The native American., 1838-05-19

twelve every night; and that, previous to going /
f bed, he always visited the garden. During thi
!, visit the conspirators were to seize him, and be
r ing prepared with gag, intended to have ap
, piled the same instantly.
| Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided
and in which it was designed to seize and ga,
him, Champe had taken off several of the pa
lings, and replaced them, so that with ease art
without noise he could readily open his way /,
the adjoining alley. Into this alley he meant tt
have conveyed his prisoner, aided by his con-
panion, one Of two associates who had been in
roduced by the friend to whom Champe hat
been originally made known by letter from the
commander-in-chief, and with whose aid ant
counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise
His other associate was with the boat prepared a
one of the wharves on the Hudson river to re-
| ceive the party.
Champe and his friend intended to have placed
themselves each under Arnold's shoulder, and to
have thus borne him through the most unfrequent
ed alleys and streets to the boat; representing
Arnold, in Of being questioned, as drunken
soldier whom they were conveying to the guard
house.
! When arrived at the boat the difficulties would
be all surmounted, there being no danger nor OBJ
sacle in passing to the Jersey shore. These par
| ticulars, as soon as known to Lee, were commu-
nicated to the commander-in-chief, who was high
| ly gratifed with the mucl-desired intelligence
| He directed Major Lee to meet Champe, and to
take care that Arnold should not be hurt The
day arrived, and Lee, with party of Dragons,
| left camp late in the evening, with three led ac-
coutred horses: one for Arnold one for the SER
geant, and the third for his associate, never doubt
ing the success of the enterprise, from the tenor
Of the last-receved communication. The party
reached Iloboken about midnight, where they
were concealed in the adjoining wood; Lee, with
three dragons, staoning himself near the river
shore. Hour after hour passed. no boat approach
| ed. AT length the day broke, and the major re-
tired to his party and with his led horses returned
to camp, when he proceeded to headquarters to
inform the general Of the much-lamented disap-
pontment, as mortifying as inexplicable. Wash
ington, having perused Champe's plan and COM
muncation, had indulged the presumption that at
length the object Of his keen and constant pur-
suit was sure Of execution, and did not dissem-
bic the JOY such conviction produced. He was
chagrined at the issue, and apprehended that his
faithful sergeant must have been detected in the
last scene of his tedious and difficult enterprise.
In few days Lee received an anonymous let
ter from Champe's patron and friend, informing
him that on the day preceding the night fixed for
the execution Of the plot, Arnold had removed his
quarters to another d of the town, to superii1'
tend the embarcation of troops, preparing las was
rumored) for an expedition to be directed by
himself; and that the American legion, consist
| ing chiefly of American deserters, had been trans
ferred from their barracks to one Of the trans
ports; it being apprehended that, if left shore
| until the expedition was ready, many of then
might desert. Thus it happened that Johr
Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson thai
night was safely deposited on board one Of the
ed until the troops under Arnold landed in Vr-
ginia! Nor was he able to escape from the
British army until after the junction Of Lord
Cornwallis at Petersburg, when he deserted (;
and, proceeding high up into Virginia he pass
led into North Carolina, near the Saura towns,
keeping i'll the friendly districts Of that State,
safely Joined the army soon after it had passed the
Congarec, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon.
His appearance excited extreme surprise
among his former comrades, which was not a
little increased when they the cordial re-
|ception he met with from the late Major, now
Lieutenant Colonel Lee. His whole story soon
became known to the corps, which reproduced
the love and respect Of officer and soldier, (here-
tofore invariably entertained for the sergeant,)
heightened by universal admiration of his late
daring and arduous attempt
Champe was introduced to General Greene,
who very cheer(ully complied with the promises
made by the commander-in-chel, as far as in his
power and, having provided the sergeant with a
good horse, and money for his journey, sent him
to General Washington, who munifcently anti
cipated every desire of the sergeant and present
ed him with his discharge from further service, y
lest he might, in the vcssitudes Of war, fall into
the enemy's hands; when, if recognised, he was
sure to die on a gibbet.
When General Washington was called by President
Adams 10 the command of the army prepared to defend
the country from French hostility he sent TO Lieutenant
Colonel Lee to inquire for Champe; being determined TO
bring him into the field at the head of company Of in
fantry.
Lee sent TO Loudon county where Champe settled af
Ter his discharge from the army, when he learned that
The gaent soldier had removed to Kentucky where he
| soon after died.
| Important Decision.-A question of great i'm
portance camp up yesterday before the Circuit
Court Of the United States, now sitting in this
city, and was decided by the Court, Judge Nc
Kinley, of the Supreme Court of the United
States presiding. The Carrolton Bank, a bank
irg company chartered in Louisiana, purchased
in Mobile, through an agent, bill of Exchange,
i IL. De- Il. L.