Outlines of the Plan for surrendering West Point.--Major AndrÈ passes in
Disguise through the American Posts.--His Capture at Tarrytown.
No sooner had the parties arrived at Smith's House, than a cannonade
was heard down the river. It was discovered to be against the Vulture,
which, although distant several miles, was in full view, and for a time
seemed to be on fire. It had been reported to Colonel Livingston by
messengers from Teller's Point, that the vessel was so near the shore
as to be within reach of cannon-shot, and that the inhabitants were
likewise apprehensive boats would land and commit depredations. Colonel
Livingston accordingly sent from Verplanck's Point a party with cannon,
who fired upon the Vulture and compelled her to remove from the position
she had held during the night, and drop farther down the river, till she
was beyond the reach of the shot.
AndrÈ beheld this scene from the windows of Smith's House with anxious
emotion. At length the firing ceased, and he resumed his wonted spirits
and composure. He was in an upper apartment of the house, where he
remained through the day. After breakfast Smith left AndrÈ and Arnold
together, and here the plot of treachery was finished, the conditions
settled, and the modes of future action explained and determined.
As all this was done in secret, the details have never been fully
brought to light. It is well ascertained, however, that, in case of
success, Arnold was to be paid a very large amount of money. In his
letter to the ministry on the subject, Sir Henry Clinton said he thought
the plan of such vast importance, that it ought to be pursued "at every
risk and at any expense." Arnold well knew the nature of the posts,
which he was about to surrender, and, money being with him the
stimulating motive in the transaction, it may be presumed his demands
were in proportion to the advantages expected from his guilt. Nor is
it probable, that he consented without a price to barter the brilliant
reputation he then possessed for a name of ever-enduring infamy.
The arrangements being agreed upon for the execution of the plot, it is
understood that the day was also fixed. AndrÈ was to return to New
York, and the British troops, already embarked under the pretext of an
expedition to the Chesapeake, were to be ready to ascend the river at
a moment's warning. The post at West Point was to be weakened by such
a disposition of the troops, as would leave but a small force for its
defence. As soon as it should be known, that the British were coming up
the river, parties were to be sent out from the garrison to the gorges
in the hills, and other distant points, under pretence of meeting
the enemy as they approached; and here they were to remain, while the
British troops landed and marched to the garrison through different
routes in which they would meet no opposition.
With an accurate plan of West Point and its environs, these details were
easily settled. The general principle, which served as a basis of the
whole manouvre, was, that the troops should be so scattered, and divided
into such small detachments, that they could not act in force, and would
be obliged to surrender without any effectual resistance. By previous
movements Arnold had in fact prepared the way for this scheme. Sir
Henry Clinton, and many other British officers, were acquainted with the
localities at West Point and in its neighborhood, they having been there
for several days after the storming of Fort Montgomery. Hence it was
not difficult to concert a plan of operations, which should be equally
intelligible to both parties, and hold out the fairest prospect of a
successful result.
These preliminaries being finished, and AndrÈ supplied with certain
papers explanatory of the military condition of West Point, the next
topic for deliberation was how he should get back to New York. AndrÈ
insisted that he should be put on board the Vulture, to which Arnold
assented, but at the same time mentioned obstacles, and suggested a
return by land as more safe and expeditious. The precise nature of
these obstacles is not known, but they probably arose from Smith's
disinclination to go out again with the boat, and the impossibility at
that time of finding any other person as his substitute. When Arnold
went away, however, which was before ten o'clock, AndrÈ supposed he was
to be sent on board the Vulture, as will appear by the following extract
from a paper which he wrote after his capture.
"Arnold quitted me," said he, "having himself made me put the papers
I bore between my stockings and feet. Whilst he did it he expressed
a wish, in case of any accident befalling me, that they should be
destroyed; which I said of course would be the case, as when I went into
the boat I should have them tied about with a string and a stone. Before
we parted, some mention had been made of my crossing the river and
going another route; but I objected much against it, and thought it was
settled, that in the way I came I was to return."
Arnold left him and went up the river in his own barge to head-quarters.
