The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14
Revolutionary Incidents.
WHO SAVED THE COUNTRY ?-wHAT LED TO
THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE?
From the Sing Sing Republican.

From the Sing Sing Republican.
Every writer upon American history,
when he arrives at the account of the cap.
ture of Andre, lays down the thread of his
narrative to expatiate on the patriotism of
that noble little band, who, regardless of
golden promises, retained the unfortunate
spy, and saved their country from impending
rum.
We do not wish to undervalue their
patriotism and services, although we have
sometimes asked ourselves the question
For what purpose were these three men
stationed upon the roadside? Did they 60
forth from their homes in the morning with
desire or an intention of saving their
country? Had they any authority to stop
travellers on the high roads? If they had
been great patriots, would they not have
joined the continental army instead of loung-
ing upon the roadsides &c.
There is link in the chain of circum-
stances which led to the capture of Andre,
that has been omitted in previous details of
this momentous event. Who has ever
heard of the names of Moses Sherwood and
Jack Peterson, who had as much to do with
this circumstance as Williams, Paulding,
and Van Wart, whose names have become
familiar as household words? Jack Peter
son was truly patriot he was mulatto,
and served in the continental army. At
one time he was captured and sent to New
York as a prisoner, where, with other
Americans, he suffered in the notorious
Prison Ship" until by skillful stratagem
he effected his escape. One dark night he
managed to tie a bundle OF clothes on his
head, and by stealth crept to the chains
which held the ship to the anchor; he
slipped quietly and unooserved down into
the water, and soon reached Corlies Hook
by swimming; he Travelled cautiously by
night. and after many privations, sufferings,
and hair-breadth escapes, reached his home
on the banks of the CrOton River. The
above incident is given on the authority of
Capt. Potter, former resident Of Sing
Sing, who is "a nephew of Moses Sherwood,
referred to in the following sketch of Jack
Peterson, which Was published few years
ago in the Westchester Herald, by Caleb
Roscoe, who was ever on the alert for facts
and incidents which illustrate or develop the
history of the American Revolution.
1t will be seen by this sketch, which is
worthy of republication hundred times,
that Jack served in the army of his country
uutil be was honorably discharged, and that
it was pure patiotsm that led Peterson and
Sherwood to attack the enemy of superior
numbers and power. 1t was not three to
one, but two against many! 1t was this
boldness aud patriotism that thwarted
Andre in his design to embark upon the
pt nf
can liberty.
In all future time let the names of Peter
son and Sherwood be shouted in the same
sentence with those of Williams, Paulding
and Van Wart.
For many years after this great eveLt,
Peterson was accustomed to point out to
his sons and Others one of the cannon balls
lodged in an oak tree, on Tellers Point,
which was fired from the Vulture on this
occasion. A few years ago this tree. being
very much decayed, was cut down, the ball
removed and kept by VIM. Underhill, o!
Tellers Point, who not long since presented
it to the writer OF the present article.
JACK PETERSON,
John Peterson, colored man, (mulatto,)
departed this life October I'd, at his late
residence in the village of Peekskill, aged
lob years. Peterson was brought up in
the family of Job Sherwood of this county,
whose son, Isaac Sherwood, had entered the
Continental Army as first Lieutenant in
the regiment commanded by Col Philip
Van COrtlandt, at the commencement of the
war of the Revolution /; and Peterson, who
was about the same age as the Lieutenant,
having became devotedly attached to him,
begged the privilege of accompanying him
into the service, which request was granted
by the Lieutenant and Peterson en- listed as
private in the same regiment to Which he
was attached.
This regiment was in the memorable
battle of Saltwater, in Saratoga county, at
the time Gen. Burgoyne surrendered his
whole army to the American forces under
the command of Gen. Gates. Lieut.. Sher-
wood, who always sought the post of dam
ger, received in the action mortal wound
and fell in the arms of Peterson, for he
always made il point to be near the
Lieutenant in the hour of danger. Peterson
watched over this brave officer with untr
ing perseverance, night and day, until he
expired, and after his death he followed his
remains to the public barying ground in the
city of Albany, where he was inferred with
military honors. The devoted attachment
of Peterson to the gallant and much
lamented Lieutenant, was observed by Col.
Van Cortlandt, who, without solicitation,
gave him his discharge from the service to
enable him to return to his home, with the
effects which belonged to the Lieutenant.
On his return to his county, the lines
between the American and British forces
had been removed from Tarrytown to the