The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-16
REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
AfaEmrr TO TAXI ARNOLD

i General Washington having harmed viii
Their Arnold had He'd, deemed il possibl.
still 10 take him, aud bring him to iii. jus
reward of his treachery. To accomplish
an object so desirable. and nj the same
time, III 81 doing, 10 save Andre, Washing
ton devised u plan, which, although II al
iimaiely failed, e.iuced III. greatness oi his
powers, aud his unwearied ardour for his
country's good.
Having matured the plan, Washington
sent for major Lee to repair 10 head quar-.
ters, iat Tappan, on the llu,lson.l Il have
sent for you,' said Gen. Washington, IN
the expectation that YOU have some one IN
your corps, who is willing 10 undertake u
delicate and hazardous project. Whoever
comes forward will confer great obligations
on me personally, aud in behalf of the u.
States, will reward him amply.-No time
is to be lost he must proceed, ifpossiblc,
tonight. intend TO seize Arnold, aud
save Andre
Mayor Lee named n sergeant major Of
his corps, by the name of Champc--a ma
five OF Virginia, a man full OF bone l. MUS
fle-with connienanee grave, Thought
| inl and taclturn--of tried courage, aud IN
flexible perseverance.
tllanpe was sent for by Lee, and the
plan proposed. This was for him 10 de-
seri---to escape 10 New York--to appear
friendly To the enemy-to watch Arnold,
aud upon some III opportunity, with the
assistance of some one whom Champc
could trust, to seize him, and conduct him
TO place ON the river, appointed, where
| boats should be in readiness IN bear them
away.
Champe listened TO the plan attentiyely
hut with the spirit Of man OF honor aud
of integrity, replied that il WINS mol dan
ger nor difficulty that deferred him from
immediately accepting the proposal but
'gnomi"y u 'ieserfion, and The hypocrisy u
ealisfing Nth He enemyr
To these objections Lee replied, that Al
though he would appear 10 desert, yet MS
he obeyed the cali Of his commander in
chief, his departure could not be consider
ed rs criminal, aud that If he suffered ~
reputation for time, the matter should
one day be explained To his credit.
| As to the second objection, il was urged,
that TO bring such a man rs Arnold 10 jus
tee loaded with guilt as he was--aud to
save Andre--so y0nng--so accomplished
so bclorcd--to achieve so much good
IN The Cause Of his country was more
than sufficient 10 balance wrong existing
only in appearance.
| The objections of Champe were nj
length surmOunicd, and he accepted the
service. II was now eleven o'clock 1T
night. With his Instructions in his pocket,
The aergcanl returned 10 camp, aud taking
bis cloak, valiee, aud orderly book, drew
his horse from the picket and mounted
putting himself upon fortune.
| Scarcely had half M hour elapsed, be-
fore Capt. Carncs, the officer of the day,
waited upon Lee, who was yainiy attempt.
ing TO rest, and informed him, that one ol
the patrol had fallen in with n dragoon
who being challenged, put spur 10 his
horse, and had escaped.
Lee, hoping 10 conceal the fiifht oI
Champe, or ut least 10 delay pursuit, com
planned OF fatigue, and told the captain
that the patrol had probably mistaken 4
countrymdD for dragoon. CarDes, how.
ever, was not thus TO be qticted but with
drew To assemble his corps.
Denomination, il was found that Cham
pc was absent. The captain now returned
ana acquainted Lee with the discovery
adding that he had detached party q
pursue the deserter, aud begged the ma
i jor's written orders.
After making ms much delay az was prac
ticabIc without exciting suspicion, lie.
delivered his ordcrs--in which he directed
the party TO take champe II possible
Bring him alive said he, that hc ma,
sulier IN the presence of the army but xii
h'm II lac resIste, OF If he escapes after be
ing token'
A shower Of rain fell soon after Champe'
4 departure, which enabled the pursuing dra
goons to take the trail Of his horse, hi
shoes, IN common with those OF the horse
Of the army, being made in a peculiar form
aud each having private mark, whicl
was to be seen in the path.
Middleton, the leader Of the pursuin
party, left the camp few minutes past ! 2
80 that Champe had the start Of but it'll
more than an hour---a period by far shor
Ter than had been contemplated.
| During the night, the Dragons were OF
ten delayed IN the necessary hats to exa
mine the road but on the coming Of NOR
ming, the impression Of the horses shoe
/, was 50 apparent, that they pressed ON v III
rapidly.
d Some miles about Bergen, Ia viIag
+ three niles north Of New York, on the op
. positc side of the Iiudson,) Oh ascending
hill, Champe was deserted not half
I mile Overwhelmingly, clampe descii
I'd his pursuers at the same moment, AN
!, eonjccturng their object, put spur to hi
4 horse with the hope Of escape.
4 BY taking different road, Champe wa
!, for time lost sight of-but 90 approach
! my the river le was sgaia deserted.
u ware of his danger, he now lashed hi
|, yalice, containing his clothes and orderl
I book, to his shoulders, ahd prepare
! himself to plunge into the river if neces,a
!, ny. ipe
J, Swift was bis flirhf and swift WAS fh