The Litchfield County post., 1827-04-12

Waterbury, who was second Tn command under Arnold, perceiving the vessel was likely to sink, was obliged to order Bettys | and the remnant of the crew on board his own vessel, and having noticed his extra ordinary bravery and conduct, he stationed him on the quarter deck by his side, and gave orders through him, until the vessel becoming altogether crippled-the crew mostly killed-Gen. Waterbury wounded, and only two officers left, the colours were struck to the enemy. Gen. Waterbury afterwards told my father that he never saw man behave with such deliberate des- peration, as did Bettys; and that the shrewdneSs of his management, showed his conduct was not inferior to his courage.
 After this action, Bettys went to Cana da-turned traitor to his country-received an ensign's commission in the British army became a spy, and proved himself most dangerous and subtle enemy. He was at length arrested-tried, and condemned to be hung at West Point. But the entrea- ties of his aged Parents, and the solicita- ton of influential whigs, induced Gen. Washington to pardon him on promise of amendment. But it was in vain. The gen. eresity of the act only added rancour to his hatred, and the whigs of this section of the country, especially of Ballston, had deep occasion to remember the traitor, and re- gret the unfortunate lenity they had caused to be shown him. He recruited soldiers for the king in the very heart of the coun- try; he captured and carried off the most jealous and efficient whigs, and subjected them to the greatest suffering; and those against whom he bore particular malice lost their dwellings by fire, and their lives by murder-and all this, whilst the British commanders kept him in employ as a most faithful and successful messenger, and cun- ming and intelligent spy. No fatigue wea- ried his resolution-no distance was an ob- stacle to his purpose, and no danger appal- led his courage. No one felt secure- sometimes in the darkness of the night he came by stealth upon us, and sometimes e. ven in the middle of the day he was prow- ling about, as if unconscious of any danger. He boldly proclaimed himself desperate; that he carried his life in his hand, and was as careless of it as he should be of that of others, should they undertake to catch him that his liberty was guarded by his life, and whoever should undertake to deprive him of it must expect to mingle their blood with his. And it was we'll understood that what Bettys said, Bettys meant-and as well ascertained that when he came among us to perpetrate his mischiefs, that he gen. orally brought with him band of refugees, to assist him in the accomplishment of his purposes.
 Still there were many who were resolv- ed on his apprehension, be the danger what it might, and many intellectual attempts were made for that purpose, but he alluded all their vigilance until sometime in the winter of '81, 'S2-when suspicious stran- ger was observed in the neighborhood, on snow shoes, and well armed. Cory and Perkins, on information from Fulmer, im- mediately armed themselves, together with Fulmer, and proceeded in pursuit-they traced him by circuitous track to the house of a tory-they consulted a moment, and then by sudden effort, bursting open the door, rushed in upon him, and seized him before he had an opportunity of efec- ting any resistance. He was at his meal, with his pistols lying on the table, and his rife resting on his arm-he made an att tempt to discharge the latter, but not hav- ing taken the precaution to undo the deer skin cover that was over the lock, did not succeed-he was then pinioned so firmly, that to resist was useless-and to escape impossible. And the notorious Betys, cheated of all his threats and foiled in his most particular resolution, was obliged to yield himself tame and quiet prisoner to the enterprise and daring of Fulmer, Cory, and Perkins.
 He asked leave to smoke, which being granted, he took out his tobacco, and with it something else which when unobserved, as he hoped, he threw into the fire. But Cory saw it and immediately snatched it out with handful of coals. It was a small lcaden box, about the eighth of an inch in thickness, and contained paper in cypher, which they could not read, but was after wards discovered to be a despatch to the British commander at New York. And also an order of E3O sterling on the Mayor of N. York, should the despatch be safely delivered. Bettysbegged leave to burn it, but was refused-he offered them hund red guineas, if he might be allowed to do it but they refused. He then said |" l am dead man ]" but continued to intercede u,;,h +bano to alIov him fo eScane Ha