Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-05-05

New ork forces, commanded by Col.
Wynkoop. Being acquainted with Bet
tvs, who was cillzen Of Ballston, and
knowing him to be bold, athletic, and in
telligent in an uncommon degree, l was
deslrous Of obtaining his services Tor my
country, and succeeded in enlstlng him
with the command Of sergeant; he was
afterwards reduced to the ranks, on ac-
count Of some insolence to an officer;
who he said had abused him without
cause Knowing his irritable and deter
mined spirit, and unwilling to lose him,
l procured him sergeantcy in the fleet
commanded by Gen. Arnold; afterwards
the traitor, off Lake Champlain, in '76.
Bettys was in that desperate fight which
took place in the latter part Of that cam
paign, between the British and Ameri-
can fleets, on hat lake, and being skill
fu seaman was of signal service during
the battle. He fought until every COM
missioned officer on board his vessel was
killed or wounded, and then assumed
command himself, and continued to fight
with such reckless courage, that Gene
raj aterbury, perceiving the vessel was
likely to sink, was Obliged to order Bet
tvs and the remnant of his crew on board
his own vessel, and having noticed bis
extraordinary 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-General Wa
terbury wounded-and only two officers
left, the colors were struck to the ene-
my General Waterbury afterwards told
my father, that he never saw man be-
have with such deliberate desperation
as did Bettys; ard that the shrewdness
Of his management showed his conduct
was not inferior to his courage
After this action, Bettys went to Can
ada-'urned traitor to his country-re-
ceived an ensign's commission in the
British army--became a SPY, and prov
ed himself most dangerous and subtle
enemy. He was at length arrested
tried and condemned to be hung at West
Point But the entreaties of his aged
parents, and the solicitations Of inhuen-
tial wings, induced Washington to par
don him, on promise of amendment.
But it was in vain The generosity of
the act only ADDED rancour to his hatred, &,
and the wings of this section of the
country, especially Of Ballston, had deep
occasion to remember the traitor, and to
regret the unfortunate lenity they had
caused to be shown him. He recruited
soldiers for the King in the very heart
Of the country he captured and carried
off the most jealous and efficient wings,
and subjected them to the greatest snf-
fering; and those against whom he bore
particular malice lost their dwellings, by
fire, or their lives by murder--and all
this while the British commanders kept
him in employ as most faithful and sue
cessful messenger, and cunning and
intelligent spy. No fatigue wearied his
resolution--no distance was an obstacle
to his purpose, and no danger appalled,
his courage. No one felt secure
sometimes in the darkness of the night
he came by stealth upon us, and some
times even in the middle of the day he
was prowling about as If unconscious of
any danger He boldly proclaimed him
self desperado, that he carried his life
in his hand, that he 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 who
ever should undertake to deprive him of
it must expect TO mingle their blood with
his. And it was well understood tn at
what Bettys said Bettys meant--and as
well ascertained that when he came
among us to perpetrate his mischieis,
that he generally brought with him a
band of refugees, and concealed them in
the neighbourhood, to assist him in the
accomplishment Of his purposes.
Still there were many who resolved on
his apprehension, be the danger what it
might, and many Intellectual attempts
were made for that purpose. But he
eluded all their vigilance until sometime
in the winter of '8l, '82,-when a sus-
picious stranger was observed in the
neighborhood, in snow-shoes, and we'll
armed. Cory and Perkins, on informa-
ton from Fulmer, Immediately armed
themselves, together with Fulmer and
proceeded in pursuit. They traced him
by circuitous track 10 the house of a
tory-they consulted moment, and then
by sudden effort, bursting open the door,
rushed in upon him, and seized him be-
fore he had any opportunity to effect any
resistance. He was at his meal, with his
pistols lying on the table and his rife
resting on his arm-he made an attempt
to discharge the latter, but not having