in relating the event, “between eight and nine o’clock, as near as I
can recollect, at night, the sentry stopped Mr. Smith, another person,
and a negro with him. When the sentry hailed them, they answered,
‘Friends.’ The sentry ordered one to dismount; Mr. Smith readily
dismounted, and spoke to the person who was with him to hold his horse,
and Mr. Smith advanced till he came near the sentry; Mr. Smith asked
who commanded the party; the sentry said Captain Boyd; upon that I was
called for; what passed between Mr. Smith and the sentry I heard, as I
have related, being close by the sentry; Mr. Smith came to me, upon my
calling for him; I asked him who he was; he told me his name was Joshua
Smith, and that he had a pass from General Arnold to pass all guards;
I asked him where he lived, or where he belonged; he told me he lived
in the white house on the other side of King’s Ferry; I asked him what
time he crossed the ferry; he said about dusk; I asked him how far he
was bound for, and where to? He told me he intended to go that night
as far as Major Strang’s; I told him Major Strang was not at home, and
he spoke something of going to old Colonel Gil Drake’s, as he was an
old acquaintance of his; I told him he did not live where he used to,
but had moved to Salem; I told him about his saying he was going to
Major Strang’s, that his lady might be in bed, and it would incommode
her much, likewise I desired to see Mr. Smith’s pass; and went into a
little house close by there, and got a light; and I found that he had a
pass from General Arnold, to pass all guards to the White Plains, and
return, being on business of importance, I think were the words of the
pass. After I had read the pass we came out, and Mr. Smith and myself
talked alone privately; then I desired him to let me know something of
his business; he made answer that he had no objection to my knowing it;
he told me that he was a brother of William Smith, in New York, though
very different in principle, and that he was employed by General Arnold
to go with the person who was with him to get intelligence from the
enemy; and they expected to meet a gentleman at or near White Plains,
for the same purpose. I asked Mr. Smith what gentlemen he was who was
with him. Mr. Smith said he was a gentleman that General Arnold had in
his employ; and told me his name was John Anderson. I think Mr. Smith
told me he was not so positive as that he should go himself, as far as
the White Plains, or not; on this I advised Mr. Smith to put up there,
at one Andraes Miller’s, close by where we were, and so start as soon
as it was light; the reasons I gave Mr. Smith were, that the riding
in the night would be dangerous when they got below Croton River,
from the Cow Boys; Mr. Smith made answer that he would speak to his
partner; whereupon Mr. Smith went to him; I was pretty close to them;
and when they conversed together they spoke low; Mr. Smith told him
he thought it would be best to put up, and said he thought they might
be interrupted; upon that they concluded to turn back to this house,
to put up; I concluded in my mind their speaking low was occasioned
by what Mr. Smith had said to me before, which was, he did not want
everyone to know what business they were on; Mr. Smith then asked
my opinion about the roads, which would be the safest to the White
Plains, and not fall into the hands of those ‘Cow Boys’ or Refugees;
putting confidence in what they were upon, I gave him my opinion as to
the safest road, that the safest road would be to go by North-Castle
Church, and by Wright’s Mills, by reason if they went the Tarry-Town
road, they would fall into the lower party’s hands--these ‘Cow Boys.’ I
likewise advised him to call upon Captain Delavan, next morning, pretty
early. Mr. Smith asked me if I thought that Captain Delavan would
assist them with an escort or two or three horse. I told him I did not
doubt but that he might when he came to understand what his business
was. They then went back towards Andraes Miller’s, which was the last
I saw of them that night. I was a little at a stand about Mr. Smith’s
name being Joshua, as he was called by the name of Jo Smith, but his
pass was in the name of Joshua. What made me put more confidence in
what Mr. Smith told me, was, I had heard it frequently mentioned that
General Howe used to employ Mr. Smith in getting intelligence.”
* * * * *
Here Smith again takes up the narrative, saying: “With no small
difficulty we returned and gained admittance into a house for the
night; while such was the caution and danger of admitting nocturnal
inmates, that we were obliged to take to bed or keep the family up,
who would not retire until they saw us safely lodged. We slept in the
same bed; and I was often disturbed with the restless motions, and
uneasiness of mind exhibited by my bed-fellow, who on observing the
first approach of day, summoned my servant to prepare the horses for
our departure. He appeared in the morning as if he had not slept an
hour during the night; he at first was much dejected, but a pleasing
change took place in his countenance when summoned to mount his horse.
