Passing through scenes which impressed upon Barclugh the virtues
and the hardihood of the Colonists, he rode the whole day wondering
how such noble souls as Benjamin Andrews were to be conquered. They
were resourceful, self-reliant, and the peer of any Englishman in
gentlemanly virtues. So long as they had no need or desire for the
artificial demands of society their character remained absolutely
unassailable. But in the cities, where luxury and old-world customs
were imbued, there the power of money would be felt, and only there.
However, after six days of travel, the suborner of American character
had had several good-sized shocks to his theories, and one of these
was the fact that one hundred years ago or less, the ground over which
he had travelled had been an unbroken wilderness, and now flourishing
settlements and homes were met at every turn. What was Britain to do
with four millions of earnest, fearless people launched in a war for
independence? Oh, that the King’s advisers had known what he had seen!
They would have paused and considered the demands of their people
across the sea.
Such reveries were suddenly to cease, however, for passing out of New
Jersey on the mountain road, Barclugh had passed into the confines of
Ulster County, New York, when he was abruptly confronted by three armed
men. He had been walking ahead and leading his horse after a long day’s
travel and had no thoughts of war:
“Halt! Friend? or foe? Advance and give the countersign,” thundered out
the leader of the three.
As Barclugh looked up he saw three gun-barrels levelled at him, and not
losing his nerve replied:
“Friend! I will present my passport.”
The passport was the one from Arnold, commandant at Philadelphia. It
ran as follows:
“Philadelphia, May 20, 1780.
“To Commander of American Outposts:
“The bearer of this passport, Mr. Pierre La Fitte, will be granted
safe convoy and allowed to pass American outposts on his way to
Fishkill.
“He has important business with the Commander-in-Chief, General
Washington.
“(Signed) B. Arnold.
“Major-General & Com. at Phil.”
“All’s well, Mr. La Fitte,” came from the leader. “I spose you’re from
the south’ard, and what news is there, sir?”
“No news, sir. What is the shortest road to Fishkill?” was the
impatient answer of Barclugh.
“Methinks,” rejoined the leader, “that you are in a mighty haste. What
be your profession, stranger?”
Drawing himself up to his full height, Barclugh replied:
“I am a financier.” Hoping thus to overawe the rustic soldiers.
“Ah, a financier, a financier, eh? Wal, you are the fust one that ever
struck these parts. I guess you are too rare a bird to be travelling
among our folks for no pains. I b’leeve we better pick your feathers a
little and see what kinder skin you got!”
“Boys, if we scratch his skin we might find a Tartar, eh?” said the
eldest of the three, and the other two laughed at his wit.
“Wal, I b’leeve if he’s a fi-an-cee man he oughter have a lackey or
two along to black his boots,” said the second soldier as he nudged
the leader in the ribs, “and powder his hair. Ha! ha! ha! Eh? boys?”
continued the latter.
“Look here, you will be punished for these indignities, when I report
you,” spoke up Barclugh, threateningly.
“Never mind, Mr. Feet, we know who is boss in this ’ere neck of the
mountains, and we’ll apply first American principles to your case. I
b’leeve the majority rules in this taown meetin’.”
“I say this feller is Mr. La Blackleg, and oughter peel off for a
little inwestergation,--and all of those in favor of that motion will
say ‘_aye_’!” Up went three hands and a mighty “_aye_” in unison.
“Carried,” yelled the leader.
Then the three laid strong hands on Barclugh.
Resistance seemed in vain for Barclugh, and he submitted, since he had
prepared for just such an emergency. He was calm, and said:
“Gentlemen, I am perfectly agreed you should examine all of my papers,
and take me to your headquarters.”
Barclugh took off his coat and handed it over; then he took off his
brace of pistols, boots, socks and hat.
There were but two papers in his coat,--one the passport of Arnold, and
another which the leader read, who then danced around in high glee,
holding the letter high up in the air and shouting:
“Yi! yi! yi! We’ve got him, boys! Nary a bit of honest bizness are
these fiancee men up to. How be it, he may be in-cog-ni-to, but I
b’leeve he’s pritty nigh to findin’ out he’s in the wrong bizness for
this country. Listen to this:
As read:
“Philadelphia, May 20, 1780.
“Sir:
“I take pleasure to recommend to your kindly consideration, Mr.
Roderick Barclugh, who is a gentleman of substance and of good parts.
“He is on a secret mission for me to New York, to learn of the
arrival of some important treasure ships of the English, and also to
assist in our mutual business of privateering.
“He is traveling _incognito_ and if you can further him on his
journey, our common cause will be very materially assisted.
“With every sentiment of esteem and regard, I am, dear General,
“Your most obedient servant,
“(Signed) R. FitzMaurice.
“To His Excellency, General Washington.”
“I told you! I told you!” said the leader, “he calls himself Mr. La
Fitte, and here’s Mr. Barclugh on a secret mission to New York about
some treasure ships. I wonder if he has any treasure aboard naow. Boys,
you jest peel off that feller’s clothes a little more.”
The other two went at Barclugh with surprising energy, and examined
every seam of his clothing, and brought off a buckskin belt that was
around his waist, and the three went at its contents.
