Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-05-05
THE CAPTORS OF ANDRE.


THE CAPTORS OF ANDRE.
VINO will go next2 The critical indus
try of students has robbed us of our beau
tiiul Pocahontas, and dimmed the bright
fame of Capt. John Smith. And now the
three illusHious militia men" who cap
tured Maj. John Andre, and frustrated the
treason of Arnold, are threatened 1t is
said they were marauders, who refused
Mai. Andres gold only because they ex-
pected to get more for taking him than for
letting him go. After a long examination
of this case, hold fast TO the immortal
three. i still believe in the honor and
patriotism OF John Paulding, Isaac Van
Vert and David Williams.
The lower half of Westchester County,
during most of the Revolutionary war,
was a kind Of neutral ground, since it was
situated between the British lines and the
American. Neutral ground, in war time,
generally means that portion of the coun-
try which is warred upon and plundered
by both parties. Owing to its nearness TO
New York, and 10 its being the residence
of half dozen very rich proprietors, this
country was better cultivated, and its hab-
itations were larger, more numerous and
better furnished than perhaps any other
part Of America, and consequently, ii pre-
sented an inviting field for scouting. A
majority of its inhabitants, too, were
Tories, and the plumber OF Tory's house
and farm was not likely to be considered
IA very heinous offense, unless the Com.
mander of the American lines happened
TO be good soldier, as well as a gentle
man.
On the other hand, bands of Tories fire.
quentlyJ Jtraversed the country making
reprisals upon Wing farmers, driving
away their cattle and spelling their crops.
The Tory scouters passed by the name of
Cow Boys, from their practice of driving
Oft the cattle Of Whig farmers to New
York; while the Wing plunderers were
called Skinners, from their habit of tax
ing everything they found upon their vic
Tins, particularly the scarcer articles of
his attire, even TO his boots and shirt.
Each party, in fact, stole what it wanted
most. The British party wanted meat;
the Americans wanted everything except
meat.
As the war went on the state of things
grew worse, until the farms were gener-
ally abandoned, the best families moved
much demorattfzed. The YftT soYdiers Of Tie lie
army did not escape corruption, nor even
ofiicerssof considerable rank. When Col
Burr took command of the lines at White
Plains in January, 1873, he found scout
ing party of 100 men, under the command
OF Colonel, Just setting out for New
Rochelle, "to watch, as they said, "the
enemy's movements The new Com
mander, unwilling to begin his term OF
service by issuing a disagreeable order,
let the party go, but enjoined upon the
officers to respect property OF friend and
wander
disgust Of Burr, the troops returned load
ed with plunder, and, an hour after, the
farmers began TO come in, protesting that
they good Wings, and begging the
restoration of their property.
Cob Burr was one OF the most vigilant
of officers, and he succeeded in putting a
stop tOthis system; but, in doing so, he
made such eXertions, by night and day,
that his health, im paired by former hard
service, completely broke down, and he
was obliged to resign his commission,
and he remained an invalid for eighteen
months. After he left the post the coun-
try again became scene of plunder and
desolaion, and such was its condition
when Maj. Andre was too pass over it in
1880.
At that time the American headquarters
were at the village OF North Castle, siA
miles north of White Plains and thirty
three miles north of the City Of New
HOrk-CQl. Jameson in command. Fol
four days there had been lounging abou
the camp tall alert countryman, ageC
twenty-one, who had been much con
cerned in scouting during the war
Twice he had been taken prisoner ant
confined in New \ iork, and twice escaped
to resume his scouting. He had beer
back from New York only four days, ant
he still wore Il regimental coat which III
had picked up in the city. This wa
John Paulding, native OF the county
whose fathers farm had been laid vast
early in the war, and he was thus deprived
of regular employment. Neither at thi
time, nor at any former period, had h
been regular soldier, nor even militi
man. He belonged to no regiment o
corps of any description. An act of tn
Legislature, however, made it lawful fo
any man or body of men to soize and pos
sess cattle going TO the enemy.
Isaac Van Vert, another countryman,
native of the county, was also iulin
about headquarters, and to him job
Paulding proposed that they should g
on scouting expedition. Van We
consentihg, they started toward Tarry
town, joined ON the way by David WI
Jams, Van Werts cousin, of the same o,
cupation, and about the same age ,
themselves. Williams had served und,
MONTGOMERY in. Canada, and, strange
say, he had assisted at the capture
ST. Johns, where Andre and his reg
ment were taken prisoners. Neither
the men at the time belonged to the ser
ice, but all of them had occasional
ioined in the predatory warfare just d
scribed "A nor need we suppose that.
their scouting expeditions, they had .
ways kept within the strict letter of Il
law. On this occasion they were certai