CHAPTER XXXVI.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION.-Treason of Arnold-Capture and execution of André-Adventures of Sergeant-Major Champe-Arnold's invasion of Virginia-His marauding expedition to Connecticut-Capture of New London-Catastrophe of Fort Griswold-Revolt of the Pennsylvania line-Foreign relations of the United States-Affairs in Florida and Louisiana-Capture of Mr. Laurens-Mission of John Adams to

Holland.

DURING the year 1780, an occurrence took place without a parallel in American history, and which was near leading the affairs of the colonists to the brink of ruin. This was the treason of General Arnold, who deserted the American cause, sold himself to the enemies of his country, and engaged in the British service. He was a man without principle from the beginning; and, before his treachery was discovered, he had sunk a character, raised by impetuous valor attended with success, without being the possessor of any other intrinsic merit. He had accumulated a fortune by peculation, and squandered it discreditably, long before he formed the plan to betray his country. Montreal he had plundered in haste; but in Philadelphia he went to work deliberately to seize everything he could lay hands on, which had been the property of the disaffected party, and converted it to his own use. He entered into contracts for speculating and privateering, and at the same time made exorbitant demands on congress for compensation for his services. In his speculations he was disappointed by the common failure of such adventures; in the other attempt he was rebuffed and mortified by the commissioners appointed to examine his accounts, who curtailed a great part of his demands as unjust, and for

by his extravagance, and reproached by his creditors, his resentment wrought him up to a determination of revenge for this public ignominy.

The command of the important post at West Point, on the Hudson, had been given to Arnold. No one suspected, notwithstanding the censures that had fallen upon him, that he had a heart base enough treacherously to betray his military trust. Who made the first advances to negotiation, is uncertain; but it appeared, on a scrutiny, that Arnold had proposed overtures to Clinton, characteristic of his own baseness, and not very honorable to the British commander, if viewed apart from the usages of war, which too frequently sanction the blackest crimes. His treacherous proposals were listened to, and Clinton authorized Major André, his adjutant-general, a young officer of great integrity and worth, to hold a personal and secret conference with the traitor. André and Arnold had

kept up a friendly correspondence on some trivial matters, previous to their personal interview. Washington having been called by urgent business to Hartford, the conspirators considered this a good occasion for the accomplishment of their design. A meeting was agreed upon between

David Williams and Isaac Van Wert, chanced to be reconnoitring the country in the neighborhood of Tarrytown, a village not far from the British posts, when André was passing through that place. One of them presented his musket and commanded him to stand. André, instead of producing his passport, most inconsiderately declared himself a British officer, and requested not to be detained, as he had important business. They ordered him to dismount; on which he exhibited Arnold's passport; but the militia men, being suspicious that something was wrong, took him aside among the bushes and proceeded to search him. They found papers concealed in his boots, and at once pronounced him a spy. André now discovered, for the first time, that he was in the hands of his enemies. He offered the men his gold watch, horse, and one hundred guineas, to be released. They replied that ten thousand guineas would not bribe them; and immediately carried him off to Colonel Jameson, who commanded the advance post.

On examining André's papers, they were found to contain, in the hand-writing of Arnold, the most exact accounts relative to the American forces, their numbers, equipments and magazines, the garrison of West Point, the various military positions, and the best modes of attacking them. Jameson was so dull a man that these overwhelming proofs never caused him to suspect Arnold's treachery. He sent the papers to General Washington, and at the same time despatched an express to Arnold, acquainting him that Anderson was taken, with his papers. Instead of keeping André in close custody, he sent him also to Arnold; and these two conspirators would have made their escape to gether, but for the presence of mind of Major Tallmadge, the second in command under Jameson, who, suspecting the treason of Arnold, prevailed upon his colonel to bring back the prisoner, before he had reached West Point. Arnold, the moment he received the letter announcing the capture of Anderson, sprang up from the table at which he was seated at breakfast, ran down to the shore, and, throwing himself into a boat, rowed on board the Vulture. Thus the author of this base scheme of treachery escaped, and

left the unfortunate instrument of his treason to expiate the crime with his life.

As soon as André found no hopes of escape remained for himself, he made a virtue of necessity, and announced himself as the adjutant-general of the British army. The whole plot was thus apparent. The public was struck with amazement. Nobody had ever suspected Arnold capable of such a deed of monstrous villany. The officers of the American army were in doubt whom they should trust, and Washington was filled with anxiety lest the plot should have extensive ramifications. After much investigation, however, it was satisfactorily ascertained that Arnold had no accomplices, and a sentiment of pious gratitude was felt throughout the country, at the happy providence which had saved the nation in this perilous conjuncture.

The traitor Arnold, immediately on his arrival on board the Vulture, had the effrontery to write a letter to Washington, declaring that he abandoned the cause of the revolution out of pure patriotism! and declaiming against the ingratitude of the country, which had not rewarded him according to his deserts,—as if the American people had mountains of gold to heap upon him. He requested that his wife might be sent to him; and, in a second letter, no less insolent, demanded the release of André. Mrs. Arnold was allowed to join her husband, but André was retained and put upon his trial before a court-martial, as a spy. André, disdaining all subterfuge and evasion, and studying only to place his character in a fair light, voluntarily confessed many facts which he might have kept secret. He made no attempt to palliate anything relating to himself, while he concealed with scrupulous nicety whatever might endanger the safety of others. The court were extremely struck with his candor and magnanimity, and showed how much they felt for his perilous situation. But, after a full examination of the circumstances, they declared, unanimously, that Major André, having been taken in disguise, within the American lines, ought to be considered a spy from the enemy, and, conformably to the laws of war and