Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-02-05
JOHN CHAMPES DESERTfON

I,I(lIfN IN A III IfIltN IJHlAllIf \ ION.
The outburst of popular Indignation
when il was announced that a monu.
ment was to be put up on American
soil to the spy who plotted with Bene-
dict Arnold the capture of George
ashington. and the popular response
to the suggestion of monument to the
heroic Nathan Hale, provo that the fires
OF patriotism still burn brightly in Anne
rican hearts. May they never bo
ouenched.
But my purpose in this letter was TO
recall Il romantic episode of the Andre.
Arnold affair. which some of the Suns
readers may have forgotten, and with
il one of the noblest figures Of the rev
olutionary cpoch-a man who riskcd
bis life as bravely for his country as
did Hale himself - Sergeant John
Champe, of the Virginia Light Horse
Cavalry.
All Americans know how anxious
Washington was to capture Benedict
Arnold. But all do not know Of the
weightiest reasons for this anxiety. If
Arnold had fallen, who could be trust
ed? Who could tell how far tho treas
on had sapped its way unsuspected {?
Strange rumors were in the air about
other officers high in rank. one of whom
a,;o,.al i, os,i,a,,t do,.,.o No oot
eIJoy W u an ouiliiepv Ni Ieieo .no 'C,., ~
uenuo ",iu es.So", ~ ~ /" a., "s", ,, Gu co.. NJ ~
;ns o Ia Manrr ~ 1oe et tbe % father % of ,bn late
I1 IPahort Il Toe W" nnhosored himsolf
all, ~ Nm and asi,od II omong thc
hIaI3 I w. W. n. ""S aa;n;ts nndoS III oon,
% Uo'u ',n s,,'a ,ho 49, ,o,,,t ho yilI
;n. 1 ~ 'ei' MI liso o hho,t, M % ord Sonor or
dass,o d's W. ',o' 49, 80, thn ,ood or L;s
uesP.."'' 9s"no TaA .o,i;oI Ia VI a. snnh
ooun"y L. ~ ;l 'os a,;sa 80 : ~ H. lie 49,,
"o,, ,nan ~ ~ ~, Tondn,,n tohn Cbnmns % his
Sy Soun.y " ETSeo"", Me,a. ,So IN" a,,h"n'I hnt I
'sen"s e.. s"o,, IA n"o ,ossoasod oonr
o"o".S ~ iJ"' - ~ an, I'd d6Poor lis onIv
~ ~ s1uat . W H., ahy Thsna,,o ,ronld ac
uouo. was "ne'"sI S .nti' a." - oS"dau, au
W IA Iny ' go. ..s,oS " Washinn,on r,a,o
VI ulsno.o, @ i.oeou ',,.. ,na.,I o,;nns .in ~
aso ma;uu r "n "n' ,rao s ronaired 70 bis cam
a1 mro. a.. nVS, sa, |hO choraaa nV Ia wos hand
Anu s0a. sI ~ ,'n'n', @ ' raan
S0ue, nn''y P,oPo, po.'no 'aO" ~; 49, So,
~ s,aso 0ouuSI"""Io VIA ~ -, sn asp ~ ~
iuiucu T,nna Z 70 Snulnpu m h5 o. shaal.R fun thv
idea of desertion. He declared his life
was at the service of Washington, but
that his honor was his own. Lee, as
last inducement, pronounced the
name of the suspected General whose
character Washington was anxious 10
clear. Champe started, declared that
the army held no man more loyal, and
Welded.
He hastened TO make his prepara.
tions. He knew that his first danger
was from the pursuit of his own com.
rades rendered doubly watchlul and
suspicious by tho crime of Arnold.
Major Lee was sitting in his tent when
it was reported to him that dragoon
had been seen to leave tho camp, who,
when challenged by the sentry, put
spurs TO his horse and escaped. Anxious
to rive his Sergeant every possible op-
portunity, Lee first affected TO msunder-
stand, and next to doubt the correct.
ness OF the report. 1t was undoubted.
lly, he said, some countryman. 1t was
impossible any member of the Virginia
legion could be guilty of such an act.
! Tie officer making the report was
somewhat indignant, and replied that
the deserter was believed to be no less
a person than the Sergeant Major, as
his horse and arms were missing. A
pursuing party was soon equipped
After inspecting them, Lee suddenly
remembered that he had other duty for
the Lieutenant in command, and sent
for Cornct Middleton to take his place
He did this partly to create delay
partly from a knowledge of Middleton.
kindly disposition. His instructions
were to bring the man alive to camp
that he might suffer, # guilty, in the
presence of the army, but to kill him 4
he resisted. 1t was midnight, and The
rain fell in torrents. Just at daybrealS
from an eminencc some miles from Bcr
gen, near the "rhrec Pigeons" tav
ern kept at the present day, the dra
goons deserted Champe about half I
mile in advance. He put spurs to hi
horse, and made for the village of Bcr
gen, determined to seek refuge on boart
one Of the two British galleys, wbicl
usually lay in Newark Bay, n mile o.
two distant. Presently he heard th
pursuers again at bis heels. But a icv
) hundred yards separated them. A loni
marsh and deep waters lay betweel
him and safety. lie sprang from hi
horse and plunged into the morass
, His pursuers came up and dismounIel
also. Struggling through the mud an'
slime, with his drawn sword held abov
his head, Champe reached the river
brink, plunged in and swan towar'
the galleys. His cloak and scabbar'
, had been thrown away, but Tor o um
= he still grasped his trusty blade I'M
slipped from his hand and was losl
, The scSne had been watched with grea
' interest and rightly Interpreted b,
: those on board the galleys. Fire wa
opened on the dragons, some OF whof
were preparing to follow Champe !
/, the water, while a light boat qulcki
picked up the fugitive.
! Champe was kindly received on boar
! the British galley and sent at once
|, New York. After the usual interr'
/, cations by the AdjutantGeneral b