The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28
Bold Attempt to Capture Ben
edict Arnold Failed.
DEsERTER WAS HEAD OF PLOT
Death OF a Michigan Man Recalls n
Bit of Little known Revolutionary
History In which His Grandfather
Was Prineipal-A Clever scheme
Baked by sudden Change of Orders.


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 treaehery. and deliver him into
the hands OF Washington.
john Champe, born in Virginia in l752,
was a friend Of the famous Light Horse
Harry Lee, the intimate friend Of Wash
ingtou, gallant commander of cavalry
and the father OF Americas greatest
general, Robert r. Lee. When the war
OF TIE revolution broke out, Champe en-
listed in Mai. Lees corps. and at the
time Of the great treason. when Arnold
contracted with the British to deliver in
70 their hands the fortress at West Point,
vas gergeaEt-n1a ,or in Lees battalion.
The capture OF Mai Andre. the discOv-
cry Of ATnold's treachery. and the fall
ure OF the plot are familiar history 10
every, schoolboy.
Arnold's baseness seriously affected the
whole American army. The discovery Of
the treachcry of friend Of Washington,
and one of his favorite and most bril-
liant generals. shook confidence every
where. If such baseness was possible. IN
such a person. who could be trusted?
Arnold had escaped to New York. and
was received with HUner by the British
commander, Gen. Clinton. But there were
thousands of patriot hands which longed
to grasp him and lead him to the gal
lows.
Planned a Desertion.
This. one Of the darkest periods of the
revolution. was in l7S0. Washington, dis
turbed by doubts of other generals, was
supremcly anxious 10 capture Arnold. So
he consulted with Maj. Lee, and together
a plan was perfected. II included the os-
tcnsible desertlon % the British Of an
American soldier. his enlistment in the
battalion which Arnold was reported to
be forming. and Arnold capture and abb
duction 10 the Jersey shore and delivery
int The hands OF the Americans. AS the
success of the venture depended upon the
appearance Of genuiaeness Of the deser-
ton, it was decided that the secret be con
fined 70 as few men as possible
Lee was asked to recommend a man
for the supremely dangerous mission, and
spoke the name OF John Champe as one
who had the courage, the audacity, and
the discretion. Champe was brought be-
fore Washington and Lee, and after tna
plan was outlined was asked 70 undertake
the mission At first he objected The
fe{gning Of the desertion and joining the
legion of traitors repealed him
MY life is my coUntry's, but my honor
is my own" he declared. The argument
thar a certain other patriot general was
suspected and that 1t was OF prime I'M
portance &c either get assurance OF his
fidelity or OF his treachery was the de-
termining one. Champe said he knew
this general was innocent and he would
undertake the mission TO clear him.
Chased Aboard n BTitisheT.
On a dark and rainy night Champc
mounted his horse and passed the Amer
lean lines. But he was seen. and The IN
cident was at once reported 20 Lee. lee
manufactured several excuses to give his
sergeant major the start I'm the pursuit
which he so much needed-at first feigned
10 discredit the news Of the deseruon,
finally. when "A company Ct Dragons was
drawn no. ready 10 take the road, he re-
membered he had other service for the
commander. and superseded him in favor
of Cornet Middleton, "a friend OF Champe s
who could be depended upon not % hans
/ him IL be 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 bordered the ocean
waded through weeds and mud, and
/ finally, throwing away all his accoutre-
ments. began TO swim for a British YES
/ sci lying in the harbOr. The Engishmen
/ had Witnessed the pursuit. interpreted IL
ds another welcome desertiOn from the
/ patriot army. and Immediately let down
boat and took Champe aboard. Then
/ he was sent to Gen. Clinton. at New
/ York
There was the usual cross-eXamination.
| Champe told his story so well that Gin
/ ton finally recommended that he join Ar
nOld's corps. and he became a member
ArnOId's Orders Changed.
/ Champe Immediately began 20 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 We're next door 10
| Clinton's, at No. Broadway. A garden
/ ia the rear extended TO the river. and il
was ascertained that it was the traitors
. ittbll 10 VAIN III TINS SdAOcA bNAolC III
entered at midnight Adjoining the gar
den was a dark alley. In order to gain
! access TO Arnold's house, Champe had e
accept a commission in his corps FINALLY
/ he communicet ted in cipher TO Mai Lee
advising him to set a date with the mes
senger upon which he would have a dozen
[ members Of his own company OF Wiz
GINA dragons at the waterside in Ho-
/ bOken. Champe and his confederates
were to seize and gag Arnold in the gar
den. rush him down the alley TO the
I be in readiness
/ But on the very night set for the execu-
ton of the plan Arnold changed his head
/ quarters. He had been ordered to pro
vide for the embarkation of his corps FOL
the Virginia campaign, and instead OF
being on his way to the Jersey shore
with the bound traitor in the bottom oil
his boat, Champe found himself aboard d
I transport en- route for Virginia, and Will
/ Arnold in command.
! Champe seized his first opportunity e
escape. made his way through Virginia
/ back to his old company. and when hi.
| exploit was made known was received
with great enthusiasm.
/ The family records indicate that Wash.
ington wrote a letter To Congress at the
end of the war, asking for the grant of q
/ township for the gallant EFFORT. Bu1
neither Champe nor his descendants evel
! received the least compensation.
Different
/ From Tit.Rjts