The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-12-31

tain Carnes ease his mind on that
! point. When the captain could not be
put off longer the major ordered Lieu
tenant Middleton, whom he knew to
be an ardent admirer of Champe, to
head a pursuing party. Middleton, he
knew, could be depended upon to give
Champe every benefit of doubt should
he come up with him.
At sunrise Champe was in sight of
the Hudson River, with his pursuers
close behind. Lieutenant Middleton
divided his party, sending some of the
men by a short cut that would bring
them to the bridge across the river
ahead of Champe. Fortunately
Champe also knew of this short cut
and took no chance of being intercept
ted. When he reached the waters
edge he signaled a British ship which
happened to be in sight, left his horse
tied his valise and orderly book on his
back, and his pursuers came up just
in time to see him swimming franti-
cally toward a rowboat which was be-
ing sent out to meet him.
Champe had no trouble in convinc-
ing the captain of the boat of the sin
cerity of his desertion. The captain
took him at once to New York and
introduced him to Sir Henry Clinton,
the British commander. Clinton soon
decided that Champe was no ordinary
deserter, but any suspicious he might
have had as to the reason for his de-
sertion were dispelled by the clever
manner in which the young man asked
and answered questions.
Washington had seen to it that
Champe had all necessary papers on
his person to show that he was an Of
ficer. The British policy to give de-
sorting officers the same rank in the
British Army that they had in the
American force would bring Champe
into close touch with Benedict Arnold
and would make it easier for him to
carry through the abduction plot.
Arnold, who had found great favor
in the sight of Sir Henry Clinton, had
his quarters at No. 8 Broadway, ad-
joining those of the British comman-
der. His command, known as "The
American Legion" was made up of
Tories and deserters, and it was to
"The American Legion" that Champ.
was sent. Arnold received him cour-
teously, and while the troop was be-
ing prepared for a Southern expedi-
ton Champe found ways to dispatch
letter to Lee, giving him full partic-
ulars regarding his whereabouts; he
also communicated with the men
whom Washington had asked to aid
him in the conspiracy.
The entire situation seemed favora-
BILE to Champe: A garden in the rear
| of Arnold's house extended to the
river, a dark alley adjoining the gar
den led to the street. Arnold's habit
of strolling in the garden late at night
| fitted we'll into the scheme. On the
night set for the kidnapping one of
/ Champe's accomplices was to have a
boat ready for immediate use; the
other was to wait in the alley until a
certain signal was given; then he and
Champe were to seize and gag the
traitor, carry him to the river, where
they would take off at once for Hobo
ken.
The time was appointed for action.
The minutest details had been attend
| ed to. Even a panel in the palings in
the fence between the garden and the
alley had been removed and set back
into place in such way that they
need not make any noise, or take but
moment of time in escaping to the
alley. Lee was advised when to meet
them at Hoboken. On the night ap-
pointed the major, with a small body
of cavalry, left the camp at Tippan,
with three extra horses. They made
their way to secluded woods, near
Hoboken, where they waited for
Champe and his prisoner. All night
they waited, and when dawn had come
and the party had failed to arrive
they returned to camp. Washington
shared their disappointment and wait
ed anxiously for some message from
Champe. Not many days thereafter
Lee received a letter which conveyed
the disheartening information that on
the day appointed for the kidnapping
Arnold had changed his quarters, that
he might better superintend the en-
barking of his troops for the expedi-
ton into Virginia. Instead of carry
ing Arnold a prisoner across the Hud-
son that night Champe had been COM
PEELED to take passage on a British
transport, and was now on the shores
of his beloved Virginia, preparing for
marauding expedition against Rich
mond. He declared that it was almost
more than he could endure to have to
take mort in the viIlainous work of