UC-NRLF 
 
 B M 
 

 
 
\ 
 
 
 
ALICE H. WHTTTAKER. 
 
V. 
 
 
the 
 
THE 
 
 
 SPY UNMASKED; 
 
 OR, 
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 ENOCH CROSBY, ALIAS HARVEY BIRCH, 
 
 THE HERO OF MR. COOPER S TALE OF THE 
 
 NEUTRAL GROUND: 
 
 BEING AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE SECRET SERVICES 
 
 WHICH HE RENDERED HIS COUNTRY DURING 
 
 THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 
 
 (Taken from his own lips, in short-hand.) 
 
 COMPRISING MANY INTERESTING FACTS AND ANECDOT) 
 NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. 
 
 BY H. I*. BAHNU1XI, 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH A CORRECT LIKENESS OF THE HERO, 
 WITH A FAC SIMILE OF HIS SIGNATURE. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 CINCINNATI: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY A. B. ROFF, 
 
 .SOLD BY LUKE LOOMIS AND CO. PITTSBURGH; JAMES W. PALMER, 
 
 LOUISVILLE; J. s. KELLOGG, MOBILE; E. cox, MAYSVILLE; AND 
 
 MOST OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 Robinson ^ Fairbarik Printers. 
 
 1831. 
 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW.YORK, s s . 
 
 BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 10th day of July, A. D. 1828, in the 
 fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, H. L. 
 BARNUM, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a Book, 
 the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following to wit: 
 
 "The Spy Unmasked; or, Memoirs of Enoch Crosby, alias Harvey Birch, the 
 Hero of Mr. Cooper s Tale of the Neutral Ground: being an authentic account 
 of the secret services which he rendered his country during the Revolutionary 
 War. Taken from his own lips, in short-hand. Comprising many interesting 
 facts and anecdotes never before published. By H. L. Barnum." 
 
 In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled "An act 
 for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and 
 books, to the authors, and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein 
 mentioned." And also to an act, entitled "An act supplementary to an act, en 
 titled an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, 
 charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the 
 times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of de 
 signing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints., 
 
 FRED. J. BETTS, 
 Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. 
 
C75 
 
 DEDICATION 
 
 TO JAMES F. COOPER, ESU,. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE SPY," "RED ROVER," <^ c . 
 
 SIR, 
 
 As it was your fascinating pen that first immortalized 
 the subject of the following Memoir, while it elevated the 
 literary reputation of our free and happy country, the 
 Compiler has ventured to prefix your name to this un 
 authorized dedication. 
 
 Rest assured, Sir, that in taking this liberty, the under 
 signed had no other incentive but a profound respect for 
 your talents as an author, and a warm esteem for your 
 virtues as a man. 
 
 Under the hope that the motive will justify the act, he 
 begs leave to subscribe himself 
 
 Your most obedient, and very 
 
 Humble servant, 
 
 H. L. BARNUM. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Dedication, - " ; 5 
 
 Introduction, - 9 
 
 CHAP. I. Early Impressions, - 13 
 
 II. Leaving Home, - 20 
 
 HI. The First Campaign, - - 26 
 
 IV. The Tories, 37 
 
 V. Secret Services, - 43 
 
 VI. The Spy and the Haystack, - 54 
 
 VII. The Escape, - - 66 
 
 VIII. The Mountain Cave, 76 
 
 IX. Chaderton s Hill, - 88 
 
 X. The Secret Pass, - 102 
 
 XL Lights and Shadows, - - 116 
 
 XII. Quaker Hill, 124 
 
 XIII. The Spy Unmasked, - - 131 
 
 XIV. The Spy and the Traitor, 141 
 
 Conclusion, - - 152 
 
 Appendix, - 155 
 
 1* 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 SINGE the first publication of Mr. Cooper s interesting 
 novel of "The Spy, A Tale of the Neutral Ground," much 
 curiosity has been excited in the reading community, re 
 specting the original of that excellent portraiture, HARVEY 
 BIRCH. It seemed to be generally admitted, that the Spy 
 was not a fictitious personage, but a real character, drawn 
 from life; and the author himself intimates as much in his 
 preface, where he admits that "a good portion of the tale is 
 true." 
 
 But we are happy to assure the reader, that the fact does 
 not rest upon the slender basis of fanciful conjecture. A 
 gentleman of good standing and respectability, who has 
 filled honourable official stations in the county of West- 
 chester, and who has long enjoyed the friendship and confi 
 dence of Mr. Cooper, informed the writer of this article, on 
 the authority of Mr. Cooper himself, that the outline of the 
 character of Harvey Birch, was actually sketched from that 
 of ENOCH CROSBY; but filled up, partly from imagination, 
 and partly from similar features in the lives of two or three 
 others, who were also engaged in secret services, during 
 the revolutionary war. But Mr. Cooper has frequently 
 assured our informant, that, though he had borrowed inci 
 dents from the lives of others to complete the portrait, yet 
 ENOCH CROSBY was certainly the original which he had in 
 his "mind s eye." 
 
 That there were several such secret agents in the service 
 of the leaders of the revolution, is a fact that is now well 
 known; a fact to which the author alludes in the first 
 chapter of "The Spy," where he says, "Many an indi 
 vidual has gone down to the tomb stigmatized as a foe to 
 the rights of his countrymen, while, in secret, he has been 
 the useful agent of the leaders of the revolution." Each 
 of these individuals might have contributed a tint, a shade, 
 a line, or perhaps a feature, to the character of Harvey 
 
IXtRODUCTION. 
 
 Birch; but we think no one can peruse the following pages 
 without being convinced that Enoch Crosby was the origi 
 nal model from which that character was formed. 
 
 It is highly probable, however, that Mr. Cooper never 
 saw Crosby; and, of course, could not have received the 
 incidents of his life from his own lips, as did the compiler 
 of the following Memoir. But the honourable John Jay, it 
 will be recollected, was chairman of the "Committee of 
 Safety," under whose sanction Crosby s secret services 
 were performed; and we understand, it was at Mr, Jay^s 
 residence that the novel of "The Spy" was first conceived 
 and brought into existence. This venerable patriot (better 
 than any one else, not even excepting the secret agents 
 themselves,) could furnish Mr. Cooper with every requisite 
 material for the character of Harvey Birch ; although he 
 was under the erroneous impression, that Enoch Crosby 
 had long since paid the debt of nature. 
 
 On learning the foregoing facts, from the gentleman 
 alluded to above, the writer of this narrative, being then 
 about twenty miles from the residence of Mr. Crosby, was 
 induced to pay him a visit, for the purpose of hearing some 
 of the incidents of his life related by himself; but without 
 the least intention of ever committing them to paper. 
 
 Although perfect strangers to each other, the old gentle 
 man gave his visiter a cordial reception, and readily com 
 plied with his request, by relating several particulars of his 
 own eventful life. Some of these were of so interesting a 
 nature, as induced the auditor to suggest the propriety of 
 laying them before the public. The aged veteran modestly 
 waived such a proposition, considering the events of his 
 life as of too little consequence to claim attention from 
 the patrons of literature. He had never seen "The Spy," 
 as novels were not included in his present course of reading; 
 he was consequently ignorant of being himself the very 
 hero of the tale. When advised of this fact, and solicited 
 to peruse the work, he consented ; and the visiter took his 
 leave. 
 
 A short time subsequent to this interview,. Mr, Crosby 
 was called to the city of New-York, to give his testimony 
 in an important law-suit, respecting the transfer of some 
 valuable real estate.. While attending Court, in the 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 City Hall, he was recognized ^by an old gentleman, who, 
 not having heard of him for a number of years, supposed 
 (like Jay and Cooper,) that Crosby had been, long since, 
 numbered with the dead. After such mutual greetings as 
 are usual on similar occasions, Crosby s old acquaintance 
 turned to the Court, and introduced his friend as "the origi 
 nal Harvey Birch of Mr. Cooper s Spy? 
 
 This anecdote being published in some of the daily 
 papers, Mr. Sandford, proprietor of the Lafayette Theatre, 
 politely invited Mr. Crosby to attend the representations of 
 the drama of the " Spy;" 1 which was performed expressly 
 for that occasion. Mr. Crosby complied; and, the circum- 
 tance being announced in the papers, a numerous audience 
 attended, who received the old soldier with several rounds 
 of applause, which he modestly acknowledged. He ap 
 peared to be much interested in the performance, andjreadily 
 admitted, that some of the incidents resembled transactions 
 in which he himself had been an actor in "olden time," on 
 "the Neutral Ground." 
 
 How Mr. Crosby was pleased with his reception in the 
 city, will be seen from the following letter, which he sent to 
 the Editors of the "Journal of Commerce," in which paper 
 it appeared on the twenty-first day of December last, 1827. 
 
 "For the Journal of Commerce. 
 MESSRS. EDITORS, 
 
 It would be an unsatisfactory restraint of my feelings, 
 should I not express my gratitude to the citizens of New- 
 York, for their kind attention to me during my late visit to 
 that city, and particularly to the managers of the theatre, 
 who politely invited me to witness the play called the SpyS 
 J was much gratified with the performance; for, while 
 it called to mind those trying scenes of the revolutionary 
 war, it also created happy emotions in reflecting upon the 
 glorious result of our labours during that perilous time, 
 which brought with it Independence and Prosperity; and 
 having been spared to enjoy those blessings for half a cen 
 tury, and see them still continued, I can lay down my weary 
 and worn-out limbs in peace and happiness, to see my fee 
 ble labours rewarded, and my greatest wishes answere^ 
 in gaining our independence, and the blessings attending j t . 
 
XU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and my most earnest and fervent prayer is, and shall be, 
 that they may be perpetuated to the latest posterity. 
 
 Yours, very respectfully, ENOCH CROSBY. 
 
 December, 15, 1827." 
 
 The writer of these pages now felt convinced that the 
 public curiosity demanded an authentic narrative of Enoch 
 Crosby s secret services, during the revolutionary war. 
 Under this impression, he paid him a second visit; and, 
 after much persuasion, prevailed on him to relate the prin 
 cipal incidents of his life, in the order they occurred, 
 while his visiter took them down, from his lips, in short 
 hand. The substance of the following pages may, there 
 fore, be depended upon, as facts related by Mr. Crosby 
 himself. It is true, the language is, in most instances, the 
 Compiler s; but the ideas, with very few exceptions, are 
 Crosby s own. The language was changed for the two 
 following reasons: 
 
 First, The events and incidents of Crosby s life were re 
 lated to the Compiler in the first person; which would have 
 precluded many other facts from various sources, which 
 have a connexion with, or a bearing on, those furnished by 
 himself. By changing the style to the third person, the 
 Compiler was at liberty to interweave several important 
 events which can certainly detract nothing from the merits 
 of the work. 
 
 Secondly, the particulars of Crosby s adventures, as nar 
 rated in the following pages, were elicited in a catechetical 
 colloquy ; the style of which is seldom sufficiently accurate, 
 or elevated for the page of history. But the facts them 
 selves, did all actually occur, with very trifling variation. 
 
 The following work has been divided into chapters, for 
 the convenience of the reader, in making references, &c. ; 
 each of which has been headed with a motto, in order that 
 his path, as he proceeds through the narrative, might be 
 diversified with a few flowers of acknowledged sweetness. 
 They may be "read or sung, at the discretion of" those who 
 honour the book with a perusal; or they may be passed 
 over unnoticed; fora motto, like a parenthesis, "can always 
 be omitted without injuring the sense." 
 
