The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
INCIDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.


l777, and the detection and execution OF Tay.
Tor the Spy.
The battle Of Fort Montgomery was fought
on the sixth day e October, l777 The can
non had scarce ceased to resnund, when Gene
raj Sir Henry Clinton, despatched messen-
ger to Burgo, ne, Ia inor:n him Of The surren-
der Of forts Clinton and Montgomery, and
that he would join them at Saratoga as soon
n possible The messenger was directed 10
proceed cautiously through the deiiles Of the
mountains on the west side oi the Hudson,
and from thence the safest route to Burgoyne's
headquarters. lie was particularly rnioined
tokeef his eyes and ears open whilst passing
through the rebel settlements, preserve the
most profound silence as 10 The business aud
destination. Sir Henry Oh parting said. Z. in-
form Burpoyne that | shall follow with the
fleet rs soon as ! have secured the prisoners
and buried The dead, and Intend 10 cut d pas
sage through the rebels from Albany to Sara
tnga." The remainder oil the garrsons Of
Fort Clinton and Montgomery whn have es.
capped capture, reireated above the Highlands,
and we're stationed on the bank Of the rlver
from New Windsor village To the mountains,
under the command Of General George Gin
ton; body OF Americans under Colonel
Webb, occupied height little east of the
square, well known military rendezvous
about in'r miles west Of said village. Tley
were clothed IN scarlet, and could not be rea-
Oily distinguished from British regulars. Sir
Henry's messenger, whose name was Taylor,
having taken II eircuious route through 1 e
mountains, arrived IN the neighborhood Of the
square and having met some Drivates Of w Gibbs
regiment mistook them tor British tronps.-
lie imagined that his Majesty's fleet had been
suddenly waited above the Highlands by some
propitious gale, and that Sir Henry with his
Amy was III the hborhood-overjoyed on
meeting his comrades las he thnu.ht) so much
sooner than he had anticipated, his circun-
specton forsook him. He expressed great
satisfaction at their having arrived above the
Highlands SO unexpectedly, and desired TO be
conducted to General Clinton's head quarters
Immediately. General James CIinton's quar-
ters Cot the American army were Mt the
Square, near by, and thnher he was conducted,
by his rebel guides. On being introduced TO
the General, he was cnnfonnded, and at once
declared THAI he was not the person he wished
10 see. Ills apparent confusion excited s,is-
picIon, and he was sharply int roglted as 10
the object Of his visit and the place from
whence he came. AT first he hcsltaled, then
stanmered, and at lrneth choaked with con-
scIous guilt, he turned pale, then flushed.
but when he observed that their suspicion Was
rivited on hun, his agony burt forth in streams
OF sweat-durng this state Of excitement lie
was observed 10 slip d baIl into his mouth II
enclosed a private letter from Sir Henry Gin
ton to General BnrgCyne, and as il passed into
4 la l..t .AlI
detection. He was, however, ordered to be
confined in the Provost near by, in which
were nun Der Of British prisoners. He had
travelled all the night previous ,.hout rest or
food. and complained of hunger and thirst
the Surgeon Of the American army, stern
patriot Of an,iquqted habits and quaint phrase
who would have done honor To the army of
Oliver Cromwell, Ms chief OF his medical staff,
prescribed "A bowl of chocolate secretly charged
with an enetic, As a certain cure Tor his roin.
plant. No sooner had Taylor Goished his
breakfast than Sir tlenry'S letter began tn
crawl in his stomacst, and struggle for utter
ance. After several heaves, up it came, Ile
caught it ITO his hands and endeavored to
swallow II again, but it was wrested from him
by the Surgeon, who sad, he felt very
strong desire to anayse lis constituent pats,
il was found to be composed Of II hoIinw silver
ba |, containing letter FROM Sir Henry to
Burgnrnc, ii these words, I'll not com and
nor ,c, advise, there is nothing betNecn you
and /, but Gates. (neaning General Gates o
the American army.) A court martial was
soon after con, ened al the Square, and lay
he was II British officer, and acted under tire
orders Of his superior. lie was found guilty,
but Judgment was suspended lndetinltcl ~
He was IA tail fl e looking young man, full of
confidence and hope, aud relied implicitly on
his conmlssi Tor protection. ile'couid not
believe for moment that II rebel commander
would dare to execute the sentence of a rebel
court martial, upon British officer, with his
MajcSy's commission in his pocket.
As soon is sir Henry had secured the pri-
soners and destroyed the rebel small craft in
the immediate neighbornord of Fort Mont
gomerv, he ordered his troops to embark on
b ard the fl ct, and crowd all sail to join the
British army at Saratoga. His passage
through the Highlands was most magnificent
spectacle. lie drove before him rebel 81 ops
and pcttiaugers, soows and romboats, aud
met with no resistance except now and then
a discharge of mu~kets by invincible agents
from behind a promontory, or vollcy OF
rocks projected frotn Crows Nest, Break
Neck or Butrrh, which came believing
down the precipices with u tremendous crash,
but generally Tell short ofthcir Object. Their
trighttul aspect. however, induced the enemy
to keep respectful distance from the shore. |
Their fleet now and then sllenced all TINS
noisc and confusion by broad-side "h'ch
shook The mountains to their bnsc.
The explosion Of The Montgomery h'S
gun ship. blown up by the Americans TO pre-
vent her f,lling int, the hands OF the enemy,
i,lv se,,h.d all arcou Is for nrroar nnd
smoke between the beIIigerens for that day,
and left heavy bnlance m our '"y'. ~
"bs'ruct the progress OF the enemy Wv n'n ,h