Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-06

CLOAK. Valico and orderly DOCK urcW Ills
horse and mounted, putting himself upon
fortune.
Scarcely had falf an hour elapsed be-
fore Captain Csrnes. the ofiocr of the day
waited upon Lee who was vain'y attempt
Ing to RI st, and informed him That one OF
the patrol had fallen In with a dragon
who being challenged put spurs to his
horse and escaped. Lee, hoping to con-
cenl tho fight Of Chamre or at least to 6e-
lay pursuit, complained Of fatigue and
told the CAPTAIN that tho patrol had prop
ably mistaken a courtryman for dra-
COON.
Carnes, however, was rot to he thus
Quoted AMI he withdrew to assemble MS
corrs on examination 1t was found that
Ctampc was absent. The captain now re-
turned and acquainted Lee With the dis
covery, adding that he had detached
party to pursue the deserter ana begged
the majors written orders.
After making as much delay s practica
bio. without exciting suspicion, Lee deliv-
ers his orders In which ne directed the
party to take Chanre If possible. Bring
him alive" said he. that he may suffer
in the presence of the army; but kill him
IL he resists, or If he escapes after being
taken" shower of rain fell after
Champes departure which enabled the
pursuing dragons to take the trail of his
horse, his shoes in common with those OF
the horses of the army being made In IL
peculiar form ard each having n private
mark which was to bc seen in the path.
Middleton. tho leader of the pursuing
rarty, left the camp few minutes past
twelve SO that CT anpe had the start Of
but q little more than an hour q oerio1
far shorter than had been contemplated.
Curing the night the dragons were often
delayed by the necessary halts to eXum-
inc the road, but en- the coming of the
morning the in preston CT the horse 3
shoes was so apparent that they pressed
on with rapidity. Some miles above Der
gen. n village three niles north of New
York. on the opposite side OF tho Hudson,
on ascending a hill Champe was discovered
not more than half a mile distant. For
tUnately, Champe deserted his pursuer5 at
the same mon cnt, and conjecturing their
object put spurs to his horse with the
nope of escape. BY taking a different
read Champe was for a time lost sight CT,
but on approaching the river he was again
dc serted. Aware of his danger ne now
dashed his valisc containing his clothes
and orderly book tc ! Is shoulders and pre-
pared himself to plunge into the river IL
necessary. Swift was his flight and swift
the pursuit. Middleton and his party were
within a few hundred yards when Champe
threw himself from fis horse and plunged
into the river calling aloud upon some
British sdlleyS at no great distance for
help. \ boat vas instantly dispatched to
the serScants cssistar &C ard fire COM
menCed upon the rursuers Champc was
taken on board end seen after carried to
New York with letter from the captain
of the z ley. stating the past scene hll of
y hich he had Witnessed.
= he pu-suecs having recovered the SER
ceant's horse AMI cloak returned to camp.
whore they arrived about three o'clock
the next day. On their appearance with
the well-known horse the soldiers made
~
that tho scoundrel was killed. The agony
of Lee fer a moment was past description
lest the faithful, honorable, intrcpc |
Chamre had fallen. Kut the truth soon
relieved his fears and he repaired to
Washington to imnart to him the success
thus far of his plan.
Soon after thu arriva, of Champe in
New yor he vas sent to SIR Henry Gin
ton, who treated him kindly but detained
him more than an hour in asking him
questions, to GnsWer some OF which with
cut exciting suspicion rec uired all tn, art
the sergeant was master of. He succeeded
however, and Sir Henry gave him a couple
of guineas and recommended him 10 Ar
ncld, who was wishing tic procure Amrri-
can recruits. Arnold received him kindly
and proposed to him to Join his lsgion.
Champe, however, expressed his wish to
retire from war, but assured the general
that If he should change his mind he
communicate With Lee an account Of his
adventures, but unfortunately he could
not succeed in taking Arnold as was
wished. before the execution Of Andre
Ten days before Chap,pe brought Il 5
lro; ect to conclusion, Lee received from
him his final conn Unication appointing
the third subsequent right for party of
draeoons 10 meet him at Hobokon, oppo-
site New York. when he hoped TO deliver
Arnold to the Officers. ChaTpe had en-
/ listed in Arnold's l.siCn, from which time
he rad every oppo rtunity he could wish
to atterl to thu HABITS of the general. lie
discovered that it vas his custom to re-
torn home about twelve every nigh. and
that previously to goirg to bed he always
visited the gaidtn. During this visit tins
Conspirators we're to seize him and, being
prepared with gag, they were to apply
the same Instantly.
Adjoining the house in which Arnold re-
sided and in which it was designed tc
seize and gag him Chanipe had taken of
several Of the palirgs and replaced them
50 that with ease and without noise he
could readily open his way to tie a1{oir-
Ing alley. Into this alley he intended tc
convey his prisoner aided by his com
panitn. one of tive associates, who had
been introduced by the friend to whom
CEamre had been originally made known
b. letter from the commander- in chief
and with whose aid and control he had
thus far conducted the enterprise His
other associate was with the boat pre-.
pared at one of the Iharvas on the Hud
son river to receive the party. Champe
and his friend intended to place them
selves each under Ari'clG's shoulder, anc
thus &c bear him through the most un.
frequented alleys and streets to the boat
representing Arnold az a drunken sailol
whom they were conveying 10 the suarc
house, when arrived at the beat the diff
ticulties would be surmoun'cd, there be
ing no danger, or obstacles in passing 4
the Jersey shore
These particulars as soon as made known
to Lee were communicated to the com
mandcr in-chlef who as highly gratifeC
with the much desired Intelligence. JI'
desired Major Lee to meet Champe and Il
take care that Arnold should not be hurt
The day arrived and Lee with a part,
of accoutred horses left the camp neva
douhting the success of the enterprise
from tho tenour OF the last communica
ton. The party reached Hoboken abou
midnight, where they were concealed il
the adjoining wood. Lee with three
dragons staticnng himself near tn
shore of tho river. Hour after hou
passed but no boat approached. At lengti
the day broke, and the major retired t.
. his party and with his led hcrses returnet
to the camp whore he proceeded to head
quarters to inform thegeneral of the mucl
: lame nted disappointing as mortfying a
. inexplicable Washington having peruse'
! Champe's plan and communication had In
: dulgcd the presumption, that at Length
the object of his keen and constant pur
, suit was sure of execution and did no
, dissemble the JOY which such n convic
ton produced, He was chagrined at tn