Before he departed from Smith's House, he urged Smith to go back with
AndrÈ to the Vulture as soon as it should be dark; yet the matter seems
to have been undecided, for he wrote and gave to Smith two passports
(dating them "Head-Quarters"), one authorizing him to go by water, and
the other by land. The former was in these words. "Joshua Smith has
permission to pass with a boat and three hands and a flag to Dobbs's
Ferry, on public business, and to return immediately." The latter said,
"Joshua Smith has permission to pass the guards to the White Plains and
to return, he being on public business by my direction." To this was
added a third, as follows. "Permit Mr. John Anderson to pass the guards
to the White Plains, or below if he chooses, he being on public business
by my direction." This last was the paper presented by AndrÈ to his
captors when he was taken. All these passports were in the handwriting
of Arnold and signed by him.
AndrÈ passed the day in solitude, and as it drew near to a close, he was
impatient to be ready for his departure. On consulting Smith, he found
him obstinately determined not to return to the Vulture, and that he had
neither spoken to the watermen nor made any other preparation.
The reason he gave afterwards for this refusal was, that his ague had
attacked him severely, and the state of his health would not admit of an
exposure in the boat. But the fact of his agreeing to accompany AndrÈ
on horseback, and to travel with him several hours in the night, was a
proof that this was not the true ground of his objection. It was absurd
to talk of being too ill to sit in a boat, and the next moment to
mount a horse and ride a dozen miles. Smith's motives cannot now be
ascertained, he never having explained them himself, either in the
course of his trial, or in his Narrative; but he was probably alarmed
at the firing upon the Vulture in the morning, and, as the vessel had
resumed her original station, he was fearful it might be repeated, and
thus endanger his personal safety, should he attempt to go on board.
This is the only plausible way in which we can account for his resisting
the strong solicitations of both Arnold and AndrÈ, when he was sure of
having the same protection as the night before. There is, after all,
something mysterious in the affair; for, if this was the true and only
cause of his reluctance, it was one, which might very properly have been
urged, and would at least have relieved him from the subterfuge of the
ague, which was too shallow to gain credit.
Any inquiry on this head would be fruitless. Indeed it is of little
importance. It is enough to know, that, having no means of getting to
the vessel, AndrÈ was compelled to seek his way back by land. The safest
route was supposed to be across the river and in the direction of White
Plains. Smith agreed to attend him on the way, till he should be out
of danger from the American posts. Thus far Arnold's passports would
protect them.
All his entreaties being without avail, and having no other resort,
AndrÈ submitted to the necessity of his situation, and resolved to
pursue the route by land. Arnold had prevailed upon him, in case he took
this course, to exchange his military coat for a citizen's dress. It was
feared, that, if he was discovered in the uniform of a British officer,
he might be stopped, and perhaps meet with trouble. And here again Smith
was made the dupe of Arnold's artifices. When he expressed surprise,
that a man in a civil capacity, and on an errand of business, should
come from New York in such a dress, Arnold told him that it was owing to
the pride and vanity of Anderson, who wished to make a figure as a man
of consequence, and had borrowed a coat from a military acquaintance.
Upon this representation Smith gave one of his coats in exchange, which
AndrÈ put on, leaving his own behind. Thus clad, and covered as before
with his dark greatcoat, which had a wide cape buttoned close in the
neck, and the appearance of having been much worn, AndrÈ was equipped
for the journey.
A little before sunset he and Smith set off, accompanied by a negro
servant belonging to the latter. They proceeded to King's Ferry, and
crossed the river from Stony Point to Verplanck's Point. On their way
to the Ferry, they met several persons who were known to Smith, and
with whom he conversed, accosting them in a gay and jocular humor, and
assuming an air of ease and unconcern. He even stopped at a sutler's
tent near the Ferry, and contributed to the merriment of a party of
loungers, by assisting them in drinking a bowl of punch. AndrÈ said
nothing, but walked his horse slowly along, and was waiting at the Ferry
when his companion overtook him. Smith had tried, while on the road,
to draw him into conversation about the taking of Stony Point the year
before, and such other topics as he thought would interest him; but
he was reserved and thoughtful, uttering brief replies, and showing no
inclination to be interrogated, or to talk upon any subject.
It was in the dusk of the evening when they ascended from the Ferry, and
passed through the works at Verplanck's Point. Smith rode up to Colonel
Livingston's tent, at a short distance from the road, but AndrÈ and the
servant went along without stopping. Smith told Colonel Livingston,
that he was going up the country, and took charge of two letters, one to
General Arnold and the other to Governor Clinton, which he promised
to deliver. He declined staying to supper, alleging as a reason that
a gentleman had just rode along, who was waiting for him, and whose
business was urgent. He then joined AndrÈ on the way.
