The Arkansas advocate., 1830-06-09

inences on the right bank of the Hudson. with its double range of batteries and redoubts, traced as they had been by the aDlest engineers, made 1t an excel. ient defensive post, tic occupation oi which gave d great influence to the Stateo New ork. Arnold was not ig- noraet ot its value, and It was on thIs
 important point that he cast his eyes in preparing for his revenge. Before he mad yet received the appointment, which ne at length obtained drought combined influence of intrigue and im- portunity, he lad addressed letter to Col. Robinson, al officer in his Maies- ttJj.as service, a3neunciag tiiat he had ad- jured his revolutionary principles. and that he vehemently desired to regain the esteem of his Sovereign by some stri- king proof of repentance. This letter soon led to an active correspondence be- tween Arnold aad Sir Henry Clintoa, which was of course conducted with the greatest secrecy. Its chiefobject was to devise themeaa8 ofthrowing the fortress of West-foint now under Arnold com mand into the handsof the English. Tor the purpose of conducting the negoeia- tioh with greater security, Gen. Clinton lutrusted 1t to one of his alds-de-camp. a young man as distinguished for his a. mlable qualities as for his military tal- eats, which had at once conciliated the affections of his brother officers and se- cured for him the respect and esteem .ot his superiors in command. After receiving the necessary instruction from aen. Clinton, Major Andre embarked n this enterprise on board the Vulture sloop-ei-war, which brought him up the Hudson as far as Niugsferry about twelve miles below West-Point. From Alagsferry his communications with
 sfaold became frequent and eompar- atlveiY easy; but before the necessary arrangements could be finally compIe- ted, q personal interview was indispen- slbie, and Major Andre was repeatedly arged by Arnold to land for that par- pose, before he would consent 10 it, aeellng, perhaps, q secret repagaaaee b come in immediate contact with a traitor, or entertaining, 1t may be, some doubt as to the strict propriety of pen elrating the eneny's liaes-robels as he % doubt regarded them-undera name aid ln q character which did not belong b hiaf; the desire, however. of iastifins the confidence reposed in him by Gen. Clifton, induced him at length to ae- cede to the proposed interview, which
 vas fixed to take place in the house of a reputed royalist of the name of Josh ia Smith. During the night of the 2lst of September, Smith himself came on board the Vulture, in boat rowed by his own domestics, for rthe purpose ofcar- wing Major Andre to the place of rem dezvous. Arnold was in waiting on the bank to receive them, when they pro- ceeded together to the house of Smith where Major Andre remained conceal ed during the whole of the following day. At the conference which then took place, the whole of the plans for the occupatlonof Vest-Point were defi- aitely arranged, and on the approach of hie t, Andre prepared toreturnonb board the Vulture, out on reaching the bank, ne found that she had been obliged to remove to some distance, in order to a. void the fire of a battery by which she had been threatened, and the servants of Smith refused in consequence to put hifn Oh board the sloop.
 In this emergency, he resolved to hazard a journey by land to New ork, and having procured passport from
 Arnold under the name of James An derson, as a person employed on the public service, he mounted horse which was furnished to him by smith and proceeded on his journey. Under this disguise, and accompanied by Smith, he succeeded ill passing the American lines andinreaching Crompound where Smith, after giving him Instructions as to ills farther progress, parted with him. lie had already approached the Eng fish lines near Iarrytown, whena Ame- rican militiaman, who with two of his comrades had been patrolling between the two armies, suddenly rushed npon him from behind thleket, and seized his horse by the bridle. When thus taken by surprise Major Andre seems tohave lost his wonted presence of mind, or should rather say, that being wholly unaecustomed to disingenousness or dis gulse ne could not readily accommodate himself to the nart ha had undart,l lxan