Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-10-06


piled for the command of West Point
which was conceded to him under date
of August g. He Immediately repaired
: to that post, and fixed his headquar-
ters across the river at Beverly, the
historic country seat of Colonel Bever.
ly Robinson. This gentleman, then in
New York, was Virginian of an en-
inent family, who had been a comrade
of Washington in Braddock's CAM
paign, twenty five years before, and
had married Miss Phillips, of Phil
lipsburgh Manor (Tarrytown), to
whose sister Washington is said to
have offered marriage many years be-
fore. Colonel Robinson was stauch
loyalist, and probably served as the
channel of correspondence between
Arnold and Sir Henry Clinton-the
former signing himself "Gustavus. "
the latter John Anderson" The cor
respondence in behalf of Sir Henry
Clinton was chiefly conducted by the
brilliant young officer, Major John An
DIRE, Adjutant General of the British
army, who has before been mentioned
as an admirer of Mrs. Arnold before
her marriage 1t is not improbable
that the influence of Mrs Arnold and her
loyalist kinsfolk counted for a great
deal precipitating him to his act of
treason
BY the goth of September the plot
for the surrender of West Point had so
far matured as to render it necessary
that there should be personal meet
ing for the final settlement of details
On that day Major Andre accepted the
| hazardous commission and embarked
on board the British sloop-of-war Vul-
ture, along with Colonel Beverly Rob
inson On the night of September 21
| Arnold sent boat to the Vulture,
which brought Andre to the shore un-
der the shadow of the mountains at a
spot about six miles below Stony
Point. The interview lasted several
hours and was not satisfactorily COM
pleted when day began TO dawn.
Andre was then induced, much against
his will, to proceed to the residence of
the loyalist Joshua Hett Smith, two
miles below Stony Point There they
breakfasted and continued their con-
ference. Meanwhile Colonel Henry
Brockholst Livingston, in command of
q shore-battery, thought the British
sloop-of-war was venturing too close
to his positions and brought some can
non to bear upon her. The Vulture de-
scended the river, leaving Andre in
perilous dilemma at the Smith house
Arnold reassured him of his safety,
gave him pass in the name of Mr.
John Anderson and saw the papers
containing the description of the works
at West Point, the armament and dis
tribution of troops safely concealed in
side his stockings. Andre remained all
day, September %, at Smiths house
hoping to get ON board the Vulture
that night, Arnold having returned to
the Robinson house Smith, however
refused to take him off to the Vulture,
fearing for his own safety, but offered
to take him across the river and ac-
company him beyond the American
posts
Putting on an overcoat of Smiths
above his uniform Andre started with
Smith about sunset. They crossed at
Kings Ferry and proceeded eight miles
further to Crompond, where they were
stopped by an American patrol under
Captain Boyd. Arnold's pass was con-
sidered satisfactory, but the travellers
were warned not to proceed further
that night They consequently spent
the night at cottage belonging to one
Andreas Miller. The next day they
breakfasted at Mrs. Sarah Underhill's
farm house, near Pines Bridge, three
miles further ON, and then parted,
Smith assuring Andre that they were
already beyoud patroling parties.
Smith proceeded to Fishkill by way of
the Robinson house, where he report
ed to Arnold, while Andre pursued
his route to New York Just before
reaching the village of Tarrytown he
came to the junction of the road to
White Plains, which Smith had ad-
vised him to take, but he had been in
formed that the "Cow boys" or British
partisians were more numerous on The
lower road, and therefore followed it.
After crossing and old bridge over the
Pocantico River, close by the Dutch
church, celebrated in Irving's Legion
of Sleepy Hollow" he followed the old
post road for another mile, ascending a
hill until he reached small brook,
now known as the Andre Brook, half
a mile from the village. There, lying
on the grass behind the bushes, were
thee men playing cards.
THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE.
They belonged to party of seven
residents of the vicinity who had
started out that morning to watch for
cattle being driven toward New York.
The expedition had been proposed the
day before by John Yerks, of Mount
Pleasant who personally engaged
John Paulding, John Dean, James
Romer and Abraham William, takings
out q permit from the officer in COM
mand at the neighboring village of
North Salem. Paulding engaged his
friend Isaac Van Wart, and on their
way to Tarrytown they were joined
by David Williams, cousin of Van
Wart. The seven men separated into
two parties. Yerks with three others
posting themselves between the two
roads on the top of the hill now known
as Mount Andre, and Paulding, Van
Wart and Williams taking their posi-
tion by the brook as above mentioned.
1t has been asserted that these men
were "skinners," or Continental ma
rauders but there is abundant evidence
of their genuine patriotism. 1t was
between ten and eleven o'clock on
Saturday morning, September %,
1880, when Andre came up with these
three men. Paulding jumped up and
presented bis frelock at the breast Of
the traveller, calling to him to stand,
| and asking which unv he Was hnnnd