Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-05-05
Miscellamp.
The Captors of Andre.
BY JAMES PARTON.

Dright lame OF Captaln Jonn Smlth.
And now the three illustrious militia
men who captured Major John Andre,
and frustrated the treason of Arnold,
are threatened. 1t is said they were
marauders, who refused Major Andres
gold only because they expected to get
more for taking him than for letting him
go. After a long examination of the
case / hold fast to the immortal three. /
still believe in the honor and patriotism
of John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart and
David Williams.
The lower half Of Westchester coun-
ty, during most of the Revolutionary
war, was 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 country which is warred upon
and plundered by both parties. Owing
to its nearness to New York, and to its
being the residence of half dozen very
rich proprietors, this county was better
cultivated, and its habitations were larg-
er, more numerous and better furnished
than, perhaps, any other part of Amer
lea and, consequently, it presented an
inviting field for scouting. A majority
Of its inhabitants, too, were Tories, and
the plunder of a yory's house and farm
was not likely to be considered very
heinous ofense, unless the commander
of the American lines happened. to be a
good soldier, as well as gentleman.
On the other hand, bands Of Tories
frequently traversed the country, max
ing reprisals upon Wing farmers, driv,
ing away their cattle and spelling their
crops. The Tory seouters passed by the
name of Cow Boys, from their practice
Of driving off the cattle of Wing farm.
ers to New York while the Wing plum.
derers were called SINNERS, from their
habit of taking everything they found
upon their victims, particularly the
scarcer articles of his attire, even to hi
boots and shirt. Each party, in fact,
stole what it wanted most. The British
party wanted meat; the Americans
wanted everything but meat.
As the war went on the state of things
grew worse, until the farms were gener
ally abandoned, the best families moved
away and the people remaining wer,
much demoralized. The soldiers of tn,
army did not escape corruption, nor evel
officers of considerable rank. Whel
Colonel Burr took command of the line
at White Plains in January, 1879, h
found a scouting party of hundred
and fifty men, under the command of {
colonel, justsetting out for New Rochelle
"to watch, as they said, 81 the enemy
movement" The new commander, un
willing to begin his term of service b,
issuing disagreeable order, let the par
ty 60, but eDjoined upon the officers t.
respect the property of friend and foe
Next morning, to the wonder and dis
gust of Burr, the troops returned loadet
with plunder, and, an hour after, th
farmers begun to come in, protesting
that they were good Wings and begin.
the restoration of their property.
Colonel Burr was one of the most Wig
liant of officers, and he succeeded in put
ting stop to this system but, in doini
so, he made such exertions, by night ant
day, that his health, impaired by forme
hard service, completely broke down
and he was obliged to resign his commits
sion, and he remained an invalid 70
eighteen months. After he left the pos
the country became again the scene o
plunder and desolation, and such was il
condition when Major Andre was t.
pass over it in September, 1870.
At that time the American headqual
ters were at the village of North Castle
six miles north of White Plains, an,
thirty-three miles north of the city G
New York-Colonel Jameson in com
mand. For four days there had bee
lounging about the camp tall, aler
countryman aged twenty-one, who ha
been much concerned in scouting dun
ing the war. Twice he had been take
prisoner and confined in New York, an
twice escaped to resume his scouting
9 He had been back from New York onl
four days, and he still wore regiments
coat which he had picked up in the city
This was John Paulding, native of tn
9 county. whose fathers farm had bee
laid waste early in the war, and he wa
thus deprived of regular employment
Neither at this time, nor at any forme
! period, had he been regular soldie
= nor even a militia man. He beionge
a to no regiment or corps of any descriI
, ton. An act of the legislature, how
ever, made it lawful for any man q
, body of men to seize and possess eattl
d going to the enemy.
Isaac Van Wart, another countrymal
| II Il