 The explanatory notes were placed in the margin of the pages in the first 
 edition, but in this they are inserted in the appendix, and designated by figures. 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY IMPRESSIONS, 
 
 Be this brief precept carefully imprest, 
 By. every parent, on the infant breast; 
 Thy best affections let thy God command, 
 But next to Heaven, adore thy native land." 
 
 ENOCH CROSBY, the subject of the following memoir, is 
 a native of Harwich, in the county of Barnstable, state of 
 Massachusetts^ 1) He was born on the fourth day of Jan 
 uary, 1750; a year rendered somewhat remarkable by the 
 first indication of a wish, on the part of the British par 
 liament, to infringe the rights and privileges of the Ameri 
 can colonies.(2) 
 
 It would not be an unpardonable hyperbole to say, that 
 the adventures of Enoch Crosby commenced at the early 
 age of three years; as, at that period, be letl the place of 
 his nativity, and, after a journey of more than two hundred 
 miles, became a resident of the state of New-York, His 
 father had purchased a farm in the township of South 
 east,^) then the county of Duchess, but since set off as 
 part of the countv of Putnam, to which place he removed 
 his family in 1^53. 
 
 In this delightful retreat, Enoch passed the happy period 
 of childhood ; blest with parents whose tenderness and affec 
 tion were only equalled by the rectitude of their lives; and 
 
 2 
 
14 THE SPY UNMASKED; OK 
 
 indulged with every reasonable gratification that moderate 
 affluence could procure. 
 
 The natural scenery which surrounded his paternal 
 mansion, was picturesque, wild, and romantic; and, no 
 doubt, contributed to tinge his infantile mind with that cast 
 of romance and adventure which so eminently imiuenced 
 the actions of his riper years. His earliest recreations 
 were among cragged rocks and dizzy steeps; frightful 
 precipices, roaring cataracts and placid lakes. A high and 
 romantic eminence called Joe s Hill, which rises near the 
 centre of the town, and extends several miies into the state 
 of Connecticut, was the theatre of many of his juvenile 
 exploits ; as were, also, the flowery banks of the meander 
 ing Croton, and the borders of several beautiful ponds^ 
 which lie like mirrors in the bottom of valleys, reflecting 
 from their lucid surface the mountains and the sky. En 
 dowed by nature with more than ordinary physical ad 
 vantages, he generally bore away the palm from his play 
 fellows, iu every athletic exercise; especially such as re 
 quired a combination of personal courage, strength and 
 activity. 
 
 Thus, for several years, glided the smooth current of his 
 existence, sparkling in the sunbeams of hope, and unruf 
 fled by any intruding cares, save such as are incidental to 
 the April morning of life. As his mental faculties gradu- 
 ally developed themselves, they were doubtless assisted by 
 such precarious liteipry instruction as could be conveni 
 ently obtained in a thinly populated district, at a period 
 when the state of education was not very promising in any 
 part of the country. 
 
 Under such circumstances, it is not to be presimied that 
 a lad of fourteen years could have a very clear idea of the 
 political relations existing between different countries; yet 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 15 
 
 there is little doubt, that the political discussions to which, 
 at that age, he was frequently a silent listener, had consid 
 erable influence in preparing his mind for the part he was 
 destined to perform in the great drama of the revolution. 
 
 These discussions originated in certain acts of the British 
 parliament, which were passed in the year 1764, one of 
 which commenced in the following alarming terms: 
 Whereas, it is just and necessary, that a revenue be 
 raised in America, for defraying the expenses of defend 
 ing, protecting, and securing the same,(4) we, the com 
 mons, &c. give and grant unto your majesty, the sum of," 
 &c. Here followed a specification of duties on certain ar 
 ticles of foreign produce, such as sugar, indigo, coffee, 
 silks, calicoes, molasses, and syrups. 
 
 This being the first act of the kind (avowedly for the 
 purpose of raising revenue from the colonies,) that had 
 ever disgraced the parliamentary statute-book, it naturally 
 produced much excitement and animadversion on this side 
 the Atlantic. The merits of the question were freely and 
 warmly canvassed by persons of all conditions and ages, 
 and in every situation where two or three happened to be 
 congregated ; by females as well as males, and even by 
 children in their seasons of recreation. The village lasses 
 felt indignant at the interference of parliament in matters 
 connected with the regulation of their wardrobes; while 
 the children justly apprehended some economical restric 
 tions in their usual allowance of gingerbread and sweet 
 meats. 
 
 Master Enoch, of course, was not an indifferent audi 
 tor of these perpetual discussions; but regularly reiterated, 
 to an audience of school-fellows, such of his father s argu 
 ments and observations, as his juvenile mind partially com 
 prehended. Each of his comrades could, from a similar 
 
16 THE SPY UNMASKED; OK 
 
 source, furnish his own quota of remark ; and thus a de 
 termined spirit of opposition to ministerial encroachments 
 on colonial rights, was permanently, and almost instinc 
 tively, established in the bosoms of the rising generation, 
 even before they were capable of understanding the nature 
 or extent of the subject. 
 
 Ere these newly awakened feelings, in the minds of 
 Americans, were allowed time to subside, the celebrated 
 stamp act was received from England. The astonishment, 
 alarm, and indignation, which now agitated every patriotic 
 breast; would not be restrained, but burst forth in expres 
 sions and acts that could not be misunderstood by the 
 friends and abettors of the obnoxious measure. A string 
 of patriotic resolutions on the subject, offered by the cele 
 brated Patrick Henry, and adopted by the legislature of 
 Virginia, were printed and circulated through all the prov 
 inces. Wherever they were read, they were hailed with 
 enthusiasm; even school-boys were encouarged to recite 
 them in their respective classes^ and exhorted to imbibe tlie 
 spirit by which they had been dictated. (5) 
 
 A new mode of expressing the popular resentment against 
 this odious act, began with the whigs in Boston, and was 
 soon adopted by those of the neighbouring colonies. This 
 was by hanging or burning, in effigy, such of the principal 
 loyalists as had openly avowed themselves friendly to the 
 revenue system. The temper which prompted these tu 
 multuous proceedings, rapidly spread through the colonies, 
 until popular commotions prevailed to a degree that gave 
 serious alarm to those cool and reflecting citizens who re 
 garded the morals as well as the liberties of their country. 
 Scarcely a day passed without furnishing the peaceful in 
 habitants of Southeast with some new account of riots,(6) 
 mols, and summary chastisements, inflicted on the friend? 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 17 
 
 of the stamp act, in Boston, Newport, New-York, Balti 
 more, and other populous towns. This was certainly a 
 dangerous spirit to let loose in society; and though, in the 
 present instance, its excesses were, perhaps, in some 
 measure, sanctified by its motives, still the necessity of its 
 existence was deeply deplored by the best friends of their 
 country. 
 
 The mind of youth is easily dazzled by such vivid cor 
 uscations of patriotic fervour; and there is little doubt 
 that they had a due share of influence in the formation of 
 Enoch Crosby s character. 
 
 About this period, patriotic associations were formed, 
 the members of which were denominated the "Sons of 
 Liberty" and they agreed "to march with the utmost expe 
 dition, (at their own proper cost and expense,) with their 
 whole force, to the relief of those who should be in danger 
 from the stamp act, or its promoters and abettors, on account 
 of any thing done in opposition to its obtaining." This 
 agreement was subscribed to by such numbers in New- 
 York and the Eastern States, that nothing short of a repeal 
 of the offensive act could have prevented the immediate 
 commencement of a civil war. It was accordingly re 
 pealed on the 18th of March, 1766. 
 
 The subject of this memoir very distinctly remembers 
 the unusual rejoicings which took place in his vicinity, in 
 consequence of this highly interesting event. Similar de 
 monstrations of joy were exhibited throughout the colonies. 
 The names of Camden and Pitt were cheered to the skies. 
 Every indignant resolution was immediately rescinded; the 
 churches resounded with thanksgivings; illuminations and 
 bonfires were every where exhibited; and a joyful holyday 
 was held throughout the country. This was another cir 
 cumstance that made a lasting impression on the youthful 
 
 2* 
 
13 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 mind of Enoch, and assisted in the formation of a char 
 acter which has since been so admirably delineated by the 
 pen of a master. 
 
 But while the whole country was thus dissolved in joy, 
 there were not wanting a few enlightened patriots, who 
 maintained "that the immoderate transports of the colo 
 nists were disproportioned to the advantage they had 
 gained;" for at the same time that the stamp act was re 
 pealed, the absolute unlimited supremacy of parliament was, 
 in words, asserted. 
 
 "Wherefore do we rejoice? 1 asked the good clergyman^ 
 to whose pious exhortations, both in public and private, 
 the Crosby family ever listened with pleased and devout 
 attention. "Is it because the parliament of Great Brtiain 
 has been graciously pleased to exchange our handcuffs for 
 fetters? Is it because she claims the power and right to 
 bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever? Are we pre 
 pared for this? Shall the petty island of Great Britain, 
 scarce a speck on the map of the world, control the free 
 citizens of the great continent of America? God forbid!" 
 
 "I believe, sir," replied the elder Crosby, "that we are 
 hallooing before we are fairly out of the woods. Our poli 
 ticians seem to overlook the degrading condition which is 
 tacked to this boasted repeal, that we must make compen 
 sation to those who have suffered, in person or property, 
 through their own wilful adherence to the cause of our op 
 pressors. If we submit to this we deserve to be slaves." 
 
 "It appears to me," observed the village schoolmaster, 
 \*ho happened to be present, and who was strongly sus 
 pected of leaning to the ministerial side of the question ; 
 "it appears to me, that if we look at this subject by the pure 
 light of sober reason, and not by the illusive flashes of ex 
 cited passion, we shall see the propriety of waiving all 
 
MEMOIRS 0* ENOCH CROSBY. 13 
 
 debate and controversy ; and, for the sake of internal peace, 
 of making the trifling compensation required. It cannot 
 amount to much." 
 
 "It is not the amount of the sum that I object to," return 
 ed the other. "It is the principle that I am contending for. 
 If we yield in one point, there is no telling how far their 
 encroachments may extend ." 
 
 t"Is not their compliance with or petitions for repealing 
 e stamp act an evidence of their respect for the rights of 
 the colonies?" 
 
 "No, sir," replied the clergyman. "In this measure, the 
 ministry have not been so much actuated by principles of 
 equity, as impelled by necessity." 
 
 "Necessity I" reiterated the pedagogue. "To me it ap 
 pears an act of favour and lenity." 
 
 "The doctrine of submission, passive obedience, and 
 non-resistance, may do very well in the discipline of your 
 school," answered Crosby ; "but I hope my son will never 
 imbibe, from you, or any other man, such sentiments as ap 
 plied in politics." 
 
 Here the conversation terminated ; and Enoch, who was 
 present, did not feel any great increase rf respect towards 
 his preceptor in consequence : nor was it long afterwards, 
 that his father placed him under the tuition of an elderly 
 gentleman, of superior literary acquirements, whose politi 
 cal sentiments were in accordance with his own. As this 
 personage will again appear on the stage, in the progress of 
 our little drama, we beg the reader to bear in mind that he 
 is not only a "staunch whig," but, in every other respect, a 
 worthy man. 
 