First they brought off fifty gold pieces, English guineas.
Then they felt some papers in a small pocket and lo, here were bills of
exchange on the Bank of Amsterdam for eighty thousand pounds in gold.
The leader held the bills up and counted three each for twenty thousand
pounds and two each for ten thousand pounds, and then turning to his
companions, said seriously:
“That beats my reckonin’. Boys, this fellow is an infernal rascal, for
he has more money on his person than any one man can honestly earn.
Say, Mr. Feet, where did you git this treasure? Did you earn it? Did
you find it? Does it belong to you?”
“Gentlemen,” replied Barclugh, “if you will conduct me to the camp of
General Washington, I will present you with the guineas I have and any
reasonable reward you may ask.”
“Nary a guinea will an American soldier ask from a stranger to perform
his duty. You will be conducted safely, with every guinea you have,
to Captain Thomas Storm and he will turn you over to Colonel Abraham
Brinkerhoff, who has command of our precinct,” were the soldierly words
of the spokesman of the party as he continued:
“Fall in, boys.”
They now took up the march in silence, leading the horse which carried
their prisoner, bootless and sockless, on the saddle.
Their journey led Barclugh to Newburg, the headquarters of Colonel
Brinkerhoff, who at once ordered the important prisoner with his papers
to the headquarters of General Washington.
The Commander-in-Chief received the papers and went at once to his
office, whither Roderick Barclugh had been conducted, and very
graciously returned the bills and gold after reading the letter from R.
FitzMaurice, the financier, with no remark except:
“I am very sorry, Mr. Barclugh, that you were handled so roughly
yesterday by our outpost, but you will understand that they have orders
to stop all travellers and search everybody that they do not know
personally. The road is much used by the Tories and British going to
and from Canada.”
“Our Colonel Hamilton has told me that he has met you at dinner at
Mr. FitzMaurice’s and we would be pleased to have you stop over night
with us. Our fare is plain, but we shall be pleased to make you as
comfortable as possible.”
“I shall take great pleasure in accepting your kind offer, General, yet
I shall be compelled to be away soon in the morning, since my business
is urgent,” replied Barclugh as he looked squarely into the eyes of
General Washington in order to drink in every word that this great and
good man uttered.
“You shall be at your own pleasure, Mr. Barclugh. Colonel Hamilton will
furnish you passports.
“Please excuse me further at present; Colonel Hamilton will be here
to take you to our quarters. I will see you later on,” were the
simple words of the Commander, as he left Barclugh and mounted his
Virginia-bred horse for a review of a new battalion from Connecticut.
The town of Fishkill was one of those sleepy little settlements during
the Revolutionary War, nestling in the shadow of a high promontory
projecting into the Hudson. However, in a military way it was of great
importance, since the great highway between New England and the Western
States crossed the Hudson here; and an important depot of supplies was
maintained there to furnish the needs of the northern army. The prison,
strongly palisaded, the workshops for casting shot and cannon and the
mills for making powder were maintained at this convenient spot.
The headquarters of General Washington and his staff while on a tour of
inspection were generally assigned to one of the commodious farmhouses
of the time on the highroad skirting the Hudson north of Fishkill.
Washington and his military family were finely quartered. A short
distance from the activities of the camp stood the commodious Colonial
residence of Colonel Hay, on high ground overlooking a most wonderful
scope of surrounding country. There was Newburg across the broad river;
Storm King and Crow’s Nest loomed up in the vision out of the Hudson;
and tier upon tier of the hazy blue Catskills rose in the northwest to
soothe a soul’s longing for enchantment.
While seated in a tent on the grounds of the mansion, and while musing
on the scene that lay before him, Barclugh was approached by the urbane
and talented Colonel Hamilton, who escorted him to the house.
There Colonel Tilghman, one of the aides, was met. He conversed most
delightfully with Barclugh for an hour or more, until dinner was spread
and the General had arrived.
With the General came Generals Knox and Wayne to dine, and after a
short presentation and exchange of compliments they all sat down to
dinner.
The repast was simple,--served in the English fashion, eight or ten
dishes filled with meat, poultry and vegetables, placed on the table
and followed by a course of pastry. After this, the cloth was removed
and apples and nuts in profusion were served. They were eaten during
toasting and calm conversation. The General was very fond of this
after-dinner intercourse, and prolonged it sometimes for two hours.
Barclugh now had the opportunity of his whole journey,--to observe the
caliber of the men who held the fate of the Colonies in their hands.
He was amazed at the bearing and conversation of Washington and his
military family. The dignity and the ease with which they made one feel
at his best, still, the reserve used, the high tone of the sentiments
expressed, commanded not only respect but esteem for Washington and his
cause.
The Commander conversed pleasantly with Barclugh,--but to penetrate
the General’s business or to divine his plans was to attempt the
impossible. There was a certain point to which one could approach in
Washington’s confidence, but beyond that arose a barrier which no one
could essay to surmount.
