The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-16


ficer's errand, and desiring to give
Chan pc as much time. as possible, pre-
tended great fatigue and drowzlness, and
1t was some time before Captain Carnes
could make him understand his busi-
ness. When finally reused, he secuted
the idea of any Of his command desert
ing, pointing out the fact that only once
during the war had such an event hap
pened, and insisted that the picket had
mistaken u contryman for deserter.--
To determine this fact, Captain Carnes
retired and had the whole command
mustered" when Champe was missed.
This was reported to Lee, when he order
ed detachment to prepare orimmedate
pursuit; but by various pretexts he de-
layed the starting of the pursuing party
until Champe had an hour and thirty
minutes the start. He then gave orders
that If taken he was on no account to be
harmed, as he wished to make an exam
pie of him before the whole command.
When once commenced, the pursuit
was vigorous. The moon had now risen,
the road was tolerably clear, and the
troopers flew like the wind after the fu-
gitive. His course was easily traced, as
several countrymen were met who had
passed him but q short time before
They thus knew they were gaining up
on him, his horse having been lamed
when he first started--and was now trav-
elling with difficulty.
Ascending hill at sunrise, they sud-
denly saw the object of pursuit about
half milein advance. He discovered
his pursuers about the same time, and
despairing of reaching Paulus Hook,
now Jersey City,in which were two Eng
lish sloops at anchor. When he reached
the bank his pursuers were but few
yards behind, and their scattering shots
fell thickly around him. Springing
from his horse, and divesting himself of
his heaviest clothing, he plunged into
the stream, calling loudly to the men on
the British vessels for aid. A hundred
shots were fired at him, but boat i'm
mediately put off from one of the near
est vessels, and he was picked up, and the
nextday forwarded to New York, with a
detailed account of his gallant and per-
ilous achievement. Lee publicly ex-
pressed himself chagrined at the escape,
but was at heart delighted that the plan
had so far worked well.
On his arrival at New York, Champe
of onna pl;otod Il, rpnlJ1, o,;o,, orI
became diligent student of his habits
and movements. He ascertained that 1t
was Arnold's custom to return to his
quarters about midnight, and that previ-
Gus to retiring he usually went into the
garden which joined the house on the
right. Running from the rear of the
garden out into the street was dark al
ley, which fact was considered highly
favorable to the scheme.
AS soon as he learned this, Champe
communicated to his two aceomplices,
and arranged on certain night the seiz-
ure should be attempted by two of them,
while the third should have a boat in
readiness at the river, only two blocks
distant, in order to convey him outside
the British lines.
Every thing promised success, and
Champe, in high spirits, wrote to Major
Lee, informing him that he should make
the attempt on the 5th of November, and
desired him to have strong force at Ho-
boken to receive and safely conduct the
prisoner.
Champe and his companion were to
conceal themselves in the shrubbery,
and when Arnold entered, which it was
expected he would do about midnight,
they were to seize, overpower, and gag
him before he could give the slightest
alarm. Then, taking him by each arm,
they were to hurry him from the garden
into the alley, thence by unfrequented
streets to the river, and on board the
boat, when the difficulties would be
over. If observed or accosted, they were
to state that they were takinga drunken
soldier to the guard-house and thus allay
suspicion.
On the night designated Major Lee,
with strong detachment, arrived at
the appointed rendezvous in the woods
at Hoboken, and breathless with expec-
tion and anxiety, waited the issue of the
bold adventure. Hour after hour passed
in painful suspense, and the dawn at
last came, but no tidings were received
from Champe. Major Lee was there
fore forced to conclude that they had
failed, and were perhaps prisoners await
ing certain death. With these unpleas-