They met with no further interruption till between eight and nine
o'clock at night, when they were hailed by the sentinel of a patrolling
party. This was near Crompond, and about eight miles from Verplanck's
Point. The sentinel ordered them to stop, and Smith dismounted, gave
the bridle of his horse to his servant, walked forward, and inquired who
commanded the party. He was answered "Captain Boyd," who, overhearing
the conversation, immediately appeared. The captain was unusually
inquisitive, and demanded of him who he was, where he belonged, and what
was his business. Smith answered these questions promptly, adding that
he had a pass from General Arnold, and desired not to be detained. The
captain was not yet satisfied, but inquired how far he meant to go that
night; to which he replied, as far as Major Strang's or Colonel Drake's;
but this only increased the embarrassment, for the captain informed
him, that Major Strang was not at home, and Colonel Drake had removed to
another part of the country.
Captain Boyd then said, that he must see the passport, and, it being
dark, they went to a house at a small distance to procure a light. AndrÈ
began to be a little alarmed, and advanced with reluctance towards the
house, till he was encouraged by Smith, who assured him that Arnold's
pass would certainly protect them. And so it proved; for the pass
was expressed in positive terms, and there was no room to doubt its
genuineness or its authority.
The captain was afterwards more bland in his manners, but the ardor of
his curiosity was not diminished. He took Smith aside, and begged to be
informed of the important business, which carried him down so near the
enemy's lines, and induced him and his companion to travel so dangerous
a road in the night. As an apology for this inquiry he manifested a
good deal of concern for their safety, telling him that the Cow-boys had
recently been out, and were believed then to be far up the country,
and he advised him by all means not to proceed till morning. Smith
prevaricated as well as he could, saying to Captain Boyd, that he and
his fellow-traveller, whom he called Mr. Anderson, were employed by
General Arnold to procure intelligence, that they expected to meet a
person near White Plains for that purpose, and that it was necessary for
them to go forward as expeditiously as possible.
Upon this statement Captain Boyd seemed more anxious than ever,
magnified the perils to which they would be exposed by travelling in the
night, and recommended anew that they should turn back to one Andreas
Miller's, who lived but a little way off, and at whose house they might
lodge. Smith's courage was somewhat damped by these representations, and
he went and told the tale to AndrÈ, and counselled with him, as to the
steps they ought to take. It is probable, also, that he had fears of
exciting suspicion, if he persevered in resisting the captain's zeal
expressed so earnestly in their behalf. AndrÈ, as it may well be
imagined, not being very easy in his present situation, was for going
on at all events. When Smith found his fears unheeded and his eloquence
unavailing, he called in the aid of Captain Boyd, and inquired of him
which was the safest road to White Plains. Boyd considered both roads
perilous, but believed the one through North Castle the least so, for
the Lower Party, or Cow-boys, infested the Tarrytown road, and had
lately done mischief in that quarter. He used various arguments to
dissuade them from going farther that night, to which Smith listened
with open ears, and he resolved, against the will of AndrÈ, to trespass
on the hospitality of Andreas Miller.
They met with a welcome reception, but, coming at a late hour to an
humble dwelling, their accommodations were narrow, and the two travelers
were obliged to sleep in the same bed. According to Smith's account,
it was a weary and restless night to his companion. The burden on his
thoughts was not of a kind to lull them to repose; and the place of his
retreat, so near the watchful Captain Boyd and his guards, was hardly
such as would impress upon him a conviction of perfect security. At the
first dawn of light he roused himself from his troubled slumbers,
waked the servant, and ordered the horses to be prepared for an early
departure.
Having solicited their host in vain to receive a compensation for the
civilities he had rendered, they mounted and took the road leading to
Pine's Bridge. The countenance of AndrÈ brightened when he was fairly
beyond the reach of the patrolling party, and, as he thought, had left
behind him the principal difficulties in his route. His cheerfulness
revived, and he conversed in the most animated and agreeable strain upon
a great variety of topics. Smith professes to have been astonished at
the sudden and extraordinary change which appeared in him, from a
gloomy taciturnity to an exuberant flow of spirits, pleasantry, and gay
discourse. He talked upon poetry, the arts, and literature, lamented
the war, and hoped for a speedy peace. In this manner they passed along,
without being accosted by any person, till they came within two miles
and a half of Pine's Bridge.
