Year: 1879

a small-brimmed, tarnished beaver on
his head He wore his hair in
queue, with long, black band, and his
clothes somewhat dirty.


In this garb / took charge of
him. After breakfast my barber
came in to shave me. after which /
requested him to undergo the same
operation, which he did. When the
ribbon was taken from his hair | OBJ
served it was full of powder. This
circumstance, with others that oc-
cured, induced me to believe that |
had no ordinary person in charge.
He requested permission to take the
bed while his shirt and small clothes
could be washed. | told him that
was needless, for change was at his
service, which he accepted. We
were close pent up in bedroom,
with guard at the door and window.
There was a spacious yard before the
door, which he desired he might be
permitted to walk in with me. ae
cordiugly disposed of my guard in
such a manner as to prevent an
escape. While walking together he
observed that he must make conf
dant of somebody, and he knew not
more proper person than myself. ]
proceed with the majors own story.
He said he came up the North river
in the sloop-of-war Vulture for the
purpose of seeing a person by flag of
truce. That was not, however, ac
complished. OF course he had to
come ashore in a skiff, and after he
had done his business the wind was
so high the Dutchman who took bin
ashore dare not venture TO return him
on board. The night following the
militia had lined the shores, so that
no attempt would be made with safety,
consequently he was furnished, after
changing his clothes, with Continen-
tai horse and General Arnold's pass,
and was to take a route by Peekskill,
Crumpound, PiResbridgo, Sing Sing,
TarrytoWn, etc, to New York
Nothing occurred to disturb him on
his route until he arrived at the last
place except at Crumpouud. He told
me his hair stood erecb and his heart
was in his mouth on meeting Colonel
Samuel B. Webb Of our army plump
in the face. An acquaintance of his
said that Colonel Stoddert knew him
and he thought that he was gone, but
they kept moving along and soon
passed each ether. He then thought
himself past all danger, and while
Illuminating on his good luck and hair
breadth escapes he was assailed by
three bushmen near Tarrytown, who
ordered him to stand. He said to
them, | hope, gentlemen, you belong
to the lower party. We do, says
one. So do |, says he, and by the
token of this ring and key you will
let me pass. | am British officer on
business Of Importance, and must not
be detained.


Zone of them took his watch from
him, and then ordered him to dis.
mount. The moment that was done
he said he found he was mistaken; he
must shift his tone. He said, / am
happy, gentlemen, to find | am mis-
taken-you belong to the upper party
and so do |; and to convince you oe it.
here is General Arnold S pass, handing
it to them. Damn Arnold's pass,


said they. You said you were Brit
Iish officer. Where is your money!
Gentlemen, | have none about me
he replied. You a British officer.
pooh ! A gold watch and no moneyl
| Let us search him. They did so, but
found none, Says one; He has his
money in his boots; let's have them off
and see.' They took of his boots, and
there they found his papers, but no
money. They then examined his sad


die, but found none. He said he saw
they had such a thirst for money, he
would put them in way to get it if
they would be directed by him. They
answered him in this way: If we de-


liver you at Kings Bridge we shall be
sent to the sugar house, and you will
save your money, lie says: "If you
will not trust my honor, two Of YOU
may stay with me and one shall 20
with the letter | write. Name your
sum- The sum was agreed upon.
but | cannot recollect whether it was
five hundred or one thousand guineas.
but the latter, ] think, was the sum
They held consultation for con
siderable time, and finally they told
him if he wrote, q party would be sent
out and take them, and then they
would all be prisoners. They said
they had concluded to take him to
the commanding officer on the lines
They did so, and retained the watch
until General Washington sent for
them to Tanpan, when the watch was
restored to Major Andre.


Thus, you see, had money been at
command after the imprudent confess
sion of Major Andre, or any security
given that the British would have mi
confidence in, he might have passed
on to Sir Henry Clinton's headquar-
ters with all his papers and Arnold's s
pass Into the bargain. | do not recol-
iect to have seen true statement Of
this business in any history that has
fallen into my hands. If my memory
serves me, Arnold solicited and OBJ
tanned the command Of West Point In
consequence Of his being an invalid
and the reason why his negotiation
was not completed by fagoftruoe, | will
state what General Washington told
the French ambassador, Lucerne. He
stated on his route to Hartford that
he dined with General Arnold at Hav.
erstraw, at Joshua Smiths, where
Arnold and Andre met. General Ar.
mold showed him letter from General
Robinson direoted M Generol Tsro'oi