The landlord, who was a very kind and civil man refused to take any
compensation for the trouble which we had given him.... We rode very
cheerfully towards Pine’s bridge without interruption, or any event
that excited apprehension; here I proposed to leave my companion; but
I observed that the nearer we approached the bridge, the more his
countenance brightened into a cheerful serenity, and he became very
affable; in short, I now found him highly entertaining.... He descanted
on the richness of the scenery around us, and particularly admired,
from every eminence, the grandeur of the Highland mountains, bathing
their summits in the clouds from their seeming watery base at the north
extremity of Haverstraw Bay. The pleasantry of converse, and mildness
of the weather, so insensiably beguiled the time that we at length
found ourselves at the bridge before I thought we had got half way; and
I now had reason to think my fellow-traveller a different person from
the character I had at first formed of him.
“This bridge crosses the Croton river, a branch of the Hudson; here
we halted, and at a house on the right endeavored to obtain some
breakfast, from an old matronly Dutch woman, and provender for the
horses; in this expectation, however, we were disappointed; the Cow
Boys or Skinners had been there the night before, and taken all the
supplies of her cupboard, except some Indian meal, which she had mixed
up with water, and boiled into a consistency, by the Dutch called
suppon. This with the addition of some milk from a single cow they had
left her, was the only fare we could procure, and of this we made a
good meal, our appetites being keen from having been supperless the
preceding night. While at breakfast I mentioned my determination to
proceed no farther. Having discharged the bill to the woman, in the
local money of the county, my companion (Major André) requested me to
lend him some, and I cheerfully supplied him with the half of my pocket
amount, although I was afraid it was not current below that place;
the bridge being accounted the south boundary of the American lines.
He was affected at parting, and offered me a valuable gold watch in
remembrance of him, as a keep sake, which I refused. The horse was
furnished by General Arnold; the saddle and bridle were borrowed of me,
with the promise that they should be returned, or the value of them
paid to me.
“Having given him directions about the road he was to take upon
crossing the bridge, with a message to my brother, the chief justice,
whom he knew, we parted, and I proceded on my way to Fish Kill.”
FOOTNOTES to “ARNOLD AND ANDRÉ MEET”:
[45] Trial report says Cahoon, Smith Calquhoon.
[46] Report says Keirce.
[47] Probably Major Franks.
EYEWITNESSES EXPLAIN ANDRÉ’S CAPTURE
Perhaps as they parted no two men held more opposite ideas of danger
than Smith and Major André. The very name “Cow Boy” struck terror in
the heart of Smith, for they would have robbed him of all he possessed
and then discovering that he was a nephew of William Livingston would
probably have held him for ransom; but for André the Cow Boys had no
terror. They were under control of James DeLancey and it would only be
necessary to convince them that he was a British officer and offer to
reward them for their assistance and they would conduct him with speed
and in safety to headquarters. It was not surprising therefore that as
soon as Smith was out of sight he turned from the White Plains road and
started down the other road towards Tarrytown and the Cow Boys that
Smith and Captain Boyd had impressed him made that road impassable as
it was almost certain they would be encountered there.
[Illustration: THE CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRÉ
Few persons realize how closely identified this event is with the
history of our country. Col. Trumbull is recorded as saying: “But for
that event the Declaration of Independence might have proved abortive,
and the blood of so many of our countrymen shed in vain.”]
* * * * *
John Paulding will now take up the narrative, in the words he used
the day after the execution of Major André in explaining the matter
to a board of officers at the request of General Washington. Paulding
says:
“Myself, Isaac Van Weart and David Williams, were lying by the side of
the road, about a half a mile above Tarry Town, and about fifteen miles
from King’s-bridge, on Saturday morning, between nine and ten o’clock,
the twenty third of September last (1780). We had lain there about an
hour and a half, as near as I can recollect, and saw several persons we
were acquainted with, whom we let pass. Presently, one of the young men
who was with me said, ‘There comes a gentleman-like looking man, who
appears to be well dressed, and has boots on, who you had better step
out and stop if you don’t know him.’ On that I got up and presented
my firelock at the breast of the person, and I told him to stand; and
then I asked him which way he was going. Says he, ‘Gentlemen, I hope
you belong to our party.’ I asked him ‘What Party?’ He said, ‘The lower
party.’ Upon that I told him I did. Then he said, ‘I am a British
officer out of the country, on particular business, and I hope you
won’t detain me a minute!’ and to show that he was a British officer,
he pulled out his watch; upon which I told him to dismount. Upon that,
he said, ‘My God, I must do anything to get “along”;’ seemed to make a
kind of a laugh of it, and pulled out General Arnold’s pass, which was
to John Anderson, to pass all guards to the White Plains, and further.