20 THE SPY tTNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 LEAVING HOME. 
 
 Here, as, with wearied eteps, I bent my way, 
 I mark d each dear and well-remembered spot, 
 
 Where youth had buoyed my mind with visions gsy, 
 Nor thought I then how hard would be my lot. 1 
 
 AT the period of which we are writing, it was the earnest 
 wish of all parties, that harmony might be re-established 
 between Great Britain and her American colonies. The 
 severities of the British government "had not yet taught 
 (he Colonists to express themselves in any other modes of 
 language, but what indicated their firm attachment to the 
 mother country ; nor had they erased the habitual ideas, 
 even of tenderness, conveyed in their usual modes of ex 
 pression. When they formed a design to visit England, it 
 had always been thus announced, I am going home. 
 Home, the seat of happiness, the retreat of all the felicities 
 of the human mind, is too intimately associated with the 
 best feelings of the heart, to renounce without pain, whe 
 ther applied to the natural or the political parent." (1) 
 
 But although a strong desire for the re-establishment of 
 harmony was manifested by persons of every description, 
 there still existed a great diversity of opinion as to the best 
 means of producing so desirable a result. "There were 
 several classes in America, who were at first exceedingly 
 opposed to measures that militated with the designs of ad 
 ministration. Some, impressed by lo g connexion, were 
 intimidated by her power, and attached by affection to 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 21 
 
 Britain: others, tha true disciples of passive obedience, 
 had real scruples of conscience with regard to any resis 
 tance to the powers that be: these, whether actuated by 
 affection or fear, by principle or interest, formed a close 
 combination with the colonial governors, custom-house offi 
 cers, and all insubordinate departments who hung on the 
 court for subsistence." (2) 
 
 The partizan distinction of whig and tory was adopted 
 at an early stage of the controversy, and introduced in ev 
 ery political altercation to which it gave rise. It was no 
 uncommon occurrence for members of the same family, 
 not only to espouse opposite sides of the question, but to 
 defend the stand they had taken with a zeal and pertinaci 
 ty that ultimately sundered the tenderest ties of consan 
 guinity. Thus, as the general ferment increased, the fa 
 ther was often arrayed "against the son, and the son against 
 the father;" brothers became implacable enemies to each 
 other; and even the fair sex were not unfrequently in 
 volved in this frightful whirlpool of political contention. 
 
 Fortunately for the subject cf these memoirs, and happi 
 ly for his country, his father s family, to adopt his own ex 
 pression, were "staunch whigs;"so was a majority of their 
 t ellow-townsmen, particularly the good clergyman, the 
 Rev. Mr. Gregory, before mentioned. Indeed, the clergy 
 of every denomination, throughout the country, with very 
 few exceptions, warmly espoused the cause of the colonies; 
 and embraced every opportunity, both in public and private, 
 of exhorting their flocks manfully to resist every encroach 
 ment on their rights as freemen. Their influence was great, 
 and its effects such as might have been expected. (3) 
 
 The attention cf the elder Crosby, however, and that of 
 his amiable family, were, for a time, diverted from political 
 difficulties by dom-stic misfortunes. From a state of com- 
 
~ < THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 fort and comparative affluence, he suddenly found himself 
 reduced to poverty and distress. (4) This unexpected re 
 verse of fortune rendered it necessary for the son, at the 
 age of sixteen, to leave, for the first time, the shelter of his 
 paternal roof, and seek his own fortune in an untried world. 
 
 The painful sensations incidental to the parting of an 
 affectionate child from indulgent parents, and the home o 
 his childhood, are seldom forgotten by the parties concerned ; 
 but in the present instance^ their impression was left with 
 a vividness of colouring which the lapse of more than sixty 
 years have not been able to obliterate. In reverting to this 
 incident, at the age of seventy-eight, the subject of this 
 memoir expressed himself, in substance, as follows: 
 
 "At the age of sixteen the scene changed, and I was 
 compelled to leave the home of my childhood, to seek the 
 protection of strangers, and depend upon my own exertions 
 for support. With the scanty outfit of a change of clothes 
 and a few shillings in my pocket, [ bade a long adieu to the 
 friends I best loved, and the scenes of my happiest days. 
 After receiving the blessings of my parents, with much 
 good advice, and a small bible, which they assured me 
 would prove rny greatest consolation in every trial and af 
 fliction that might befal me, I shouldered my pack* clasped 
 their hands in silence for I dared not trust my voice to say 
 farewell! and hastened away, leaving my poor mother 
 in an agony of tears. 
 
 "I proceeded a short distance, with a burden at my heart 
 much heavier than the one on my back. I then paused, and 
 cast back a longing lingering look, 1 on the spot thatl could 
 once call my home but now no longer a home for me. I 
 then resumed my march, and after proceeding a little fur 
 ther, again turned ; when, for the last time, I saw my weep 
 ing mother through the window, gazing with streaming eyes. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 23 
 
 after her exiled son. I hurried away I could not look 
 again The hills which surrounded the beloved mansion 
 soon hid it from my view, and I felt myself alone in the 
 world, cut off from all that I held dear; while the future 
 appeared like a dark impenetrable cloud, scarcely illumined 
 by a ?ay of hope." 
 
 Painful as these sensations must have been to a youth 
 in his circumstances, they were soon dissipated by the no 
 velty ever attendant on a change of scene and associations. 
 He became an apprentice to a worthy man who resided in 
 the Eastern part of Phillipstown, since called Kent, in the 
 county of Putnam. Here he was taught the "art and mys 
 tery of cordwainer," and faithfully fulfilled his term of ser 
 vice, which terminated on the fourth day of January, 1771, 
 that day completing his twenty-first year. 
 
 Let it not be supposed, however, that during all this pe 
 riod he was an unconcerned spectator of the political move 
 ments around him. Far from it, The sentiments which 
 he had imperceptibly imbibed in childhood, "grew with 
 his growth, and strengthened with his strength," and now 
 began to flow out into effective operation. Although mili 
 tary discipline had for several years been almost totally 
 neglected, it now began to assume a more respectable atti 
 tude. New trainbands were organized, in one of which 
 young Crosby soon became an active and efficient member; 
 and he largely shared in the prevailing impression, that a 
 most important crisis was fast approaching, for which it was 
 the duty of every lover of his country to be duty and pro 
 perly prepared. Nor was this impression weakened by as 
 incident which occurred in the last yeai; of his minority 
 an incident which forms a conspicuous chapter in the his 
 tory of those times. We meaii the massacre, in cold blood, 
 of several citizens in the streets of Boston, by the British 
 
24 THE SPY UNMASKED; OK 
 
 soldiery. This wanton act of barbarity was perpetrated 
 in open day, on the 5th of March, 1770. 
 
 No previous outrage had produced such a general alarm 
 as the one here alluded to. "Yet the accident that created 
 a resentment which emboldened the timid, determined the 
 wavering, and awakened an energy and decision that nei 
 ther the artifices of the courtier, nor the terror of the 
 sword, could easily overcome, arose from a trivial circum 
 stance *. 
 
 "A sentinel, posted at the door of the custom-house, had 
 seized and abused a boy, for casting some opprobrious re 
 flections on an officer of rank; his cries collected a number 
 of other lads, who took the childish revenge of pelting the 
 soldier with snow-balls. The main guard, stationed in the 
 neighborhood of the custom-house, was informed by some 
 persons from thence, of the rising tumult. They imme 
 diately turned out under the command of a Captain Pres 
 ton, and beat to arms. The cry of fire was raised in all 
 parts of the town; the mob collected, and the soldiery, from 
 all quarters, ran through the streets, sword in hand, threat 
 ening and wounding the people, and with every appear 
 ance of hostility they rushed furiously to the centre of the 
 town,. 
 
 "The soldiers, thus ready for execution, and the populace 
 grown outrageous, the whole town was justly terrified by 
 unusual alarm. This naturally drew out persons of higher 
 condition and more peaceably disposed, to inquire the 
 cause. Their consternation can scarcely be described, 
 when they found orders were given to fire promiscuously 
 among the unarmed multitude. Five or six persons fell 
 at the first fire, and several more were dangerously woun 
 ded at their own doors.* (5) 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. ZO 
 
 "How slightly soever historians may pass over this event, 
 the blood of the martyrs, right or wrong, proved to be the 
 seeds of the congregation? Not the battle of Lexington 
 or Bunker s Hill; not the surrender of Burgoyne or Corn- 
 wallis, were more important events in American histo 
 ry, than the battle of King-street, on the 5th of March, 
 1770." (6) 
 
 The immediate result of this outrage is well known. 
 Captain Preston and his party were taken into custody of 
 a civil magistrate, tried for murder, and acquitted ; and 
 all the royal troops were subsequently removed from the 
 town to the fort about three miles below. But the indig 
 nant feelings which it had created in every patriotic bos >m 
 were not to be appeased. The blood of their brethren cried 
 from the ground for vengeance, and the appeal was felt in 
 every secti >n jf the country. Like other young men of 
 his age, Etvjch Crosby ardently longed for an opportunity 
 to mingle the -jJ,>od of the assassin with that of their, victims, 
 But the hour ha,dnot yet come. (7) 
 
 3 
 
THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 
 
 "O, who, reclined in dastard ease, 
 
 Could hear his country s call in vain: 
 Or view her banner court the breeze, 
 
 Nor sigh to join the hostile train." 
 
 Wcodicorth. 
 
 As we are not writing a history of the rise and progress 
 of the revolutionary war, but merely the memoirs of a pri 
 vate individual who took an active part in that momentous 
 contest, it is only requisite to give a brief detail of such 
 events as are connected, more or less remotely, with his own 
 transactions. 
 
 The destruction of the tea in Boston, (1) the consequent 
 port-bill, (2) as it was called, the formation of a continen 
 tal Congress, and the arrival of General Gage with an 
 army to reduce the "refractory colonists" to submission, 
 are prominent features in the history of four years, from the 
 period of our last chapter. But events of still greater 
 importance were at hand, and anticipated with trembling 
 anxiety. 
 
 Among the "signs of the times," was the newly-awaken 
 ed military ardour which prevailed throughout the colonies, 
 more especially in the Eastern states. In almost every 
 town, a certain quota of hardy youth were draughted from 
 the militia trainbands, who voluntarily devoted a daily por 
 tion of their time to improve themselves in the military 
 art, under officers of their own choice. These were styled 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 21 
 
 n minute-men" and stood ready to march at a moment s 
 warning, to defend the rights of their countrymen. 
 
 At this period, the younger Crosby resided at Danbury, 
 in the state of Connecticut,- and though it was not his for 
 tune to be draughted as a minute-man, he was still actuated 
 by the same martial spirit which inspired the rest of his 
 countrymen. The year 1775 had opened without the oc 
 currence of any incident of much political importance: 
 but while thousands of bosoms were throbbing with feelings 
 of intense interest, every eye was directed to the capital 
 of Massachusetts as the quarter from whence momentous 
 intelligence might be hourly expected. 
 
 The public mind was in this state of feverish suspense, 
 when, in the month of April, an express arrived at Danbu 
 ry, with intelligence that "upwards of four-score of Ajner- 
 icans had been inhumanly butchered on the plains of Lex 
 ington, (3) by a detachment of the British army, which 
 had afterwards been put to flight by a few raw country 
 militia. That houses had been rifled, plundered, and burnt ; 
 that neither sex, age, nor infirmity, had been respected by 
 these ruthless marauders; and that women, with their new 
 born infants, had been compelled to fly naked, to escape 
 the fury of the flames in which their houses were enwrap 
 ped I" (4) 
 
 The sensation produced by this intelligence not only at 
 Danbury, but in every other place, can be better conceived 
 than described. The shock was electric, and the whole 
 country flew to arms. (5) 
 
 "They heard and the plough in the furrrow was stay d, 
 Each art was relinquished for musket and blade; 
 The pipe of the swain in the valley was still, 
 While the bugle rang loud from each fortified hill." 
 
