St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-07-21
The Kidnapping of Washington at
Newburgh

1t WAS while at these headquarters Il
bold attempt WAS made Ia capture
Washington. Clinton waS very ANXIOUS
. " get possession ot his person. and
Washington received many lcttcI> warn
ing him of his danger. But with all
the plans that We're laid. none seemed
to he 81 easy of execution aS the one.
that WIS tnilrd here 10y the patriotism
of Il Young lady. the daughter of one
Ettnck. who proieS>rd to hc Il warm
patriot. but those who knew him best
looked on him with suspicion. This
man and this spot were selected to eff
feet Na>hingtou'S capture. The plan
proposed WAS To have Il boat ready and
Il party of Tories >ccrctcd in the wood
near 10y. when Washington >hnuld b,.
invited t" dinner. His daughter over
heard Il conversation that exposed this
plot. and informed Washington of her
-u>pici"n>. and begged him not To ac-
ccpt the invitation of her father to din
nrr. The dinner hour Wa> to br late
:" that it would hc dark before the
meal wa> over. Then the >ciIurr WAS
10 hc effected and the captive borne OF
tu the bosom of the Hudson. The boat.
manned 10y strong towers. would easily
have reached the English vessels below
West point. before Washington W"uld
hc missed. Instead of drcliuiu" the in
Vitatiun. hc accepted it. hut in the
meantime ordered u detachment of his
htr guard tn march To- he place Just 1T
evening. and present themselves AT The
door. Whil, Ettrick WIS engaged in
conversation with hi> distinguished
guest. he heard their t""r>trl> aud the
low command nf their leader. and sup
posing them I" hr the detachment of
Tories. h" lost, and laying his hand "u
w Washington >huuld,r. said
Il hclirNc. general. Nou are my pli>-
"ucr.
Il hrlicvr not. >ir. y"u are mine.
around him.
He WAS Immediately matched of and
locked up. This threw the daughter
int" - paruNl >m "t grict. She had NOT
anticipated such result SI, had "il
rn u" positive information simply told
hen >u>pici"u> t" Washington. thinking
the only result would hc to make him
decline the invitation. That he would
make hrl kindness tu him the caIl>, OF
punishment To hrr father She did mot
fnr Il moment dream. and she bc>"u"ht
h.n not to repay her fidelity tn him 10y
the imprisonment ami death "t hcl
father. If it had been Il mere personal
matter. Washington would duuhtlr>>
have allowed til" man to go uumnlc>t
ed hui the blow was not aimed at
him. hut at his country. and this he
would not have forgiven in an only son.
>tIll. every instinct of his nature revolt
eel against iutlictiu" needless suffering
ON the daughter who had acted 81 u"hlN.
II II had hcr"mc known. however. il iS
doubtful if even Wa>hinut"u'> Influence
could have saved the wretch whose
rhine WIS tcut"ld greater than that at
Alnuld y drumhcad couIt martial and
Il swift death was what he richly de
served. Washington. however. kept
the whole matter quiet except Ia Il few
personal friends. and after Il shout con
tiucmcut released him ON the plomi>,
that he would leave the country. To
this hc gladly consented. and escaped
10 Nova SCOTIA The >cclrcN which
Washington maintained in regard to il
tor the daughters sake douhtlr>> kept
il from becoming part ni the history
of the times hut there i no doubt ut
ir> truth among the old >"luti"narN
families of this region. j. T. UcddiV.
in the GdId.rg tor .jHig