The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28
TRAITOR AS QUARRY
Bold Attempt to Capture Ben
edict Arnold Failed.
DESERTER WAS HEAD OF PLOT
Death OF a Michigan Man Recalls a
BIT OF Little known Revolutionary
History in which His Grandfather
Was PrfncipaI-A Clever scheme
Baked by Sudden Change Of Orders.

Jackson. Mich. Oct. 27.-The re-
cent death in this city Of Melvin d.
| Champe recalls an interesting bit Of reyo-
/ lutionary history in which his grand
| father. John Champe. played the prin-
/ cipal part. II was an attempt to capture
/ Benedict Arnold after that notorious
traitors treachery and deliver him into
the hands of Washington.
/ John Champe born in Virginia in l1jI,
was a friend Of the famous Light Horse
| Harry Lee. the intimate friend of Wash
| ington. gallant commander Of cavalry
and the father OF Americas greatest
/ general Robert r. Lee. When the war
/ of the revolution broke out. Champe en-
/ listed Ia MAJ. Lees corps, and st the
I time Of the great treason. when Arnold
/ contracted with the British to deliver in
/ TO their hands the fortress at West Point.
vas sergeaCt-mal or in Lees battalion.
[ The capture OF Mai Andre. the discOy-
I cry of ArnOld's treachery and the fall
ure Of the plot are familiar history to
every schoolboy.
Arnold's bascness seriously affected the
whole American army. The discovery Of
/ the treachery of n friend OF Washington.
and one Of mis- favorite and most bril-
/ Liant generals. shook confidence every
where. II such baseness was possible, IN
such a person. who could BE- trusted?
Arnold had escaped 10 New York. and
/ was received with honor by the British
commander. Gen. Clinton. But there were
I thousands Of patriot hands which longed
/ 20 grasp him and lead him 10 tho gal
/ lows
Planned DeNertIOn.
/ This. one OF the darkest periods oi the
revolution. was in 17Q. Washington, dis
turbed by doubts Of other generals. was
supremacy anxious to capture Arnold. So
he consulted with Mai. Lee. and together
/ u plan was perfected. II included The 0s-
/ tensibla desertion To the British Of an
/ American soldier, his enlistment IN the
/ battalion which Arnold was reported 10
/ be forming. and Arnold capture and ab-
duction TO the Jersey shore and delivery
/ int. the hands Of the Americans. As the
/ success OF the venture depended upon the
I appearance Of genuineness Of the deser-
ton il was decided that the secret be con-
fined to as few men as possible.
/ Lee was asked 10 recommend man
for the supremacy dangerous mission. and
spoke the name OF John Champc as one
Who had the courage. the audacity. and
+ the discretion. ChampC was brought be-
fore Washington and Lee. and after the
plan was outlined was asked TO undertake
/ the mission At first he objected. The
/ feigning of the dcsertion and joining the
I legion OF traitors repealed him.
4 My life is my countrys but my honor
1 Is my own he declared. The argument
/ that a certain other patriot general was
suspected and that 1t was of prime i'm
I portance TO either get assurance Of his
ndelity or Of his treachcTy was the dc
terntnlng one ChamPe said he knew
/ this general was innocent and he would
/ undertake the mission TO clear him.
Chased Aboard a BritiEher-
/ on a dark and rainy night. Champe
mounted his horse and passed the Amer
/ lean lines But he was seen, and the in
cident was at once reported TO Lee. Lee
manufactured several excuses 10 give his
/ sergeant major thu. start ia the pursuit
/ which he so much ueedcd-gI first feigned
Z 20 discredIi the news of tho dCScTti0n.
finally. when q company q Dragons was
drawn UP. ready TO take the road H. re-
menlberad he had other service Tor the
commander. and superseded him in favor
iof Coruet Middleton. 2 friend OF ChImpe s.
who could be depended upon not TO hang
/ him II he was captured.
/ When Champe reached the sea shore
at Newark Bay. near East Bergen, the
pursuit was close at his heels. He
threw himself from his horse plunged
into the swamp which bordeTcd the ocean.
/ waded through weeds and mud. and
1 finally. throwing away all his accoutre-
ments. began 90 swim for "a British yes
/ sci living I'm the harbor The Englishmen
I had Witnessed the pursuit, interpreted IL
/ a. another welcome desertion from the
patriot army. and Immediately let down
/ a boat and took Champe aboard Then
| he was sent TO Gen. Clinton ut New
! York.
There was The usual accumulation.
! Champe told his story so well that Gin
1 ton finally recommended that be JOIN Ar
nold's corps and he became Il member.
ArnoId'S Orders Changed.
/ Champe Immediately began TO lay his
plans He had been given the names
OF two trusted spies in New York. and
with them outlined a daring scheme.
| Arnold's headquarters were next door TO
/ Clintons. al No. Broadway. \ garden
| in the rear extended TO the river. and it
was ascertained that # was the traitors
habit to walk IN this garden before he
entered AZ midnight Adjoining the gar
den was dark alley. In order to gain
| access to Arnold's house, Champe had 10
accept commission In his corps Finally
/ he communicated in cipher TO Mai Lee,
advising him TO set date with the mes
senger upon which he would have a dozen
members of his own company OF Vir-
( ginia dragons st the waterslde i'm Ho-
/ boken. Champc aud his confedeTates
were To seize and gag Arnold in the gar
den rush him down the alley L. the
river side. and into boat which was 10
/ be in readiness.
/ But on the very night set for she execu-
/ ton Of the plan Arnold changed his head
quarters He had been ordered to pro
/ vide for tho embarkatiOn Of his corps for
4 the Virginia campaign. and instead of
/ being on his way 20 the Jersey shore,
with the bound traitor I'm the bottom of
his boat. Champe found himself aboard a
/ transport en- route for Virginia, aud with
/ Arnold in command.
/ Champe seized his first opportunity to
escape, made his way through Virginia
/ back to his cid company. and when his
/ exploit was made known was received
with great enthusiasm
] The family records indicate that Wash
ington wrote letter To Congress at the
end Of the war. asking for the grant of a
( township for the gallant effort But
neither Champe nor his descendants ever
( received the least compensation
Different.
/ From Tit Bits
Young Or. Walker always impressed
me as having nerves of iron. judging by
/ the cool ways he performed the most
| serious operations. remarked his friend