28 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Within twenty-four hours after the routed "regulars* had 
 regained the protection of their shipping, the town of Bos 
 ton was invested by several thousands of our exasperated 
 countrymen; while the colonies of Connecticut, Rhode 
 Island, and New-Hampshire, seemed all to be in motion. 
 Indeed, "such was the resentment of the people, and the 
 ardor of enterprise, that it was with difficulty they were 
 restrained from rushing into Boston, and rashly involving 
 their friends, in common with their enemies, in all the ca 
 lamities of a town taken by storm." (6) 
 
 The outrage at Lexington occurred on Wednesday, the 
 19th of April; but the news did not reach the city of New- 
 York until late on Saturday evening, nor was it generally 
 known until Sunday morning. A meeting of the citizens 
 immediately took place; who, without much ceremony, 
 seized upwards of five hundred stands of muskets and bay 
 onets belonging to his Britannic majesty. 
 
 On the following day, the keys of the custom-house were 
 secured by thewhigs; who soon made themselves masters 
 of all the public stores in the king s ware-houses in the city 
 and at Turtle Bay. 
 
 At this time there were about three hundred regular 
 British troops in the city, commanded by a Major; and very 
 serious apprehensions were entertained, that the confused 
 and disorderly manner in which the foregoing transactions 
 were conducted, would produce a rupture between the sol 
 diers and the populace. A regular general meeting of the 
 citizens was therefore called, and a committee of fifty ap 
 pointed, who were invested with full powers to act as the 
 exigency and circumstances of the times might req :ire. 
 At this meeting a set of spirited resolutions were passed, 
 and .signed by the citizens at ar^e, in which they sledged 
 themselves, their lives, and their fortunes, and their sacred 
 
ME3IOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 29 
 
 honor, to support their committee in all its operations, and 
 also every measure of the general congress, then in session 
 at Philadelphia. 
 
 One of the first acts of the committee, was an order per 
 mitting the British troops to depart without interruption, 
 taking with them their arms and accoutrements. In conse 
 quence of this order, the troops prepared to embark on the 
 following day; when it was observed that they had several 
 carts loaded with spare arms. Marinus Willett, and some 
 others, immediately resolved to prevent this virtual infrac 
 tion of their agreement ; and meeting the troops in Broad 
 way, stopped them, and without much difficulty took posses 
 sion of their spare arms. With these Willett formed a new 
 company of his own raising, with which he joined the first 
 Canadian expedition. 
 
 The citizens of Danbury were not backward in this mo 
 ment of general excitement. (7) A rendezvous was opened, 
 te which the youth of the country flocked from every quar 
 ter; and two regiments were immediately raised, one under 
 the command of Colonel (afterward General) Wooster, and 
 the other under the command of Colonel Waterbury. With 
 in a few hours of the arrival of the express at Danbury, 
 the name of Enoch Crosby was inscribed on the muster-roll 
 of Captain Benedict, followed by those of one hundred and 
 fifty young men, all residents of that town; forming the 
 most efficient company in Waterbury s regiment. (8) 
 
 As soon as these regiments were duly organized, equip 
 ped, and reported to the provincial congress of Massachu- 
 se-ts, then in session at Watertown, (9) they impatiently 
 waited for orders to move and act in defence of their Eas 
 tern brethren. Nor was their impatience abated by the 
 successes of their enterprising neighbours at Ticonderoga 
 and Crown Point, on the 10th of May following; (10) but 
 
 3* 
 
30 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 on the news of the battle of Bunker-Hill (11) it was wrought 
 up to a pitch of painful intensity. Every man longed to be 
 in the field, and share in the dangers and glory that await 
 ed the champions of liberty. This patriotic ardour was 
 shortly to be gratified. 
 
 The continental congress was now in session at Philadel 
 phia; and, at this period, the importance of possessing the 
 Canadas, strongly impressed the minds of gentlemen of the 
 first penetration, private citizens as well as the representa 
 tives of the several colonies, in that august legislative body. 
 It was thought a favorable crisis to make the attempt 
 "when the flower of the British troops, then in America, 
 were shut up in Boston; and when the governors of the 
 Southern provinces interrupted in their negociations with 
 the Indians, had taken refuge on board the king s ships, 
 either from real or imagined personal danger." (12) It was, 
 therefore, determined to employ Colonel Waterbury s regi 
 ment, together with two regiments of New-York militia, in 
 this important and hazardous service; the whole force con 
 sisting of about three thousand men, under the command of 
 Generals Schuyler and Montgomery. 
 
 The reader may easily imagine with what alacrity our 
 hero and his fellow-soldiers obeyed the orders of their supe 
 riors, to "strike their tents and march away." The Ian 
 guage of each heart was, 
 
 Strike up the drums; and let the tongue of war 
 Plead for our interest." 
 
 They were ordered to the city of New- York, where they 
 were joined by the New-York militia, one corps of which 
 was commanded by the gallant Willet; but encamped about 
 two miles out of town, near the spot now occupied as 
 Vauxhall garden. (13) After remaining in this position 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 31 
 
 about three weeks, they removed to Harlaem, and en 
 camped in the village. From thence they took boats, and 
 proceeded up the Hudson "to Albany, on their way to Lake 
 Champlain. 
 
 General Schuyler being detained at Albany, for the 
 purpose of negociating an Indian treaty, his coadjutor, the 
 intrepid Montgomery, led on his gallant band of patriots 
 to Ticonderoga, where they arrived on the twenty-first 
 day of August.(14) As soon as a sufficient number of 
 boats could be provided to convey the army do%n Lake 
 Champlain, they embarked for Isle aux Noix, lying about 
 eleven miles north of the lake, in the river Sorel, wkich 
 connects the waters of Champlain with that of the St. 
 Law.rence. On reaching Isle La Motte, they were re 
 joined by General Schuyler, who had prepared an address 
 to the inhabitants of Canada, inviting them to join the 
 standard of liberty, and unite in the common cause of 
 America, 
 
 From Isle aux Noix, the army proceeded to St. Johns, the 
 first British post in Canada. (15) Daring their passage 
 down the river, the soldiers were directed to hold themselves 
 constantly in readiness for defence, as it was reasonably ap 
 prehended that they might be assailed by the Indians from 
 the woods which skirted the stream. 
 
 On effecting a landing, at a short distance from Fort St. 
 Johns, the assailants, about one thousand in number, im 
 mediately formed in full view of the garrison, and prepared 
 for hostile operations. Their movements, at this juncture, 
 are thus described by Crosby himself: 
 
 "We were now in full view of the enemy, who kept up 
 a constant cannonading, which only caused us to dodge 
 now and then, merely serving to get us into a fighting 
 mood. We were soon ordered to advance; but had only 
 
32 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 proceeded a few roods, when we were suddenly attacked 
 by a body of Indians in ambush; who, after a short con 
 test, were glad to show us a specimen of their speeu in 
 running. (16) 
 
 "Our sport, however, was soon interrupted by an order 
 to halt! when, after burying the dead and providing for 
 the wounded, a council of war was held by the officers, 
 in which it was determined to return to Isle aux Noix, 
 throw a boom across the channel, and erect works for its 
 defence. 
 
 "In the mean time, a breastwork was ordered to be 
 thrown up on the spot where we stood; and accordingly 
 every one went to work with alacrity. While some were 
 felling trees and preparing timber for this purpose, and 
 others throwing up the earth to form a parapet, we were 
 constantly annoyed by the shells thrown from the fort. 
 This circumstance tended to retard our operations; for 
 when a shell rose in the air, every one would stop working 
 to watch its course, and ascertain if it would fall near him. 
 I must confess that I felt no particular affection for these 
 unwelcome intruders, but rather regarded them as mes 
 sengers of evil; still, however, notwithstanding the cold 
 , reception which I gave these warm-hearted visiters, I 
 never thought of the fashionable expedient of not being 
 at home, (in other words, of dodging them, ) until I heard 
 some one exclaim, Look out! take care there! when T 
 looked up, and saw one descending towards the very spot 
 where 1 was standing. I threw myself flat on the ground, 
 and it just passed over me. A miss is as good as a mile, 
 thought I, as I sprang up from my recumbent posture, and 
 resumed my labour. But after that I kept one eye upon 
 the enemy. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 33 
 
 "Our general, however, gave us some instructions on 
 this subject. He advised us never to change our position 
 until the shell was directly over us; and if it should then 
 appear that it had lost its projectile force, and was falling, 
 it would be well enough to step on one side. 1 He was a 
 noble fellow, that Montgomery. (17) Every soldier in the 
 army loved him like a brother. 
 
 "When the breastwork was completed, which was in 
 a much shorter time than might have been expected, con 
 sidering the circumstances under which we laboured, we 
 prepared for a retreat; as this show of hostility was merely 
 a finesse to divert the enemy s attention. As soon as night 
 set in, and every object was shrouded .in darkness, we 
 were ordered to decamp with as little noise as possible. 
 We accordingly took our boats, and returned up the river, 
 leaving the enemy to wonder at our sudden and mysterious 
 exit. On the following day, we reached Isle aux Noix, 
 where we remained two weeks, waiting for reinforce 
 ments." 
 
 Soon after this event, an extreme bad state of health in 
 duced General Schuyler to retire to Ticonderoga, and the 
 sole command devolved on General Montgomery. Imme 
 diately on the arrival of his expected reinforcement, this 
 intrepid and enterprising officer returned to the vicinity of 
 St. Johns, and opened a battery against it on the seven 
 teenth day of September. "Ammunition, however, was so 
 scarce, that the siege could not be carried on with any 
 prospect of speedy success. The General, therefore, de 
 tached a small body of troops to attempt the reduction of 
 fort Chamblee, only six miles distant Success attended 
 this enterprise; and, by its surrender, six tons of gunpowder 
 Were obtained, which enabled the Oeneral to prosecute the 
 siege of St. Johns with vigour. The garrison, though strait 
 
34 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 ened for provisions, persevered in defending themselves 
 with unabating fortitude."(18) 
 
 The severe duties of so arduous a campaign; the fre 
 quent skirmishes, marches, and counter-marches, and con 
 stant exposure to sudden changes of weather, in the incle 
 ment month of October, were not without their effects on 
 the health of the sol iers. .Among others, Crosby was 
 seized with a severe indisposition, and removed to the hos 
 pital at Isle aux Noix. But his impatience to share in the 
 dangers and and glory of the approaching contest, would 
 not permit him to remain under the surgeon s hands but a 
 few days, when he returned to the army, in direct opposi 
 tion to the wishes of his medical adviser. In relating this 
 incident, Mr. Crosby says - 
 
 "I returned against the surgeon s advice, and contrary to 
 the expectations of my Captain ; for as the time for which 
 we had enlisted had nearly expired, he had no idea that 
 any of us invalids would rejoin the army. As soon as he 
 saw me, he accosted me in a tone of unaffected surprise: 
 Halloo, Crosby! Have you got back? What induced 
 you to return before your health was restored; I never ex 
 pected to sec you here again; so you might as well have 
 gone home. You have not had time to get well; for you 
 look more like a scarecrow than a soldier fit for duty. 
 I replied, that I wished to be with him; and that if I was 
 not able tojight, I might at least frighten the enemy, as he 
 thought I looked like a scarecrow. At this remark he 
 laughed heartily, and told me, that if I wished so much to 
 fight, that I should soon be gratified. Accordingly, in the 
 course of the day we had a severe engagement, in which 
 we proved victorious; and, to my great satisfaction, I was 
 one of the number that marched into the fort to the tune of 
 Yankee Doodle, and took charge of the prisoners."(19) 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CHOSBY. 35 
 
 Our invalid soon recovered his health, and continued in 
 the service until the army took possession of Montreal, 
 which they did, without resistance, on the twelfth of No 
 vember. His term of enlistment having now expired, he 
 proposed to return, once more, to the tranquil scenes of 
 his childhood. He was warmly solicited by his comman 
 dant to remain with the army, and even promised promo 
 tion if he would comply; but being strongly impressed 
 with the idea that a more extensive field for usefulness 
 would soon be opened in the vicinity of New-York, he 
 persisted in his intention of leaving the army. In com 
 pany with several others, whose term had also expired, 
 (having enlisted for six months only,) he embarked in a 
 small schooner for Crown Point,(20) where he arrived 
 about the 1st of December. 
 
