Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-05
ALEXANDRIA, Cd. c.
WEDNESDAY MOANING, SEPT 5. ls5.

"Wednesday MOhNiNG, oE!I. D. lSJ. Z
How full Of romantic incident was the war q /
our Revolution, and how many ''moying acli
dents, BY food and field" were encountered b. (
the brave men who shared in its gloom and II,
glory. 1t is refreshing occasionally to turn to liz
instances of exalted patriotism. noble DARN.
and fcarIessncss Of danger, which are TO be fOarl
recorded IN our Revolutionary annals We have
thought that a column OF our paper might We.
be appropriated, this morning, to reminiseencs
of this nature. aud accordingly we make the III
lowing extract from Gen. Lees Memoirs Of III.
Southern Campaigns: an extract which will Te
pay perusaI, and furnishes All example Of II.
kind of men we had TO fight our battles aoI VII
our liberty:
Champe.-Among all the actors in the dram.
of the Revolution, none have been SO little knoan
or so little rewarded, as this brave soldier lie
is dead! While those who saw in quiet their
cOuntry's sutferiDgs, have sded monument tr
point out where lie their lgnoble remains, this
brave soldier of the Revolution has not single
stone to commemorate his deeds, or point TO pos.
teritv his grave. In few years the name Of
Champe, with some other actors in g that time
which fried mems SOULS" will have been forgot:
ten. John Champe, at the time Of the desertloa
of Arnold, was sergeant major IN the corps
known as Lees Legion. With Gen. Washing
ton it became an object to secure Arnold that he
might save the life of Andre. Having matured
the plan, Washington sent to Major Lee TO re-
pair to head quarter, a, rappan. on the Hudson
:. have sent for you,'' sad he, " IN the cSpec'
tati0n that YOU have some one IN your corps who
is willing To undertake deIicate and hazardous
project Whoever comes forward will cone
great oblisauons upon me personally. and IN be-
half Of the United States, will reward him am
ply. No time in to BIZ lost; he must proceed. Il
possible. tonight. | intend to seize Arnold.
aud save Andre"
Major Lee named Champe, whom n repre-.
sented as native Of Virginia, man full ct bone
and muscle, with countenance grave, thonghtiu
and taciturn; and tried courage, and lnheXb.'
perseverance.
Champe was sent for by Major Lee, and the
plan proposed. This was for him to desert, t"
escape to New York, to appear friendly to d"
enemy. to watch Arnold. and upon some ii op.
portunity, with the assistance Of some one whom
Champe could trust, to seize him and conduci
him to an appointed place on the river. where
Champe listened to the plan attentively. bui
with the spirit of man Of honor and integrity,
replied ''that it vas not danger nor difficulty
that deferred him from Immediately accepting the
proposal, but the isnominy OF desertion, and the
hypocrisy of enlisting with the enemy"
To these objections Lee replied, that although
he would appear to desert, yet as he obeyed The
call of the Commander in Chief, his departure
could not be considered criminal; and that II he
suffered in reputation for a time, the matter
would enc day be explained to his credit. A'
to the second objection, it was urged, that to
bring such man rs Arnold to justice, loaded
with guilt as he was, and to save Andre, soyoun5'
so accomplished, so beloved, and to achieve so
much good in the cause of his country. was mors
than sufficient to balance a wrong, existing only
in appearance.
The objections OF Champe were at length sur
mounted, and he accepted the service. 1t was
now eleven O'Clock a. night. With his nstruc-
tons in his pockets, the sergeant returned TO
camp; and taking his cloak, valice, and orderly
book, drew his horse from the picket, and then
mounted. putting himself upon fortune.
Scarel had half an hour elapsed before Capt
Carnes, the officer Of the day, waited upon Lee,
who was vainly attempting to sleep, and inform
ed him that one of the patrol had fallen in with
Dragon, who, being challenged, put spurs to h''
horse and escaped. Lee, hoping to conceal th'
fight Of Champe. or at least to delay pursuit
complained Of fatigue, and told the captain tI'ai
the patrol had probably mistaken a countryrnan
for a Dragon. Carnes. however, was not thus
to be quieted; and he withdrew TO assemble his
corps. On examination. il was found that Champ
was absent. The captain now returned, and &C
nfo4V Oh IL. At
had detached party in pursuit Of the desertc',
and begged the maj or's written orders.
After making as much delay as practicable.
without exciting suspicion, Lee delivered his OF
ders, in which he directed the party to tak'
Champe If possible bring him alive" said
he, "that he may suffer in the presence cf tA'