At this place Smith had determined to end his journey in the direction
towards White Plains. The Cow-boys, whom he seemed anxious to avoid, had
recently been above the Bridge; and the territory below was considered
their appropriate domain. The travellers partook of a frugal breakfast
together at the house of a good Dutch woman, who had been plundered by
the marauders, but who was yet enabled to set before them a repast of
hasty-pudding and milk. This being despatched, Smith divided his small
stock of paper money with AndrÈ, took a final leave, and with his
servant hastened back to Peekskill, and the same evening to Fishkill,
where he had left his family four days before at the house of his
brother-in-law. On his way he took the road leading by Robinson's House,
where he called on General Arnold and dined. He gave an account of
AndrÈ's progress, and mentioned the place where he left him, with which
Arnold appeared well pleased. It is to be understood, however, that
Smith had not at this time, as he always affirmed, any knowledge
of AndrÈ's true character, and that he supposed his name to be John
Anderson.
The Cow-boys were a set of people, mostly if not wholly refugees,
belonging to the British side, and engaged in plundering cattle near the
lines and driving them to New York. The name indicates their vocation.
There was another description of banditti, called Skinners, who lived
for the most part within the American lines, and professed attachment
to the American cause; but in reality they were more unprincipled,
perfidious, and inhuman, than the Cow-boys themselves; for these latter
exhibited some symptoms of fellow-feeling for their friends, whereas the
Skinners committed their depredations equally upon friends and foes.
By a law of the State of New York, every person refusing to take an oath
of fidelity to the State was considered as forfeiting his property. The
large territory between the American and British lines, extending nearly
thirty miles from north to south, and embracing Westchester county, was
populous and highly cultivated. A person living within that space, who
took the oath of fidelity, was sure to be plundered by the Cowboys; and
if he did not take it, the Skinners would come down upon him, call him
a Tory, and seize his property as confiscated by the State. Thus the
execution of the laws was assumed by robbers, and the innocent and
guilty were involved in a common ruin.
It is true, the civil authority endeavored to guard against these
outrages, as far as it could, by legislative enactments and executive
proclamations; but, from the nature of the case, this formidable
conspiracy against the rights and claims of humanity could be crushed
only by a military arm. The detachments of Continental troops and
militia, stationed near the lines, did something to lessen the evil; yet
they were not adequate to its suppression, and frequently this force was
so feeble as not to afford any barrier to the inroads of the banditti.
The Skinners and Cow-boys often leagued together. The former would sell
their plunder to the latter, taking in exchange contraband articles
brought from New York. It was not uncommon for the farce of a skirmish
to be acted near the American lines, in which the Skinners never failed
to come off victorious; and then they would go boldly to the interior
with their booty, pretending it had been captured from the enemy, while
attempting to smuggle it across the lines.
Such was the social condition of that part of the country, through which
AndrÈ was now to pass alone, for nearly thirty miles, before he could
be perfectly secure from danger; for, although every step diminished the
chances of untoward accidents, yet there was no absolute safety till he
was beyond the limits of this ill-famed neutral ground.
When he and Smith separated, it seems to have been understood, that
AndrÈ would pursue the route through White Plains, and thence to New
York; but after crossing Pine's Bridge, he changed his mind, turned off
towards Hudson's River, and took what was called the Tarrytown road.
He was probably induced to this step by the remarks he had heard the
evening before from Captain Boyd, who said the Lower Party had been far
up the Tarrytown road, and it was dangerous to proceed that way. As the
Lower Party belonged to the British, and AndrÈ would of course be safe
in their hands, it was natural for him to infer, that he should be among
friends sooner in that direction than in the other.
A law of the State of New York authorized any person to seize and
convert to his own use all cattle or beef, that should be driven or
removed from the country in the direction of the city beyond a certain
line in Westchester county. By military custom, also, the personal
effects of prisoners, taken by small parties, were assigned to the
captors as a prize.
