Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-10-05

II Attempt to Capture George Washi6s'

Clinton, II II known, made many az
Temps 10 capture Washington. believing
that ifhe was taken prisoner the war would
be brought TO a successful close. He well
knew that he was the pillar Of fire by
night and the pillar of cloud by day to the
struggling patriots. and that the news OF
his being prisoner in the hands Of the
British would not only totally dishearien
the impoverished colonist-. but palsy the
energies of their friends in the English
Parliament How many schemes were
attempted We shall probably never know.
We only know that Washington received
MANY letters warning him of his danger.
He doubtless had many narrow escapes,
the plans Of the enemy being thwarted
either by the warning that he received, or
from unseen circumstances-all the work
of that Divine Providence that from his
first entrance into the army had watched
over him. That he has not left record
Of these in de,ail is not verv singular,
when we remember the character OF the
man; but the following has been handed
down by the inhabitants residing near
these head quarters at that time. No road
at this period ran along the river from
Newburgh south to New Windsor, though
both are ON It's shore and only mile apart
high made an almost precipitous descent
10 The river nearly the entire way, render
ing the construction Of a road very diff
cult and expensive work. But midway
between the two places the Ouassaick
Creek burst through this heavily wooded
bluff, and plunged into the river between
banks more than hundred feet high,
revealing dark and gloomy gorge.
rrxna 4 n from
shore this chasm swung back on one side
in a huge semicircle. inclosing sweet lit
tie valley which is known as the Vale OF
Avoca In this secluded valley lived
man named Ettrick. Behind his house
the hill rose gradually and stretched away
to the wesi the chasm gradually lessening
in depth, till at the distance of half a mile
or more it became so low and narrow that
it was spanned by a bridge. Though
Ettrick's house lay within short cannon
shot of Wasbington's head quarters, and
in line almost directly south. and about
the same distance from the river, 1t re-
qnred circuit OF nearly two miles to
reach it by road. The tide set up the
creek close to the dwelling. and a boat
from it could be sent by strong rowers in
to the Hudson in five or ten minutes. In
gorge of the Highlands, and in less than
an hour after to The British ships that lay
below West Point. In fact, boat we'll
manned could get within British protec-
ton in less than two hours after leaving
E,trck's house. 1t will be seen, there
fore, that il Washington could be decoyed
into Ettrick's house and captured, he would
be under the British guns before ever he
L. .rta
The plan was to have strong guard come
up in the night and be concealed in this
gloomy gorge, and seize Washington
while at dinner in Eltrick's house, to
which he had been invited. Ettrick pro-
fessed to be warm patriot, though some
looked on him with suspicion. Whether
he was traitor from sympathy with the
Tories or became corrupted by British
gold is not known. He WAS visited stealth
ly by Tories. and his daughter overheard
them talking together one day about TAX
ing Washington prisoner. Soon after.
her father told her that he had invited
Washington to dine with him on a certain
day. She Immediately connected this
with the conversation she had overheard,
and suspected it was plot to capture
Washington. She at once sought pri-
him her suspicious. requested him not to
come to come to dinner. He. however.
determined to ascertain definitely if there
was such black hearted traitor within
his lines. and within hearing of the bugles
OF his own head quarters. So on the day
appointed he rode around to Ettrick's,
but ordered detachment of his Life Guard.
dressed in English uniform, to follow at
.ota nd tpht
of the house. and at about
the dinner hour. which was late, to march
up to it. They did so. and Ettrick, mis-
taking them tor the British and Tories.
stepped up to Washington, and laying his
hand on his shoulder, said General.
believe you are my prisoner II
believe not, sir; but you are mine ~ was
the reply, as the Life Guard filed rapidly
into the room. He was Immediately
marched off and locked up. This threw
She had not anticipated such result She
had given no positive information-sim-
Ply told her suspicious to Washington.
and asked him to stay away from dinner.
She did it to save Washington and spare
her father. but not to bring the latter to the
gallOws; and she besought the former not
to repay her fidelity by hanging her
father. II 1t had been a personal matter
he could easily have forgiven it, but the
blow was aimed at his country, and that
he would not have forgiven in an only
son. Still. every instinct of mis- heart re
volted against rewarding so cruelty the
devotion of the daughter. His whole no.
BILE, chivalric nature was aroused when
she besought him not to repay her for saw
ing his life by devotng her to a fate in
finitely worse than death 1t was an act
that 1t was impossible tor him to do. and
though terribly pressed by the sense of
duty to his country, he resolved to keep
the whole matter secret, except perhaps
as he consulted with few persona!
friends, and released the traitor on the
condition of his leaving the country. This
he accepted, and fed to Nova Scotia, and