 "From thence, (says he,) our little party proceeded on 
 foot to Ticonderoga, where we procured a small boat, and 
 rowed up the river which connects Lake George with 
 Champlain. On reaching the falls, however, we were 
 compelled to draw our boat on shore, and drag it on the 
 ground, across a neck of land about a mile in width. In 
 this manner, with immense labour and fatigue, and suffer 
 ing greatly from the inclemency of the season, we reached 
 Sabbath-day Point,(21) in Lake George. Here, however, 
 no friendly shelter awaited us; and though, almost perish 
 ing with cold, we could obtain no better quarters than an old 
 pig-stye. This miserable substitute for a tent was soon 
 filled with brush and straw; when, with wet feet and shiv 
 ering bodies, (all of us being thinly clad,) we laid ourselves 
 down to rest from the fatigues of the day." 
 
 At early dawn on the following morning, this intrepid 
 little party resumed their unpleasant journey; and after 
 several days of fatigue and suffering, without meeting any 
 
36 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 remarkable adventure, at length reached their respective 
 homes in safety. 
 
 After a few weeks repose had restored Crosby to his 
 usual health and strength, he resumed the peaceful occu 
 pation of shoe-making, in his former situation at Danbury. 
 Here he continued until the 25th of January, 1776, when 
 a sudden gloom was spread over the whole country, by 
 the disastrous news that his beloved General, the brave and 
 amiable Montgomery, had fallen before the walls of Quebec, 
 on the last day of December. Even at this distant period^ 
 (1828,) Mr. Crosby cannot speak on this subject without 
 emotion. The soldiers almost adored Montgomery; and 
 there was scarcely an individual that had ever served under 
 under him, but shed tears for his untime y fate. Crosby 
 was so much affected on first hearing of the melancholy 
 event, that he found it difficult to pursue an occupation that 
 gave so much opportunity for painful reflections; he, there-r 
 fore, sought relief in change of scenery, and paid a visit to 
 his friends in Kent, where we will leave him for the present, 
 while we take a glance at the state of the country, on the 
 opening of the eventful year 1776. In doing this, we shall 
 discover the causes which prompted the subject of ihip 
 memoir to assume a new character in the revolutionary 
 drama that of a 3PY on the "Neutral Ground," 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 37 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 THE TORIES. 
 
 Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume 
 To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds, 
 They re thrown neglected by; but if it fails, 
 They re sure to die like dogs, as you shall do. 
 
 Jlddison, 
 
 THE winter of 1775 6, passed tardily away, and no 
 military movements of consequence were made on either 
 side. The British troops remained shut up in Boston, 
 under the command of General William Howe, the per 
 fidious Gage having sailed for England The continental 
 army in the vicinity of Boston was rapidly decreasing by 
 the expiration of the short period for which the soldiers 
 had enlisted. (1) Although Congress had exerted all its 
 energies to create a new army, still the recruiting service 
 went on very slowly, and no active operations were at 
 tempted until the beginning of March, when a threatened 
 bombardment, from the heights of Dorches(er,(2) compelled 
 General Howe- to evacuate Boston, and thus relieved the 
 suffering inhabitants from their distress and privations. (3) 
 The British army was hastily embarked on board the 
 ships and transports then lying in the harbour, together 
 with a host of tories and refugees! who claimed the pro 
 tection of General Howe, and abandoned their bleeding 
 country. The fleet proceeded to Halifax, where the 
 loyal fugitives were landed, and where Howe determined 
 to remain, until the arrival of his brother from England, 
 4 
 
38 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 with the expected reinforcements, should enable him to 
 pursue the war with vigour. 
 
 Immediately after this joyful event, Washington sent on 
 the continental army, in detachments, to New-York; and 
 as soon as he had made some necessary arrangements for 
 the future defence of the eastern states, he hastened on 
 himself, and made every possible preparation for the re 
 ception of the expected enemy, who did not arrive at Sandy 
 Hook until the 29th of June. 
 
 After waiting, at Halifax^ two or three months, for the 
 arrival of his brother Lord Howe, with his "motley mer 
 cenaries from Hesse, Hanover, and Brunswick," Sir Wil 
 liam became impatient of delay, and set sail for New York, 
 accompanied by Admiral Shuldham. Here, however, he 
 found the continental army so strongly posted on Long 
 Island and the island of New- York, that he did not imme 
 diately attempt any thing of consequence; but landed his 
 troops at Staten Island, and there awaited the arrival of 
 his brother. 
 
 In the mean time, the declaration of INDEPENDENCE 
 was adopted by Congress and published to the nation. 
 Four days after its passage, it was read to the army at 
 New-York, by wjSom it was received with the most enthu 
 siastic demonstrations of joy. A leaden statue of his 
 Majesty George III. was immediately thrown down, and 
 run into bullets, for the reception of Lord Howe, and his 
 host of mercenaries, who arrived ten days afterwards, with 
 a formidable squadron. 
 
 After amusing, or rather insulting the American gov 
 ernment with an inadmissible proposition of reconcilia 
 tion, the enemy made preparations to act with vigour. 
 Having been joined by "the repulsed troops from the 
 southward,(4) and the broken squadron under the command 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY, 39 
 
 of Sir Peter Parker; by a regiment from St. Augustine, 
 and another from Pensacola; also, by a few troops from 
 St. Vincents, some small additions from other posts, and a 
 considerable party of lories from New- Jersey, and from 
 the environs of Philadelphia and New-York, which, by 
 great industry, had been collected and embodied by Gov 
 ernor Tryon," the whole hostile army crossed the channel, 
 and landed on Long Island, where they were posted, in 
 detachments, on the south side, from one end of the island 
 to the otliir; separated from the American army by a 
 ridge of hills covered with woods. 
 
 Tryon, it will be recollected, was the last governor who 
 presided at New-York, under the crown of England. He 
 had formerly been governor of North Carolina, where his 
 severities had rendered his very name universally detested. 
 He ; of course, entered with great zeal into all the mea 
 sures of the British government; and endeavoured with 
 art, influence, and intrigue, (of which he has perfect 
 master,) to induce the city of New- York, and the inhabi 
 tants under his government, to submit quietly, and not 
 unite with the other colonies in their plans of opposition. 
 Failing in this purpose, and becoming apprehensive for his 
 own personal safety, he left the seat of government, and 
 put himself at the head of a body of tories, whom he as 
 sisted in butchering their fellow-countrymen, and commit 
 ting the most shocking enormities on the defenceless in 
 habitants of New-Jersey, and wherever else he could 
 penetrate. He constantly held out such flattering induce- 
 ments for these wretches to join him, that scarcely a day 
 passed without his receiving recruits from some quarter. 
 
 At this period, the "Committee of Safety" for the colony 
 of New-York, consisted of Messrs. Jay, Platt, Duer, and 
 Sackett ; gentlemen who have since held conspicuous situ- 
 
40 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 ations in the government of their emancipated country. 
 It, of course became the policy of this committee to coun 
 teract, as far as in them lay, the arts and intrigues of 
 the wily Tryon. For this purpose, they exercised the 
 utmost vigilance to prevent the lories from joining the 
 standard of the enemy; and felt perfectly justified in re 
 sorting to coercive measures to effect this desirable object. 
 In fact, so daring had become their opposition and out 
 rages, that any lenity extended towards them would have 
 been cruelty to the friends of liberty, as the following facts 
 will amply demonstrate. 
 
 A gang of these unprincipled wretches, who had asso 
 ciated in New- York for the purpose of joining the British 
 army, had even concerted a plan to assassinate Washing 
 ton, and some other officers; and, while our army was 
 engaged with the enemy, to blow up the magazines. The 
 mayor of the city, and an armourer who was employed in 
 making rifles for the lories^ together with several others, 
 were taken into custody and committed to prison. The 
 mayor, on examination, confessed that he had received 
 money from Tryon to pay the armourer for the rifles. 
 Two of Washington s body-guards were confederates in 
 this nefarious scheme; but a third, to whom the secret was 
 confided, honestly disclosed the information. Several of 
 these miscreants were tried and convicted, and two or three 
 were executed. 
 
 About the same time, a similar plot was brought to light 
 in Albany by the confession of two tones. Their plan 
 was to set the city on fire, and blow up the magazine. 
 In consequence of this premature exposal, some of the 
 conspirators were apprehended, and the meditated plot 
 fruslrated.(5) 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 41 
 
 But the most dangerous and culpable of these internal 
 enemies, were those who had the effrontery and address to 
 pass themselves off for whigs. One of these was Dr. 
 Benjamin Church, who had long sustained a high repu 
 tation as a patriot and a son of liberty. He had been a 
 member of the house of representatives of Massachusetts, 
 and was afterwards appointed surgeon-general and director 
 of the hospitals. Previous to the evacuation of Boston, 
 however, he was detected in a traitorous correspondence 
 with the enemy; tried, convicted, and expelled from the 
 house of representatives, and ordered to be "closely con 
 fined in some secure jail in Connecticut, without the use 
 of pen, ink, or paper; and that no person be allowed to 
 converse with him, except in the presence and hearing of 
 a magistrate, or the sheriff of the county," After all this, 
 however, he was finally permitted to depart from the 
 country. He and his family embarked for the West 
 Indies; but the vessel foundered at sea, and all were 
 lost.(G) 
 
 A man by the name of Ledwitz, who, by his own soli 
 citation, had been appointed Lieutenant-colonel in the con 
 tinental army, was also detected in a traitorous corres 
 pondence with the infamous Tryon. He intrusted his 
 letter to one Steen, an honest German, to be conveyed to 
 New-York ; but considering it his duty to expose the per 
 fidy, the messenger delivered it to Washington. By this 
 criminal act the perfidious wretch had forfeited his life, 
 according to the articles of war; but, on his trial by a 
 court-martial, his life was saved by the casting vote of a 
 militia officer, who pretended some scruples of conscience! 
 He was, however, cashiered, and declared incapable of 
 holding any military office in the American service.(T) 
 
42 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 But it is unnecessary to multiply instances. Enough 
 has been said to show that the tories were the most insidi 
 ous, virulent, and implacable enemies, with which the 
 friends of liberty had to contend in the fearful struggle 
 which secured the independence of these United States. 
 Internal secret enemies are always more dangerous than 
 open avowed foes in the field ; and it ought to be consid 
 ered as a signal and remarkable interposition of divine 
 Providence, that their vile machinations were so frequently 
 defeated. But Providence always operates by instruments ; 
 and among the most efficient, patriotic, disinterested and 
 successful agents, in counteracting the meditated treachery 
 and machinations of internal secret enemies, was Enoch 
 Crosby; as will be sufficiently shown in the following 
 pages. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 43 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SECRET SERVICES. 
 