Upon that he dismounted, and says he, ‘Gentlemen you had best let me
go, or you will bring yourselves in trouble, for, by your stopping of
me you will detain the General’s business;’ and he said he was to go
to Dobb’s Ferry, to meet a person there, on the General’s business.
Upon that I told him I hoped he would not be offended, and I told him
we did not mean to take anything from him; and told him there were
many bad people going along the road, and I did not know but perhaps
he might be one; and I asked him if he had any letters about him. He
made answer, ‘No.’ Upon that, myself, or one of my comrades, though
I think myself, told him to pull off his clothes, which he did. We
searched his clothes, but could find nothing; and I told him to pull
off his boots; he rather seemed backward of pulling them off; however,
he pulled off one of them, and I felt at his foot, where I felt the
papers in his stocking under his foot; then I told him to pull off the
other boot, and when the other boot was off, I found other papers in
his stocking, under his foot. Then I looked on the back of the papers,
and I said to the young fellows who were with me, ‘This is a spy.’ One
of the young fellows who were with me asked him if he would give up
his horse, saddle, and bridle, and watch, and a hundred guineas, if he
would let him go. He made answer, ‘Yes, and whatever sum of money you
will mention, or quantity of dry goods.’ And then I made answer, ‘No,
by God, if you would give us ten thousand guineas, you should not stir
a step.’ One of the young fellows winked at me, who had a mind to find
out a little more, and I made answer to the lads who were with me to
come along, for I would have nothing more to say to him, and we asked
him some questions as we were going along the road, and he begged we
would ask him none till he came to some officers, and then he would
reveal the whole. We carried him to Colonel Jameson and there he took
him into his custody,[48] and I have not seen him from that time until
I saw him the other day.” Paulding added that had he pulled out General
Arnold’s pass before he said he was a British officer he would have let
him go.
David Williams’ story, as recorded on October 4th, 1780, confirmed
Paulding’s, and it would be a repetition to print it; but one statement
in it needs emphasizing. Williams said: “Mr. Paulding looked at the
contents and said he was a spy; upon which we made him pull off his
other boot, and there we found three more papers at the bottom of his
foot, within his stocking; upon which we made him dress himself, and I
asked him what he would give us to let him go; he said he would give
us any sum of money. I asked him whether he would give us his horse,
saddle, bridle, watch, and one hundred guineas, upon which he said,
‘Yes;’ and he told us he would direct it to any place even if it was
to that very spot, so that we could get it. I asked him whether he
would not give us more; he said he would give us any quantity of dry
goods or any sum of money, and bring it to any place that we might
pitch upon, so that we might get it; upon which Mr. Paulding answered
‘No, by God, if you would give us ten thousand guineas you shall not
stir one step.’”[49]
There was a sequel to the capture of Major André by Paulding and his
friends that prejudiced Major Tallmadge to such an extent that when a
petition was presented to Congress in 1817 to increase their reward
he created a sensation by opposing it. It appears either the taste
of the world’s applause or the earnest entreaties of the much abused
inhabitants of the neutral ground induced Paulding and others to
undertake another expedition against the “Cow Boys,” this time aimed at
their chief. Without consulting Major Tallmadge these young men took
it upon themselves to attempt the capture of James DeLancey, whose
home was in Westchester County. Here lived his mother and her family.
In an earlier raid they had met with such cruel treatment at the hands
of a band of outlaws that both sides had been appealed to and in all
probability the property was under the protection of Major Tallmadge
as well as Oliver DeLancey at the time. Nevertheless Paulding and his
friends were so anxious to punish James DeLancey, who had command of
the “Cow Boys,” that with all the force they could get together they
secretly marched to his home on January 25th, 1783, hoping to capture
him there. Being disappointed in this they ransacked the house and
took therefrom all they could carry away that was of any value. The
alarm was given and the next day they were overtaken and seven of them
captured. One was killed and John Paulding was among the prisoners
taken to the provost in New York and consigned to the care of the
notorious William Cunningham. A sister of James DeLancey was Nancy,
who with her mother Mrs. Elizabeth DeLancey, a daughter of Cadwalader
Colden, occupied the Westchester County estate at that time. Among the
friends and frequent visitors were the Floyds, in particular Elizabeth
Floyd who married John Peter DeLancey and became the mother of Mrs.
James Fenimore Cooper, and her cousin Mary Floyd, daughter of William
Floyd, signer of the Declaration of Independence, who a few months
later became the wife of Major Tallmadge.
