink of grog. He then informed me that there was a
gentleman waiting for him that had just rode on, and was in a hurry to
get off, and informed me his business was very urgent, and I did not
insist on his staying any longer. He then rode off and I did not see
the person who was with him, it being dark and he having rode forward.
I desired him to request the person to walk in, and he informed me the
gentleman had rode on slowly, and he was in a hurry to go after him.”
* * * * *
It was four miles to Peekskill and about eight miles to Crompond, and
it is at Crompond where they are next discovered.