 What is it that you would impart to me? 
 If it be aught toward the general good, 
 Set honour in one eye, and death i the other, 
 And I will look on both indifferently; 
 For let the gods so speed me, as I love 
 
 The name of honour niore than I fear death. 
 
 Shakspeure. 
 
 THE unfortunate battle of Long Island, the consequent 
 retreat of the American army, and the subsequent occupa 
 tion of the city of New-York by the British, under General 
 Howe, are events familiar to every reader. The first oc 
 curred on the 27th of August, 1776, and the last on the 
 15th of the following month. The affair at Kipp s Bay,(l) 
 the contest at Harlaem Heights, and the landing of the en 
 emy at Throg s Neck, in Westchester count}^ followed 
 each other in rapid succession, and excited the most lively 
 interest throughout the country. 
 
 It was during the occurrence of these important trans 
 actions, that Crosby determined to rejoin the standard of 
 his country. Several months repose had recruited his 
 health, and strength after the fatigue and bufferings of his 
 northern expedition. He was now in the twenty-seventh 
 year of his age, with every personal and mental qualifica 
 tion requisite for acts of enterprise, hazard, and address. 
 In height, he was nearly six feet, with broad shoulders, full 
 chest, and a liberal share of bone and muscle, but not a 
 superabundance of flesh.(2) Active, athletic, and inured 
 
44 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 to hardships, he determined no longer to indulge in inglo 
 rious ease, while his brave countrymen were in arms in 
 defence of their rights and liberties, and while persons of 
 every age, sex, and condition, were cheerfully submitting 
 to unexampled privations, for the sake of political free 
 dom. (3) He, therefore, resumed his knapsack, shouldered 
 his musket, and, once more bidding adieu to the rural 
 scenes of Kent, he bent his course towards the head-quar 
 ters of the American army. 
 
 It was towards the close of a warm day, in the month of 
 September, 1776, that he reached a wild and romantic ra 
 vine, in the county of Westchester.(4) Here he fell in with 
 a gentleman, who appeared to be travelling in the same 
 direction, and with whom he soon entered into familiar 
 conversation. Among other questions, the stranger in 
 quired, if Crosby was going "down below?" to which he 
 readily answered in the affirmative. The interrogator 
 appeared pleased with this reply, and let fall some expres 
 sions which plainly indicated that he had "mistaken his 
 man, supposing Crosby to be a loyalist, on his way to 
 join the British army. . The latter instantly perceived the 
 advantage which might be derived from this mistake, and 
 suffered his new companion to remain under the erroneous 
 impression. 
 
 "Are you not aware," said the stranger, "that it is some 
 what hazardous to go down alone ? The rebels are on the 
 alert, and you may meet with obstacles that will not be very 
 pleasant." 
 
 "Indeed !" returned Crosby, with much affected concern. 
 "What course would you then advise me to pursue ?" 
 
 "I will tell you, sir. I reside but a short distance from 
 hence ; go with me, and make my house your home for a few 
 days, when you can go down with a company that is now 
 forming for that purpose." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 45 
 
 "That is, indeed, a most fortunate circumstance," replied 
 Crosby; "and I accept the hospitable invitation with as 
 much cordiality as it appears to have been given. This 
 arrangement will relieve my mind from a load of anxiety, 
 and I shall feel myself under a weight of obligation to 
 you." 
 
 "Not at all, sir; it is a pleasure to serve those who, in 
 these trying times, retain their integrity, and remain faith 
 ful to his majesty. I am happy to know that many of my 
 neighbours are of this class; and though the vigilance of 
 Jay, Duer, Platt, Sackett, and their deluded instruments, 
 compel my friends to be very circumspect in their move 
 ments, there is no doubt of their being able to complete their 
 arrangements, and reaching the army without molestation, 
 They will very gladly receive you as a member, and in 
 their company you will be perfectly safe." 
 
 "I have no doubt of it," returned Crosby; "and am im 
 patient to be introduced to their acquaintance." 
 
 "Yonder is my residence; and you need refreshment and 
 repose. Rest yourself to-night, and in the morning your 
 wish shall be gratified." 
 
 Crosby readily acceded to this proposal, and followed 
 his new acquaintance into a small enclosure that led to a 
 neat farm-house at a short distance from the road. Here 
 he was received with a cordial welcome, and furnished with 
 such refreshments as his situation required. After supper, 
 the evening was spent in conversing on a variety of sub 
 jects, that naturally grew out of the critical state of the 
 times at that period ; such as may easily be imagined to 
 have passed between a covert whig, anxious to obtain intel 
 ligence, and a real tory, who had no suspicion of the char 
 acter of his guest. 
 
46 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Having had a comfortable night s rest, and a substantial 
 breakfast, Crosby reminded the host of his promise to intro 
 duce him to such of his neighbours as were faithful to the 
 royal cause; particularly those who were about forming a 
 company to join the British army. - 
 
 "1 am anxious," said he, "to become acquainted with the 
 agents, before 1 join in the enterprise. It is not every man 
 of fair professions that can be safely trusted. I like to see 
 and judge for myself." 
 
 The reasonableness of this request induced his kind en 
 tertainer to comply with it without delay. Crosby was 
 accordingly introduced to a number of persons, on many 
 of whom the shadow of suspicion had never before lighted, 
 they having ever professed to be warm adherents of the 
 American cause. Every one received him with cordiality, 
 and conversed on political subjects without the least disguise 
 or restraint, so completely had they been thrown off their 
 guard by their confidence in the person who had recommen 
 ded him. He found the whole of them to be most invete 
 rate and virulent in their hostility to the friends of liberty, 
 and was convinced that he could not render a greater ser 
 vice to his bleeding country, than by counteracting the 
 machinations of her most dangerous (because most secret 
 and insidious) foes. 
 
 Accordingly, at the expiration of three days, during 
 which time he had made himself master of all the infor 
 mation in their power to communicate, (and some of them 
 held secret correspondence with the enemy,) he told his 
 host, that he felt too impatient to join the army, to wait 
 any longer the dilatory movements of this company. He 
 was, therefore, resolved to proceed alone, and to trust to 
 fortune and his own address for protection. After vainly 
 exhausting every argument to dissuade his guest from so 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 47 
 
 hazardous a project, the other finally consented, and Crosby 
 resumed his knapsack and musket, took leave of his enter 
 tainer, and was soon out of sight on the road to New-York. 
 
 In this direction, however, he did not travel long; but 
 took advantage of an abrupt angle in the road, to change 
 his course; when, leaving the highway, he plunged into a 
 thicket, and pursued his way, through a pathless tract of 
 country, in a northwestern direction. 
 
 He had heard of -a Mr. Young, who resided within eight 
 miles from White Plains, andknew him, from reputation, 
 to be a warm friend to the American cause. With him, 
 therefore, he determined to consult on the proper steps to be 
 taken with respect to the arrest of these traitors to their 
 country. Owing, however, to the circuitous route he had 
 adopted, to avoid the observation of his late associates, 
 night had set in before his journey was half accomplished ; 
 and it was with extreme difficulty, that he "groped his 
 darkling way" through the wild and broken region that lay 
 between him and the object of his pursuit. Hills were to 
 be climbed, thickets penetrated, arid streams forded, before 
 he could gain the road which was to conduct him to the 
 mansion of Mr. Young. 
 
 All these difficulties, however, were at length happily 
 surmounted: but it was near midnight when he reached 
 the end of his journey. Fortunately, the master of the 
 house was still up and alone, his family having all retired. 
 Crosby was a stranger, and the hour unseasonable ; but 
 such circumstances were not unusual in those "stirring 
 times." He was promptly admitted, and politely invited to 
 take a seat; when Mr. Young, fixing on him a searching 
 gaze, (as if -anxious to penetrate into the secret recesses of 
 his heart, and there to read his real character,) intimated 
 that he was ready to learn the purport of his untimely visit. 
 
48 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Crosby was aware that the inhabitants in that section 
 of the country had lost much of their former confidence 
 in each other, and knew not whom to trust; he, therefore, 
 hastened to explain the object of his intrusion, and relieve 
 his host from the evident embarrassment his suspicions 
 had created. (5) 
 
 "I understand, sir," said Crosby, "that you are a friend 
 to the upper party . (6) Give me leave to ask if I have 
 been correctly informed? Is it true?" 
 
 "Yes, sir," promptly replied the other; "it is true. I 
 ttm a friend to my country ; and am not afraid or ashamed 
 to avow it, to friend or foe." 
 
 "I have always understood, sir, that such was your char 
 acter, and rejoice to find that I am not deceived. Under 
 this impression, I have taken the liberty to wait on you, 
 for the purpose of communicating information that may 
 prove beneficial to the American cause." 
 
 "Go on, sir," returned the host, in a tone bordering on 
 sternness, and without relaxing his features. "Proceed; 
 I am all attention." 
 
 "Do you know, sir, that there are traitors around you ? 
 that even some of your neighbours are secretly con 
 certing plans to assist the common enemy in plundering 
 and butchering their own brethren and fellow-country 
 men?" 
 
 "I am well aware," returned Young, with a sigh, "that 
 there are too many who feel secretly disposed to aid the 
 cause of the enemy. But they dare not openly avow it." 
 
 "That is true, sir." 
 
 "O, that I knew them!" continued the host, with in 
 creasing animation, as he rose from his seat. "O, that I 
 could designate them point them out name them! 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 49 
 
 They should soon be linked together by closer and 
 stronger ties than those which now connect thorn." 
 
 "Then, sir," replied Crosby, with confidence, rising on 
 his feet, and approaching the other, "I have news that 
 will interest you. I have just left a company of these 
 wretches, after having spent three days with them, and 
 know all their plans. Their intention is to join the lower 
 party, with whom they now hold a secret correspon- 
 pence, and raise their parricidal hands against their bleed 
 ing country ." 
 " Is it possible !" 
 
 "It is most true, sir. I know them all have visited 
 their families attended their secret meetings assisted 
 them in maturing their nefarious plans." 
 
 " Indeed ! Then you yourself- " 
 
 "Understand me," interrupted Crosby. "I have levelled 
 this musket too often at the open and avowed enemies of 
 my country, to be on terms of intimacy with her secret 
 foes, except for the purpose of discovering and preventing 
 their contemplated treachery." 
 
 Here Crosby gave a particular detail of the circum 
 stances connected with his introduction to the members of 
 this hopeful confederacy; particulars with which the 
 reader is already acquainted; and, as he proceeded, the 
 countenance of his auditor gradually brightended. As 
 soon as he had finished, the latter seized him eagerly by the 
 hand; and, with sparkling eyes, exclaimed 
 "Is this true, upon the honour of a man?" 
 "It is true, by Heaven!" returned the other; "and if 
 you will assist me with your advice and co-operation, eight- 
 and-forty hours shall not elapse until you are convinced by 
 the testimony of your own eyes." 
 
