Year: 1876

The KIDNAPPING OF WASHINGTON AT
NEwBuRaH.-It was while atthese headquar-
ters, a bold attempt was made to capture Gen.
Washington. Clinton was very anxious to
get possession of his person, and Washington
received many letters warning him of his dan.
ger. But of all the plans that we're laid, none
seemed to be so easy of execution as the one
that was foiled here by the patriotism of q
young lady, the daughter of one Ettrick, who
professed to be warm patriot but those who
knew him best looked on him with suspicion.
This man and this spot was selected to effect
WashiDgton's capture. The plan proposed
was to have boat ready, and a party of To-
ries secreted in the woods near by, when
Washington should be invited to dinner. His
daughter overheard a conversation that ex.
posed this plot, und informed Washington Of
her suspicious, and begged him not to accept
the invitation of her father to dinner. The
dinner hour was to be late, so that it would
be dark before the meal was over. Then the
seizure was to be effected, and the captive
borne off to the Hudson. The boat, manned
by strong rowers, would easily have reached
the English vessels below West Point, before
Washington would be missed. Instead of de-
clining the invitation, he accepted it, but in
the meantime ordered detachment of his
life guard to march to the place just at even
ing, and present themselves at the door.
While Ettrick was engaged in conversation
with his distinguished guest, he heard their
footsteps and the low command Of their lead.
er, and supposing them to be the detachment
of Tories, he rose, and laying his hand on
Washington's shoulder, said:


II believe, General, you are my prisoner"


81 believe not, sir; but you are mine" was
the reply, as the life guard closed around him.


He was Immediately marched o6'and locked
up. This threw the daughter into paroxysm
of grief. She had not anticipated such re-
suit. She had given no positive information; ;
simply told her suspicious to Washington,
thinking the only result would be to make
him decline the invitation. That he would
make her kindness to him the cause of pun
ishment to her father, she did not for mo-
ment dream, and she besought him not to re-
pay her fidelity to him by the imprisonment
and death of her father. If it had been
mere personal matter, Washington would,
doubtless, have suffered the man to 60 unmo.
Tested but the blow was not aimed at him,
but at his country, and this he would not have
forgiven in an only son. Still, every instinct
of bis nature revolted against inAicting need:
less suffering on the daughter who had acted
so nobly. If it had become known, however,
it is doubtful if even Washington's influence
could have saved the wretch, whose crime was
tenfold greater than that of Arnold: A drum
head court martial and a swift death was what
he richly deserved. Washington, however,
kept the matter quiet, except to few person
al friends, and after a short confinement re,
leased him on the promise that he would leave
the country. To this he gladly consented
and escaped to Nova Scotia. The secrecy
which Washington maintained in regard to it,
for the daughters sake, doubtless kept it from
becoming part of the history of the times =
but there is no doubt of its truth among the
old Revolutionary families of this region: 3
j. r HeadEy, IN tie GALAXY for July. II


"a 3