Such a feeling of remorse arose within Barclugh that his previous
intentions of setting forth the virtues of Arnold waned and he could
not muster the moral force to open upon Arnold’s assignment to West
Point, unless the General asked about Arnold himself.
However, at eight o’clock Barclugh was summoned from his room to supper
after the English custom.
The supper was simple also. It consisted of three or four light dishes,
some fruit and above all a great abundance of nuts, which were as well
received as at dinner.
After Washington, his military attaches and Barclugh had partaken of
this light repast, the cloth was removed and a few bottles of claret
and Madeira were placed on the table.
The toasts this evening were given by Colonel Hamilton, who was
particular to mention several of the belles of Philadelphia, whom
Barclugh had met. When it came the turn of Barclugh to propose a
sentiment or a toast, he asked them, gracefully, to drink to the
welfare and happiness of Miss Greydon of Dorminghurst, all of which was
well received by those present.
Exactly at ten o’clock the members of the General’s staff presented
themselves to Mr. Barclugh, and after customary formalities retired
gracefully for the night, and left the General alone with his guest.
Washington filled the glass of Barclugh and then his own and while
nibbling a few kernels of hickory nuts he said to his guest:
“When you left France, Mr. Barclugh, did you think that the French
monarch would maintain an army for our cause?”
“There was no question about it, General Washington. Mr. Franklin
told me as much when the full effects of Burgoyne’s surrender and the
failure of Cornwallis and Howe to hold Philadelphia were realized.
The French monarch was then encouraged to throw all of his resources
against England,” replied Barclugh, hoping to put Washington off his
guard, and have him grow enthusiastic for his cause.
But Barclugh was to be disappointed in this result. Washington again
asked him a leading question:
“Mr. Barclugh, do you believe that the British can use heroic measures
to offset the French aid?”
“Oh, yes, General. The British will be sure to exert themselves more
than ever in that event. You know that the British have a great navy
and great resources of money. When the power of money is put in the
balance, the weaker force will have to succumb. That is the manner in
which the Britons argue,” contended Barclugh, as he looked intently at
Washington, waiting for his reply.
“Well,” replied the patriot patiently, “if the English reason that
way, they forget that men have souls. Here is a nation of four million
souls waging war against the most powerful of monarchs, and no money
of our own. We came to America because we had no money; the nobility
had control of it. We have built up a nation without money. However,
we shall defend it without the Englishman’s money. Our people take the
quartermaster’s receipts as eagerly as they would British sovereigns,
and they pass current for all dues, because we have grown up in the
confidence of mutual helpfulness. Destroy that confidence and the
Englishman’s guinea becomes mere dross. If a ship were loaded with gold
and human beings, in case of distress, the Englishman would sacrifice
the human beings to save the gold, whereas the American would throw
overboard the gold to save the human beings.
“But when a soldier fights on the battlefield simply to gain gold, he
begins to think which is more valuable, life or gold, and he loses
confidence in the gold; but when a soldier fights on a battlefield for
civil or religious liberty, he becomes reckless of life and is willing
to sacrifice all for liberty.
“Now, sir, we fear not the war of gold.”
“But, General,” argued Barclugh, “will not the commercial classes and
the men of wealth be influenced by considerations of Britain’s gold?”
“The men of large wealth are already Tories, Mr. Barclugh, and against
us. The commercial classes will be on whichever side their trade is
encouraged. But the great mass of Colonists are agriculturists, whose
virtue is above reproach and on whose hardihood and honesty of purpose
this nation must place its reliance. If they stand firm and fight for
the principles of our Declaration of Independence, this nation shall
never perish, but if they allow artificial allurements of gold to buy
their liberty, then we shall have expedience for our principles and
laughter at our pretensions.”
Barclugh saw that principles had firm root in the Commander’s mind, but
he thought that he would sound for any petty prejudice that might be
lurking in his heart, so he cunningly said:
“However, you know, General Washington, that a great many
Philadelphians seem to be ambitious after wealth. I have noticed some
lukewarmness for the cause there.”
Whereupon Washington at once began to get reserved and continued the
conversation by asking:
“Mr. Barclugh, have you any news of General Arnold?”
“Yes, the last time I met General Arnold, he complained about the great
social demands upon him, and that to meet his expenses he was driven
almost to distraction. I could think that this good man might be ruined
in Philadelphia, by too much gayety. Then you know, General, that he
was never before used to it.”
The Commander-in-Chief did not express an opinion about Arnold, but
Barclugh observed that very careful mental note was made on what was
said of Arnold. However, he continued by asking:
“When you have completed your mission in New York, how do you propose
to return, Mr. Barclugh? I shall be pleased to serve you. I presume
your mission is entirely of a business nature and you will fight shy of
the military people,” in his most gracious and pleasing manner.
“I wish to return by way of the Jerseys, General. However, I may not
be able to return at all.” Desiring to impress upon Washington the
seriousness of his intentions, these were the concluding remarks of
Barclugh’s important conversation.
After the exchange of a few civilities about Philadelphia people and
the exchange of mutual compliments for the pleasant evening spent
together, Roderick Barclugh arose and retired to his bed, determined to
start early in the morning for New York,--a journey of sixty miles.