The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-11-16
THE KIDNAPPING of WASHINGTON
Al NEWDURG.

1t was while at these headquarters q
bold attempt was made to capture Wash
ington. Clinton was very anxious TO get
possession of his person, and Washington
received many letters warning him of his
danger. But with all the plans that were
laid, none seemed to be so easy of exacu-
ton as the one that was foilel here by
the patriotism of young lady, the daugh-
ter of one Ettrick, who professcd to be a
warm patriot, but those who knew him
best looked on him with suspicion. This
man and this spot were selected to effect
Washington S. capture. The plan pr0pos-
ed was to have boat ready, and party
of tories secreted in the wood near by
when Washington should be invited to
dinner. His daughter overheard a con
versation that exposed this plot and in
formed Washington of her suspicious
and begged him not to accept the invita-
ton of her father to dinner. The dinner
hour was TO be late, so that it would be
dark before the meal was over. Then
the seizure was to be effected, and the
captive borne off to the bosom of the
Hudson. The boat, manned by strong
rowers, would easily have reached the
English vessels below West Point before
Washington would be missed. Instead
of declining the invitation, he accepted it,
but in the meantime ordered detach-
ment of his life guard to march to the
place just at evening, and present them
selves at the door. While Ettrick was
engaged in conversation with his distin-
guished guest, he heard their footsteps
and the low command of their leader, and
supposing them to be detachment of
Tories, he rose and, laying his hand on
Washingtons shoulder said
81 believe, General, you are my pris-
oner."
81 believe not, sir, but you are mine"
was the reply, as the life guard closed
around him.
He was Immediately marched off and
locked up. This threw the daughter into
a paroxysm of grief. She had not antci-
pated such result. She had given no
positive nformation-simply told her
suspicious to Washington, thinking the
only result would be to make him decline
the invitation That he would make her
kindness to him the cause of punishment
to her father she did not for a moment
dream, and she besought him not to re
pay her fidelity to him by the imprison-
nent and death of her father If it had
been mere personal matter, Washington
would doubtless have suffered the man to
go unmolesied; but the blow was not
aimed at him, but at his county, and this
he would not have forgiven in an only
son. Still, every instinct OF his nature re-
volted against inflicting needless suffering
on the daughter who had acted so molly.
If it had become known, however, it is
doubtful even if Washingtons influence
could have saved the wretch whose crime
was tenfold greater than that of Arnold.
A drumhead court-martial and o swift
death was what he richly deserved.
Washington, however, kept the whole
matter quiet except to a few personal
friends, and after short confinement re-
leased him on promise that he would
leave the country TO this he gladly con-
scented, and escaped to Nova Scotia. The
secrecy which Washington maintained in
regard to it for the daughters sake doubt
less kept from becoming part Of the his
tory of the times; but there is do doubt
OF its truth among the old Revolutionary
families of this regioA--J z, Headlcy
IN the GALAXY for july.