Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-17
DOMESTIC.
From tho Albany Argus. /
lFrom tho Albany August
RECOLLECTlONS OF III REVOLUTION.
Read before the Albany Institute, March 4, 1898.

Read before the Albany Institute, March Z. 1893
BY L. n. WARD.
Every thing relative to the Revolution that resulted in
the establishment OF American Independence, must be
deeply interesting to every American. Even the smallest
act that tended TO produce That event, so much more re-
spiehueht from inc gloom that preceded it, possesses an
interest emitting it to attention, it not respect.
raets IN themselves unimportant. often become invest
ed w'h a peculiar interest, when considered in reference
to the results flowing from them. OF this character are
those contained in the simple narrative which / have
thought might not be uDintcresting on this occasion. 1t
oil Major Andre; TO which a peculiar interest has been at
tached, growing out of the character of the man and the
Importance OF the event. Had Andre effected his arrival
in New York with the important communications of Ar
mold in relation TO West Point, it is hardly possible 10 cal
culate the result upon our national struggle. Happily for
us, that arrival was never TO take place; and the fortunate
prevention OF ii has generally been attributed TO Williams,
Paulding, and Van Vert, his cap,ors. The strong proba-
bihty, however, is, that had not the facts occurred which
am abont to MENTION, the capture never would have Ia
ken place, because, in that event, he never would have
been in a situation to be captured. The substance of the
following narrative OF f,cts is taken from tradition. The
truth oil the facts may Ue relied upon.
1t was in the autumn Of the year 1850, that a farmer
living in the town Of Cortland, in the county of Westches-
Ter, was making cider, having been for a few days relcas-
cd from his country's service 10 follow his agricultural
pursuits. The mill in which he was at work was situated
on the East bank OF the Hudson, near that part OF Haver-
straw Bay, called, "Mother's Lap" or for brevity sake
The Lap" While busily employed in the manufacture
of his cider, two young men, whose names were Sher.
wood and Peterson, with their muskets, (he usual accom-.
paninent in those days9 approached the farmer, and after
passing the usual salutations, and refreshing themselves
"A' NO NOW maui luCT, tdlCu themselves upon n IOR
that lay near the mill. The farmer observing hem in
close conversation, and looking intenty upon some dis.
tant object, asked them 10 acquaint him with the cause of
their alarm and anxiety. "Husb,' speaking low, said
Sherwood, "the red coats are about us" "Where'' asked
the farmer in a whisper.
"Yonder, yonder, just within the lap" answered Pc
terson, pointing at the same time to a spot where was an
English gun-boat, with twenty four men laying upon
their oars, "Return to your mill - he added, and address
ing himself to Sherwood, eve will crawl TO the bank of
the river, and give the red boys a shot"
Peterson and Sherwood drew near to the margin OF
the Hudson, and placed themselves behind a large rock
which was directly between them and the gun boat, and
examining their guns, they fired upon the crew and killed
two persons. The British soldiers that manned the gun.
boat belonged to the British sloop Of war, Vulture, which
lay at anchor in the Hudson, off Tellers' Point. Not ex-
peeung TO meet with the enemy, they had prepared
S osespt q pi %1% DS ~'@ FSis . G' ''' hss.iIS or G %s,f"s is.
wards The shore. but without giving it any parti-
c1lar direction, and, of course, without producing any
elect. Quickly perceiving that all their efforts 10 defend
themselves must be unavailing, as they were contendinp
with a hidden foe, they put their boa, about as speedily as
possible and proceeded towards the Vulture, presunrinp
tina, its heavy arms would secure TO them a far better pro-
lection from rebel outrage than their own small blundcr-
buss. in proceeding back TO the Yulture, they kept a
proper distance from shore, for the purpose of evading all
ior'her annoyance from the rebel musket. The retreat
was made good, and as the sun was Just losing himself be.
hind the mountains that border the Hudson in the yicini.
ny OF faverstraw bay, the disappointed sailors might have
osen seen lifting themselves up the sides OF the Vulturc.
Peterson and Sherwood remained in their place OF con.
ceaiment, until some time after the crew of the gun. boat
had reached their vessel, expecting that a reinforcement
might probably be sent on shore to reconnojtro. FinIiue.
however, mat no movement OF that kind was made, thew
abandoned the rock, and rejoincd the old farmer of The mill.
"What luck with the red coats,' enquiries the farmer,
hastily, being anxious to learn the result of The firing.
"Good luck, and bad luck, if il is a possible thing re-
piled Peterson.
"iow can that be-" saws the farmer.
Easy enough" answers Peterson. "W had the good
luck TO come oil unhurt, and the bad luck TO Kill two OF
the sailors in the gun-boat, whose only crime was heinc
engaged in arms against us"
While Sherwood aud Peterson were informing the far
mer oil the result of the skirmish, a man was observed
coming down the east bank of the river, Just below Cola
oergh landing, and cautiously examining every thing
around him. The stranger had gained the spo, nearly on.
posite where the gun. boat had been stationed, before he OBJ
served the men at the mill; upon discovering them, he re-
Traced ms steps a few rods, and then took an easterly
course through The Crotch river. That man was no less A
parsonage than Major Andre, bearing about him The ,rai.
tors dispatches TO the British General. The gun boat as
10 have received him at the point where il had been
stsuoned, aud convey him in safety on board the Vuliurc.
The Fulture was TO have conveyed him and his imporiont
dispatches safely TO New York. He had conferred with
ne traitor ihe evening previous, a few miles below West
ROM; ana had obtained all the necessary information and
documents, to enable the British General to take bosses
SION, oil West Point, Justly considered as the key of the
fudson.-AtteT all the necessary and proper arrangement.
had been made between the traitor aud the spy, the sona.
rated, The one for his camp, the other for the Vullurc. The
course oil the latter lay along the west bank Of the Hudson,
unul he arrived opposite Yer Plank's Point. Al The place
ho crossed the river and followed its course until he ar.
rived at the particular spot in "the lap where The gun
boat had been stationed 10 receive him.
Having heard the firing and percciving that the gun.
boat had been forced or frightened from the place Of ns-
signatiou, he was compelled TO alter his course. and nro.
coed towards the interior of tho county d Westchester
About eleven o'clock OH the evening of that day he found
hiinsei approaching Crum Pond. At that place he re-.
NAMED through the night with a MIR. Smith. Early OH
the morn OF the ensuing day, having procured a horse he
started for New York, determined TO travel The distance
by land He crossed the Croien river at Pines bridge.
and at the time OF his capture by Paulding and his nsso.
ciates, was passing the Beekman woods, the largest forest
In w estchester county, and adjacent the old Dutch church
mentioned by Irving in his tale of "Sleepy Hollow"
Thus West Point, the Gibraltar of New York, owes IFS
safety IN fact, not TO the captors OF the spy, but TO those
VINO were instrumental III putting him in the way of being
captured. While, therefore, we award the proper need
OF praise TO Williams, Paulding and Van Vert, and erect
monuments to their memory for the agency they had in
and Peterson, and the agency they had in enabling the
capture 10 take place.