Connecticut western news., 1911-03-23
Russell and Washington
Canaan Soldiers Version ot the Bene-
 dict Arnold Treachery.

{ MT. William Adam was in the habit of calling on the old residents of this town and getting many facts in regard to its early history, its settlers, industries etc. He would then write suoh items of interest in a note book from which the following is copied. The Col John Russell here mentioned lived across the river in the part of Salisbury known as Wetaug. but was frequent visitor in Canaan where he was we'll known, and will be remembered by some of the older people in both towns.
 In Sparks Life of Washington, page 315 it is said Having finished hls in- terView with the French Commander, Washington returned from Hartford by the upper route through Fishkill, con- i fsequently the express who was sent with the papers (viz. the papers found in An ! dre's boot) and who took the lower route by which Washington had gone to Hart ford, did not meet him, but came back to North Castle. In the meantime Wash. ington pursued his journey to West Point.
 Two or three hours before he reached Arnold's house, which was on the side of the river opposite West Point, and at considerable distance below, the mes senger arrived there with the letter from Jameson by which Arnold was informed of the capture of Andre etc, etc."
 N,Nvx h, ;. AnI MT. John Russell, who was one of Gen. Washington's Life Guard during most | of the war, told me a few weeks before he died, (which was i'll May 1S43) that Gen. Washington accompanied by Gems. Lafayette and Knox was returning from Hartford to West Point where they had been to have an interview with Rochambeau the French commander, and staid over night with a gentleman about five miles from Arnold's quarters on the east side of the river, and sent word to Gen. Arnold that he would breakfast with him at nine o'clock the next morning. That when they arrived within half a mile of Arnold's quarters, Washington looked at his watch and said, We have half an hour before breakfast, and have never personally examined this fertilization. Let Rus. sell and another of the Guard take the horses to Arnold's quarters, and we, 1 (addressing Lafayette and Knox will walk up to it."
 MT. Russell says that he accordingly took the horses as directed, and found Arnold standing in front of his house.
 He inquired for Gen. Washington, and was told by MT. Russell that he would be there in half an hour.
 He was then told to deliver the horses to a servant of Arnold's. While stand ing there a person brought a letter to Arnold, and on looking at its contents, he immediately went down towards the river. Soon Gen. Washington and suit came down from the Fort ard went into Arnold's quarters, inquiring of MT. Russell as they passed him, for Gen. Arnold. He said the room was a long one. with wooden benches on two sides of it,on which Gen. Lafayette and Knox were seated in conversation while Wash ington was walking back and forth from one end of the room to the other with his arms folded as he was accustomed to walk for exercise. While walking, a messenger came in and handed him a letter. He read it and said nothing, but l held the letter in his hand and looked steadily at the floor. That Gems. La Fayette and Knox both started toward him at the same time, and one of them, he thinks Lafayette said: "For Gods sake, General, what is the matter "
 His answer was-"There is treason; let some one be sent immediately across the river to West Point" and when they left the room he could distinctly see the boat on the river which afterward proved to be the one in which Arnold was then making his escape to the Vulture, a l British ship of war from which Andre had so recently come on shore. It could not have been more than thirty minutes after Arnold left the shore, or after he received the Jameson letter, before Wash. ington arrived at Arnold s quarters.
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