* * * * *
Rivington’s paper, the Royal Gazette, No. 662, published on January
29th, 1783, the following account:
“On Saturday last (Jan. 25,) a party of militia, thirty-three
in number, commanded by a Captain Williams, generally known
by the name of Skinner’s Party, made an attempt to carry off,
from his house at West-chester, Colonel DeLancey, of the Royal
Refugees, but missing their aim, they plundered the house of
wearing apparel. &c. and retreated with precipitation to Croton
Hill, near Croton Bridge, where, thinking themselves safe, they
exposed their plunder for sale; but a party of Loyal Refugees
soon surprized them, killed one man on the spot, wounded
several, and took seven prisoners. The prisoners were brought
to town on Sunday; one badly wounded was sent to the General
Hospital to be taken care of, and the rest safely lodged in
the provost. John Paulding, one of the persons who took Major
André prisoner, is among the number, and slightly wounded.
This design on the person of Colonel DeLancey is said to have
been planned by Colonel Drake and Mr. Vantassel, who were sure
of success, as they kept it a secret from all but Captain
Williams, and he only informed the party of it when they came
near to the Colonel’s house.”
A few days later from headquarters of General Washington came
instructions to Colonel W. S. Smith to secure their exchange. In full
this document reads:
_Head Quarters_ 6th Feby, 1783.
_Sir._ In a late excursion of the militia on the other side
under a captain Williams, John Paulding, one of the persons
who took Major André, was made prisoner with some others. His
friends, apprehensive for his safety have made intercession
with the Commander in Chief on his behalf, and, tho His
Excellency does not approve the excursions of these people,
yet, in consideration of the former services of Mr. Paulding
and as we have in the Provost Guard four Prisoners taken by
them some time since, he has been pleased to consent that those
four Prisoners be sent in on Parol with a request to send out
Paulding and the others mentioned hereon. The prisoners to be
sent in will go from hence tomorrow morning.
I have the honor to be Sir, Your very obedt. Servant, Ben
Walker, Aid DeCamp.
Addressed to Lieut. Coll. W. S. Smith,
commanding at Dobbs Ferry.
John Paulding
Pero Faller
Richd. Dusenberry
James Mandeville
On the 24th of the same month Colonel Smith advised Headquarters
saying: “I have brought with me the paroles of Paulding, and those
taken with him at Croton.”
* * * * *
Under ordinary circumstances Colonel Jameson would have held Mr.
Anderson when John Paulding and his companions pronounced him a spy,
but General Arnold had anticipated this possibility and thus saved his
own life. He had written to several, Jameson being one, saying: “If
Mr. John Anderson, a person I expect from New York should come to your
quarters, I have to request that you will give him an escort of two
Horse to bring him on his way to this place, and send an express to me
that I may meet him.” Here was the very man that Arnold was expecting
being detained as a spy! Were the letters decoys? It was beyond him
to know; but the instructions of his General were plain, and off to
Headquarters he promptly sent him.
* * * * *
Major Benjamin Tallmadge, in two letters addressed to Jared Sparks,
carries the narrative through the 23d of September and into the 24th.
He says: “No circumstances during that eventful period made a deeper
impression on my mind than those which related to Arnold, the Traitor,
and Major André, the sufferer. I proceed then to remark that the 2d
Regt. of Light Dragoons, Commanded by Col. Sheldon, was stationed in
advance of the Army, near North Castle, and Col. Sheldon being absent,
I think at Salem, Lt. Col. Jameson was the commanding officer, and I
was the Major. Early in the morning of the 23d of September, 1780, I
marched with a large Detachment of Dragoons to reconnoitre the Country
below the white plains, down to East Chester, which was a sort of
neutral ground, from which Tour I did not return until late in the
evening of the same day. Soon after I halted and had disposed of my
Detachment, I was informed that a prisoner had been bro’t in that
day, who called himself John Anderson. On enquiry, I found that three
men, by the names of John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart,
who had passed below our ordinary military Patrols on the road from
Tarry Town to Kingsbridge, had fallen in with this John Anderson on his
way to New York. They took him aside for examination, and discovering
sundry papers upon him, which he had concealed in his boots, they
determined to detain him a prisoner. Notwithstanding Anderson’s offers
to pecuniary satisfaction if they would permit him to proceed on his
course, they determined to bring him up to the headquarters of our
Regiment, then on the advance Post of our Army, and near to North
Castle. This they effected in the afternoon of the 23d of September,
1780, by delivering said Anderson to Lt. Col Jameson of the 2nd Regt Lt
Dragoons, who was then the Commanding Officer at said Post, Col Sheldon
being then at old Salem, I believe under Arrest.