It happened that, the same morning on which AndrÈ crossed Pine's Bridge,
seven persons, who resided near Hudson's River, on the neutral ground,
agreed voluntarily to go out in company armed, watch the road, and
intercept any suspicious stragglers, or droves of cattle, that might be
seen passing towards New York. Four of this party were stationed on a
hill, where they had a view of the road for a considerable distance. The
three others, named John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wart,
were concealed in the bushes at another place and very near the road.
About half a mile north of the village of Tarrytown, and a few hundred
yards from the bank of Hudson's River, the road crosses a small brook,
from each side of which the ground rises into a hill, and it was at that
time covered over with trees and underbrush. Eight or ten rods south of
this brook, and on the west side of the road, these men were hidden;
and at that point AndrÈ was stopped, after having travelled from Pine's
Bridge without interruption.
The particulars of this event I shall here introduce, as they are
narrated in the testimony given by Paulding and Williams at Smith's
trial, written down at the time by the judge-advocate, and preserved in
manuscript among the other papers. This testimony having been taken only
eleven days after the capture of AndrÈ, when every circumstance must
have been fresh in the recollection of his captors, it may be regarded
as exhibiting a greater exactness in its details, than any account
hitherto published. In answer to the question of the court, Paulding
said; "Myself, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams were lying by the side
of the road about half a mile above Tarrytown, and about fifteen miles
above Kingsbridge, on Saturday morning, between nine and ten o'clock,
the 23d of September. 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 were with
me, said, 'There comes a gentlemanlike-looking man, who appears to be
well dressed, and has boots on, and whom 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 told him to stand; and then
I asked him which way he was going. 'Gentlemen,' said he, '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 will
not 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. He then said,
'My God, I must do any thing to get along,' and seemed to make a kind
of laugh of it, and pulled out General Arnold's pass, which was to John
Anderson, to pass all guards to White Plains and below. Upon that he
dismounted. Said he, 'Gentlemen, you had best let me go, or you will
bring yourselves into trouble, for your stopping me will detain the
General's business;' and said he was going to Dobbs's Ferry to meet a
person there and get intelligence for General Arnold. Upon that I told
him I hoped he would not be offended, that we did not mean to take any
thing from him; and I told him there were many bad people, who were
going along the road, and I did not know but perhaps he might be one."
When further questioned, Paulding replied, that he asked the person
his name, who told him it was John Anderson; and that, when Anderson
produced General Arnold's pass, he should have let him go, if he had not
before called himself a British officer. Paulding also said, that when
the person pulled out his watch, he understood it as a signal that he
was a British officer, and not that he meant to offer it to him as a
present.
All these particulars were substantially confirmed by David Williams,
whose testimony in regard to the searching of AndrÈ, being more minute
than Paulding's, is here inserted.
"We took him into the bushes," said Williams, "and ordered him to pull
off his clothes, which he did; but on searching him narrowly we could
not find any sort of writings. We told him to pull off his boots, which
he seemed to be indifferent about; but we got one boot off, and searched
in that boot, and could find nothing. But we found there were some
papers in the bottom of his stocking next to his foot; on which we
made him pull his stocking off, and found three papers wrapped up. Mr.
Paulding looked at the contents, and said he was a spy. We then made
him pull off his other boot, and there we found three more papers at the
bottom of his foot within his stocking.
"Upon this 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. He said 'Yes,' and told us he would direct them to any
place, even if it was that very spot, so that we could get them. 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. Mr. Paulding
answered, 'No, if you would give us ten thousand guineas, you should
not stir one step.' I then asked the person, who had called himself John
Anderson, if he would not get away if it lay in his power. He answered,
'Yes, I would.' I told him I did not intend he should. While taking him
along we asked him a few questions, and we stopped under a shade.
He begged us not to ask him questions, and said when he came to any
commander he would reveal all.
"He was dressed in a blue over-coat, and a tight body-coat, that was
of a kind of claret color, though a rather deeper red than claret. The
button-holes were laced with gold tinsel, and the buttons drawn over
with the same kind of lace. He had on a round hat, and nankeen waistcoat
and breeches, with a flannel waistcoat and drawers, boots, and thread
stockings."
The nearest military post was at North Castle, where Lieutenant Colonel
Jameson was stationed with a part of Sheldon's regiment of dragoons. To
that place it was resolved to take the prisoner; and within a few hours
he was delivered up to Jameson, with all the papers that had been taken
from his boots.