 L Come on, then, my good fellow!" exclaimed Young, 
 5 
 
50 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 seizing his hat. " The Committee of Safety are at White 
 Plains, and thither we must proceed immediately. Follow 
 me quickly, and I will be your pilot." 1 
 
 Crosby was not backward in complying with this injunc 
 tion, though already much fatigued by his recent journey; 
 but promptly followed his hasty guide on this midnignt 
 excursion. Fences, rocks, and trees were but slight im 
 pediments 
 
 "To hearts resolved, and limbs inured to toil," 
 
 and, before two o clock, they found themselves at the end 
 of their journey, in the village of White Plains, and in 
 presence of the honourable John Jay, one of the most 
 vigilant of these watchful guardians of the public safety. 
 
 This gentleman being made acquainted with the fore 
 going particulars, dismissed his informants with a request 
 that they would remain near at hand, for further instruc 
 tions, as he intended, at early dawn, to convene the com 
 mittee, and hold a consultation on the important subject. 
 
 Were we writing a romance, instead of an authentic 
 narrative of events which actually occurred, and could we 
 command the descriptive pen of our inimitable Cooper, 
 here would be the place to introduce a series of incidents 
 which attended, (or might have attended,) the subsequent 
 movements of our two nocturnal adventurers. Their 
 difficulty in procuring comfortable quarters for the re 
 mainder of the night; a description of the village inn where 
 they finally succeeded in rousing the lazy landlord from 
 his slumbers; the motley group which lay snoring on the 
 floor of the bar-room; a portraiture of the florid-faced 
 landlady, and the various incidents resulting from this un 
 expected interruption of her arrangements for the night, 
 would, altogether, form sufficient materials for an inter- 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 51 
 
 esting chapter. But as nothing of the kind has been 
 promised in our title page, the reader must rest contented 
 with a "plain unadorned narrative of such facts as our hero 
 can actually remember at the advanced age of seventy- 
 eight. 
 
 The committee were convened at an early hour on the 
 following morning, when Crosby was summoned before 
 them, to recapitulate the particulars of his recent adven 
 ture. After hearing his statement, and consulting on the 
 most proper steps to be taken in the business, Crosby was 
 requested to hold himself in readiness to accompany a 
 detachment of Rangers,(7) (on the ensuing night) to the 
 place where his recent associates were in the habit of 
 hold in gtheir secret cabals. 
 
 The enterprise was crowned with complete"] success. 
 Without dreaming of molestation, these vile conspirators 
 found themselves suddenly surrounded by a troop of horse, 
 and compelled to surrender. Thus, in less time than our 
 hero had specified, his friend Young had the satisfaction 
 of seeing the whole cavalcade, linked together in pairs, 
 safely conducted to prison, to the tune of the "Rogue s 
 March." 
 
 The successful result of this enterprise, induced the 
 committee to believe that the cause in which they had so 
 zealously embarked, might be highly promoted by enga 
 ging a person of Crosby s acuteness and address in similar 
 secret services. The proposition was accordingly made 
 to him at a confidential interview. 
 
 " It was your intention," said the chairman, "again to 
 serve your country as a private in the ranks. Such a reso 
 lution, in a person of your character and abilities, could 
 only have originated in motives of the purest patriotism. 
 But you must now be convinced that much greater ser- 
 
52 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 vices may be rendered by pursuing a different, though 
 certainly not a less hazardous, course. There is a suffi 
 cient number of brave fellows to repulse our open and 
 avowed enemy. The greatest danger which now threatens 
 this suffering country, is from her internal foes; those 
 secret enemies who, in their midnight cabals, are plotting 
 our destruction. He who succeeds in bringing such 
 wretches to justice, deserves infinitely more of his country, 
 than he who fights her battles. Are you willing to engage 
 in such service?" 
 
 " I am willing to encounter any danger, and make any 
 sacrifice, (my honour only excepted,) in the service of my 
 country. 1 " 
 
 " It cannot be disguised that, in the service now pro 
 posed to you, even honour, in the general acceptation of 
 that term among men, must also be sacrificed ; but not so 
 in the eye of that Being who reads the secret thoughts of 
 the heart, and judges the motive instead of the act. He 
 will approve, though man may condemn." 
 
 " It is, indeed, a hazardous part you would have me 
 play. I must become a SPY." 
 
 "In appearance only. Our bleeding country requires 
 such service at this momentous crisis. We must fight 
 our secret foes with their own weapons; and he who will 
 magnanimously step forward as a volunteer in that ser 
 vice, will merit a rich reward and receive it, too, from 
 Heaven, if not from man. If he fall, he falls a martyr 
 in the glorious cause of liberty." 
 
 "I will be that man," replied Crosby, with firmness. 
 " I have counted the cost, and am aware of the danger. 
 I know that I must be content to endure reproach, obloquy, 
 and detestation ; to cover my poor doating parents with 
 shame and misery, and incur the hatred of those I dearest 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 53 
 
 love. Perhaps to suffer an ignominious death, and leave 
 a name of infamy behind. I know it all, and yet I will 
 not shrink from the task. [ will encounter all -risk all 
 suffer all, if I can thereby serve my country. But there 
 
 is one condition If I do fall in the discharge of this 
 
 duty, you must pledge yourselves to do justice to my 
 memory. It would be dreadful to die, and leave such a 
 name behind me." 
 
 "Of that rest assured," replied the chairman, not a 
 little affected by the solemn earnestness of this appeal 
 "but we hope and trust that the melancholy duty will not 
 be soon required at our hands. We will furnish you with 
 a pass for your protection; but it must never be exhibited 
 save in the last extremity. Should you be arrested as an 
 emmissary of the enemy, you shall be secretly furnished 
 with the means of escape. But the secret of your real char 
 acter must go no farther. Your dearest friend must not be 
 intrusted wilh it." 
 
 After furnishing their new agent with every necessary 
 instruction, together with the promised pass, the com 
 mittee adjourned, and Crosby immediately set about 
 making arrangements for his new undertaking. cHis musket 
 was laid aside; and instead of a knapsack, he furnished 
 himself with a large pedlars pack,(8) containing a corn 
 plete set of shoemaker s tools. Thus equipped, he sallied 
 forth in quest of adventures. His ostensible object, (in 
 order to avoid suspicion) was searching for employment; 
 or what the sons of St. Crispin, at that period, termed 
 ^ whipping the cat;" but in more modern times, we believe, 
 it is called "taking a tramp." Whatever be the genuine 
 classical appellation, however, we must leave our itinerant 
 to pursue his peregrinations in the interior of Westchester 
 county, while we take a peep at the army below. 
 
 5* 
 
54 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SPY AND THE HAYSTACK. 
 
 " Our foes shall fall, with heedless feet, 
 
 Into the pit they made; 
 And lories perish in the net 
 
 Which their own hands have spread " 
 
 IMMEDIATELY after the battle of Long Island, the re 
 treat of the Americans, and the barbarous execution of 
 the brave and unfortunate Hale,(l) the enemy made prompt 
 dispositions for attacking the city of New-York. It was 
 a serious question with Washington, whether that place 
 was defensible against so formidable a force; it was 
 finally decided, however, ,in a council of war, that it had 
 become not only prudent, but necessary, to withdraw the 
 army. 
 
 Several of the enemy s ships of war having passed up 
 the Hudson, on the west side of York Island, and also up 
 the East river, on the opposite side, Sir Henry Clinton 
 embarked at Long Island, at the head of four thousand 
 men ; and, proceeding through Newtown Bay, crossed the 
 East river, and landed, (under cover of five ships of war,) 
 at Kipp s Bay, about three miles above the city. Works 
 of considerable strength had been thrown up at this place, 
 to oppose the landing of the enemy ; but they were imme 
 diately abandoned by the troops stationed in them. Ter 
 rified at the fire of the ships, they fled precipitately towards 
 their main body, and communicated their panic to a de 
 tachmerit that was marching to their support. 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY 56 
 
 Washington, to his extreme mortification, met this whole 
 party retreating in the utmost disorder, and exerted him 
 self to rally them; but, on the appearance of a small corps 
 of the enemy, they again broke and fled in confusion 1 The 
 General, who was not only mortified and distressed, but 
 actually enraged at their cowardice, drew his sword and 
 snapped his pistols to check them; but they continued their 
 flight without firing a gun! 
 
 For a moment the feelings of Washington got the mas 
 tery of his reason. "Are these the men with which I am 
 to defend America?" exclaimed he, in a tone of bitterness, 
 as he gazed after the recreant fugitives; then, turning his 
 horse s head to face the advancing enemy, he remained for 
 some minutes exposed to their fire, as if wishing, by an 
 honourable death, to escape the infamy he dreaded from 
 the dastardly conduct of troops on whom he could place 
 no dependence. His aids, and the confidential friends 
 around his person, by indirect violence compelled him to 
 retire. 
 
 Nothing now remained but to withdraw the few remain 
 ing troops from New- York, and to secure the posts on the 
 heights. The retreat was effected with very inconsidera 
 ble loss of men; but all the heavy artillery, and a large 
 portion of the baggage, provisions, and military stores, 
 were unavoidably abandoned. 
 
 Major-General Putnam, at the head of three thousand 
 five hundred continental troops, was in the rear of the 
 retreating army. In order to avoid any of the enemy 
 that might be advancing in the direct road to the city, he 
 made choice of a route parallel with, and contiguous to, 
 the North river, till he could arrive at a certain angle, 
 whence another road would conduct them in such a direc 
 tion as that he might form a junction with the main body. 
 
56 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 It so happened, that a body of about eight thousand 
 British and Hessians were, at the same moment, advan 
 cing on the road, which would have brought them in im 
 mediate contact with Putnam, before he could have reached 
 the turn into the other road. 
 
 Most fortunately, the British Generals, seeing no pros 
 pect of engaging the Americans, halted their own troops, 
 and repaired to the house of a Mr. Robert Murray, a 
 quaker, and a whig. Mrs. Murray treated them so hos 
 pitably with cake and wine, that they were induced to 
 tarry two hours or more, during which time Tryon was 
 frequently joking her about her American friends. 
 
 By this happy incident, Putnam escaped a rencontre 
 \viih a greatly superior force, which must have proved 
 fatal to his whole party, as one half hour would have been 
 sufficient for the enemy to have secured the road at the 
 turn, and entirely cut off Putnam s retreat. Dr. Thacher, 
 in relating this circumstance, adds: "It has since become 
 almost a common saying, among our officers, that Mrs. 
 Murray saved this part of the American army." " 
 
 The enemy immediately took possession of the city, for 
 the defence of which he left a Suitable detachment, and 
 then advanced towards Harlaem, in pursuit of Washington. 
 The Americans now occupied Kingsbridge, at the north 
 western extremity of York Island, both sides of which had 
 been carefully fortified; they were also in considerable 
 force at M Gowan s Pass, and Morris s Heights. A strong 
 detachment was also posted in an intrenched camp, on 
 the heights of Harlaem, within about a mile and a half of 
 the enemy. 
 
 On the day after the retreat from New York, a consid 
 erable body of the"enemy appearing in the plain between 
 the two camps, Washington ordered Colonel Knowlton, 
 
MBHOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 57 
 
 with a corps of Rangers, under Captain Townsend, and 
 Major Leitch, with three companies of Virginians, to get 
 in their rear, while he amused them by making apparent 
 dispositions to attack them in front. The plan succeeded. 
 A skirmish ensued, in which the Americans charged the 
 enemy with great intrepidity, and gained considerable ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 Knowlton was killed, and Leitch badly wounded; but 
 their men behaved with great bravery, and fairly beat 
 their adversaries from the field. Most of these were the 
 same men who had disgraced themselves the day before, by 
 running away from an inferior force. Struck with a 
 sense of shame for their late misbehaviour, they had offered 
 themselves as volunteers, and requested the commander - 
 in^chief to give them an opportunity to retrieve their 
 honour. 
 