“His Excellency Gen. Washington had made an appointment to meet the
Count Rochambeau (who commanded the French Army then at Newport, R. I.)
at Hartford, in Conn. about the 18th or 20th of September, and was
on his return to the Army at the time of Anderson’s capture. When I
reached Lt. Col. Jameson’s Quarters late in the evening of the 23d of
Sept., and had learned the circumstances relating to the capture of the
said Anderson, I was much surprised to learn that he was sent on by
Lt. Col. Jameson to Arnold’s Head Quarters at West Point, accompanied
by a letter of information respecting his capture. At the same time he
despatched an Express with the papers found on John Anderson to meet
General Washington, then on his return to West Point.
“I felt very much surprised at the course which had been taken in
this business, and did not fail to state the glaring inconsistency
of their conduct to Lt. Col. Jameson in a private and most friendly
manner. He appeared greatly agitated, more especially when I suggested
to him a plan which I wished to pursue, offering to take the entire
responsibility on myself, and which, as he deemed it too perilous
to permit, I will not further disclose. Failing in this purpose, I
instantly set about a plan to remand the Prisoner to our Quarters
again, which I finally effected, although with reluctance on the part
of Lt. Col. Jameson. When the order was about to be despatched to the
Officer to bring back the Prisoner, strange as it may seem, Lt. Col. J.
would persist in his purpose of sending his letter to Gen. Arnold--The
letter did go on, and was the first information that Arch Traitor
received that his plot was blown up. The Officer returned with his
prisoner early the next morning.... We soon concluded that the safest
course was to take the prisoner to Salem to Col. Sheldon’s Quarters,
and I was appointed to take charge of him. After we reached Salem,
it was manifest that his agitation and anxiety increased, and in the
afternoon he asked to be furnished with pen, ink and paper, which were
readily furnished, when he penned the letter to Gen’l. Washington,
dated ‘Salem, 24th September, 1780.’ In this letter he disclosed his
Character to be Major John André, Adjutant Genl. to the British Army.
When I had perused the letter, which he handed to me to read, my
agitation was extreme, and my emotions wholly indescribable....”
In another letter Major Tallmadge, although in a measure repeating
himself, throws more light upon the subject. In this he says: “I have
already informed you, that on the day when the Captors of Major André
bro’t him up to our Regt. at North Castle (Sept. 23d, 1780) I was out
on duty in advance of the Regt. below the white plains and did not
return with my detachment until the evening of that day. After I had
disposed of my Troops and had spoken with Lt. Col. Jameson, he informed
me of the capture of John Anderson and that he had been brought up
and delivered over to him by his captors. When I enquired where the
prisoner was, he informed me that he had sent him on, under Guard to
Gen’l Arnold at West Point. I expressed my astonishment at such a
course and immediately entered on a course of measures to frustrate
what I considered so unjudicious a procedure. My first proposal was to
give me leave of absence for official object which I fully explained to
Col. Jameson, and which for special reasons I have not disclosed, as no
public benefit could result from it. Failing in this request my next
plan was to remand the prisoner, then probably 8 or 10 miles on his way
to West Point, which I did not accomplish until late in the evening.
After the order was despatched for the officers and Guard to return
with the prisoner, I waited impatiently for the coming morning, when
for the first time I saw the face of John Anderson.
“What influenced Col. Jameson[50] to send on Major André to Arnold, I
cannot tell, not being present with him when he sent him off; but I
well remember that he expressed great confidence in him as I believe
was the case thro’ the army. Until the papers were found on Anderson, I
had no suspicion of his lack of patriotism or political integrity....
“With Arnold’s character I became acquainted while I was a member of
Yale College and he residing at New Haven, and I well remember that
I was impressed with the belief that he was not a man of integrity.
The revolutionary war was coming on soon after I left college, and
Arnold engaged in it with so much zeal, and behaving so gallantly in
the capture of Burgoyne, we all seemed, as if by common consent, to
forget his knavish tricks. When he was put in command of West Point, I
had official communications with him, particularly as it related to my
private Correspondence with persons in New York, of which you must have
seen much in my Letters to Genl. Washington. When he turned traitor and
went off, I felt for a time extremely anxious for some trusty friends
in New York, but as I never gave their names to him, he was not able to
discover them, although I believe he tried hard to find them out.”
* * * * *