After Andre's execution General Washington formed a plan to seize
Arnold and bring him to the Jersey shore, first to punish him, second
to exonerate from suspicions of treachery another of his Generals,
St. Clair. Major Lee persuaded Sergeant Major John Champe of Loudon,
Virginia, to attempt to carry out the plan. He was to desert to the
British, join Arnold's American Legion and if possible bring Arnold
within reach of American troops. About 11 o'clock on the night of
October 20th, 1780, he started upon his perilous adventure; within
half an hour his absence was discovered and reported to Major Lee who
delayed the pursuit as long as he possibly could, but a little after
twelve, troops started after the supposed deserter. At Union Hill
Champe was only a short half mile ahead. Knowing that his flight to
Paulus Hook would be intercepted, he started for the British patrol
boats lying in Newark Bay near Brown's Ferry (near the Newark plank
road). His pursuers were within two or three hundred yards of him,
when he dismounted and running across the meadows plunged into the Bay
and swam for the boats, calling for help. The British sent a boat for
him and fired upon his pursuers. He soon established the innocence of
the other Generals and sent word to Lee to meet him at Hoboken upon a
certain night when he would deliver Arnold. But his plan miscarried
owing to the fact that Arnold moved his headquarters to another part
of the city. For a long time Champe endured many hardships, and was
unable to escape and return to his comrades until serving under Lord
Cornwallis at Petersburgh, Virginia.
[Illustration: THE OLD TUERS HOMESTEAD.]