 In the mean time, Crosby was earnesly pursuing his 
 new vocation; travelling about the country; and, with his 
 characteristic acuteness,(2) becoming "all things to all 
 men," iri order to elicit such information as would enable 
 the committee of safety to discriminate between their 
 real friends and their secret foes. Through his intimacy 
 with the latter, (who, of course, hailed him as a kindred 
 spirit,) he obtained regular information of the movements 
 of the enemy below, and privately transmitted the same to 
 his employers. 
 
 As may readily be supposed, the committee, at this time, 
 were trembling for the safety of the American army; and 
 their well-grounded apprehensions were hourly increasing, 
 when a secret communication from their new agent in 
 formed them, that the contest on the heights of Harlaem 
 had fully retrieved the tarnished honour of the American 
 arms; that their good conduct, at this second engagement, 
 
58 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 had proved an antidote to the poison of their example on 
 the preceding day; and demonstrated that Americans only 
 wanted resolution and good officers to be on an equal foot 
 ing with their enemies. The committee were thus in 
 spired with hopes, that a little more experience would 
 enable their countrymen to assume, not only the name 
 and garb, but the spirit and firmness of soldiers. 
 
 In one of Crosby s reconnoitring excursions, the ap 
 proach of evening, and some fatigue of body, reminded 
 him that it was time to look out for comfortable quarters 
 for the night. There was no public house of entertain 
 ment within several miles, and only a few poor farm 
 houses, thinly scattered, within the whole circumference 
 of his vision. To one of these, therefore, he determined 
 to apply for supper and lodgings. He accordingly struck 
 off into a foot-path which led to the nearest; and, bending 
 beneath the weight of his pack, advanced to the door, and 
 knocked for admittance. 
 
 A rosy-cheeked girl, of about fifteen, just budding into 
 maturity, of rustic appearance, and bashful demeanour, 
 at length appeared, with visible reluctance, to answer to 
 his summons. On being made acquainted with his wishes, 
 the timid maiden hesitated, stammered, and then suddenly 
 retreating; saying, as she closed the door, "I will ask 
 mother, sir." 
 
 In a few minutes, however, she again made her appear 
 ance, and bade him walk in. He did not wait for a second 
 invitation; but followed his fair conductor into an apart 
 ment that served at once the two-fold purpose of parlour 
 and kitchen. Here he repeated his request to a middle- 
 aged female, who sat in a corner of the capacious fire-place, 
 very buaily employed with her knitting work. 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 59 
 
 "Lodging, did you say?" exclaimed the good woman, 
 surveying her weary guest over the top of her spectacles. 
 " We don t keep lodgings, sir." 
 
 "I am very much fatigued, madam; and would be 
 very grateful for permission to stay in your house till 
 morning." 
 
 " O well, I don t know," returned the old woman, 
 rising from her seat, and approaching the stranger to ex 
 amine him more particularly. " There s some strange 
 works, now-a-days, and I don t like to keep any body for 
 fear of something. What, in mercy s name, is that great 
 bag there?" 
 
 " That Madam, is my shop. I am a shoemaker, by 
 trade, and am in search of work, with my shop upon my 
 back. Will you give me leave to dismount it?" 
 
 " Well, I don t care if you stay long enough to make 
 our John a pair of shoes, for he is going over east, to see 
 some men that are going down to the army next week." 
 
 " Are they going to our army ?" asked Crosby, as he dis 
 encumbered himself from his ponderous pack. (3) 
 
 "I spose you mean the lower army; don t you, sir?" 
 
 " O, yes, madam; certainly," answered Crosby, helping 
 himself to a chair. " I mean the royal army, a large 
 detachment of which is now at Throg s Neck. The 
 rebel army has run away from York Island, and is now 
 moving towards White Plains. But Howe will soon over 
 haul them, and give a good account of them, too, or I miss 
 my guess." 
 
 "Here, Sally! Where are you? Get this man some 
 thing to eat, for his good news; and then see if the best 
 bed-room is put to rights, and make him as comfortable as 
 you can." 
 
60 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 As a good loyalist, Crosby was now made welcome to 
 the best the house afforded. While he was thus refreshing 
 himself, and chatting with his loquacious landlady, the 
 good man of the house himself came home, to whom 
 she eagerly introduced her guest as a warm adherent of 
 his Majesty, and a sworn enemy to the rebels. This as 
 sertion was abundantly confirmed by the remarks of 
 Crosby himself, during a long and interesting conversation 
 on the subject of that wicked rebellion against the mother 
 country. 
 
 In the course of this conversation, Crosby learned that 
 a company was forming, about three miles east of that 
 place, for the purpose of joining the British army. On 
 his intimating a desire to become a member of this corps, 
 his host readily agreed to introduce him to the Captain, in 
 the course of the following day. He then conducted his 
 guest to the best bed in the house; and, wishing him a 
 pleasant night s repose, left him to his own meditations, 
 to dream of plots and counterplots, or any other subject 
 that fancy might conjure up. 
 
 Whatever might have been the character of his dreams, 
 however, our adventurer arose the next morning com 
 pletely refreshed and invigorated ; and, after partaking of 
 a hearty breakfast, he accompanied his host to the resi 
 dence of the tory Captain before mentioned. On being 
 introduced, by his attentive guide, as a loyalist, who was 
 desirous of serving his Majesty, Crosby was most cordially 
 received, and politely invited to stay to dinner, and to 
 spend the remainder of the day and the coming night at 
 the Captain s house. 
 
 This invitation was readily accepted, and in the course 
 of the evening, Crosby was made acquainted with many 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 61 
 
 interesting particulars relative to the plans and intentions 
 of the Captain and his confederates. 
 
 On the following morning, at breakfast, the subject was 
 again introduced, when Crosby was asked if he was ready 
 to enter his name on the muster-roll. 
 
 "I have not yet entirely made up my mind," replied he. 
 " Such a step will necessarily be attended with consider 
 able danger; for, in case 1 should be taken by the Amer 
 icans, and my name known, they would hang me as a 
 traitor." 
 
 " Were there any solid grounds for such an apprehen 
 sion," replied the other, "you would only incur that risk in 
 common with us all. But the rebels dare not resort to 
 such extremities, for fear of a terrible retaliation," 
 
 " tt may be so," returned Crosby. " But t think I 
 should rather go down without entering my name on the 
 roll; unless, indeed, I could first examine, and see if there 
 are any names of my acquaintance on it." 
 
 " That privilege shall be cheerfully granted you," said 
 the Captain producing a long roll of signatures, and hand 
 ing the same to his visiter, who ran over them with a satis 
 faction which he took good care to conceal ; for he readily 
 perceived, to use his own expression, that there was a "fine 
 haul for his net." After attentively examining every name, 
 he rolled up the list with an air of disappointment; saying, 
 as he returned it to the Captain, 
 
 " I shall beg to be excused, sir. They are all strangers 
 Jo me; and it is not impossible that this roll may one day 
 \all into the hands of the Americans. Besides, I can just 
 as well go&nvn without enrolling my name." 
 
 " Well, sir," replied the Captain, " I have a safer way 
 yet, for those who are influenced by similar apprehensions 
 vith yourself. I put five or six names on one slip of paper, 
 
 6 
 
62 THE SPY UNMASKED; OH 
 
 which I then conceal beneath a large stone in my meadow. 
 I have several such deposits. Come along with me, and 
 say what you think of the plan. 
 
 So saying, he arose from the table, and, accompanied 
 by his guest, sallied out into a large meadow, at some dis 
 tance from the house. After visiting several spots where 
 these secret muster-rolls were deposited, he directed the 
 attention of his companion to a haystack of enormous di 
 mensions, and asked him what he thought of it. 
 
 " I think it would prove a great temptation to a rebel 
 foraging party?" answered Crosby, after a short silence, 
 and with some covert humour which cost him an exertion 
 to conceal. (4) 
 
 "It probably would," observed the other, "were such 
 parties abroad. But it would be difficult for the best math 
 ematician among them to determine its solid contents by 
 measuring its superfices. It is a mystery worth penetra 
 ting into. Let me instruct you." 
 
 With these words, the speaker lifted up the hay, on one 
 side of the huge edifice, and discovered a small open 
 ing which led to the interior of the excavated pile. 
 Fond of adventure, Crosby entered without hesitation, 
 and found himself in a most ingenious hiding place, of 
 sufficient capacity to contain forty or fifty men, comfort 
 ably seated. 
 
 "What think you of that?" asked the proprietor of the 
 hay, as his guest emerged from its interior. "Would the 
 rebels ever think of looking for you there?" 
 
 "I think not," replied the other, with an inward chuckle, 
 as he surveyed the exterior of the premises-Very atten 
 tively. " I should as soon think of searching for a needle 
 in a haymow." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 63 
 
 The Captain smiled with much self-complacency at this 
 brief approval of his invention, and then renewed his 
 solicitations for Crosby to enroll his name. The latter, 
 however, still hesitated, but promised to give a definitive 
 answer on the following day. With this assurance the 
 other remained satisfied, and the remainder of that day 
 was devoted to making further arrangements for the con 
 templated expedition. 
 
 Night soon returned, and Crosby was still the Captain s 
 guest. At the usual hour, he retired to his bed, where he 
 lay, listening attentively to every movement in the house, 
 until he felt perfectly assured that the family were safely 
 locked in the arms of sleep. When "every sound was 
 hushed, and all was still," he cautiously arose, dressed 
 himself, and stole out of the house without giving any 
 alarm. Before midnight he was consulting with his em 
 ployers at White Plains. 
 
 Such arrangements were immediately adopted by the 
 Committee of Safety as were considered, by all parties, 
 appropriate to the emergency. Their informant then took 
 his leave; and before daylight, was again snoring in his 
 bed, at the house of the loyal Captain. 
 
 On the following morning, he informed his entertainer 
 that he had made up his mind as to the subject of their 
 recent conversation. He was willing and anxious to be 
 come a member of the company ; and would hold himself 
 in readiness to march with them at a moment s warning; 
 but should decline signing his name to the muster roll 
 until they had safely arrived within the British lines. The 
 Captain appeared satisfied with this arrangement, and ex 
 pressed a hope that every thing would be prepared for 
 their departure on the following day. 
 
64 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 " Would it not be advisable, then," asked Crosby, "to 
 call a general meeting of the company this evening? 
 There is much to do, and it is necessary that we act in 
 concert. When we are all together, our plans can be better 
 digested, as we shall have the opinion and advice of each 
 individual. Such a meeting is indispensable before we 
 go down, and there is certainly no time to be lost." 
 
 "The idea is a good one," replied the Captain; "and 
 every man shall be notified to meet here this evening, when 
 we will complete our arrangements, and be off to-morrow, 
 You must assist me in calling them together." 
 
 Crosby readily consented to exert hemself on this occa 
 sion; and went about the business with such cheerful 
 alacrity, that, before nine o clock in the evening, the whole 
 company were assembled in the Captain s parlour, with 
 the exception of the lieutenant, who had gone from home 
 on some temporary business. 
 
 By ten o clock, the business of the meeting was nearly 
 all completed; and the usual refreshments were about 
 being introduced, when the attention of the party was sud 
 denly arrested by the loud trampling of horses. 
 
 The lights were instantly extinguished; and they all 
 sat in breathless silence; every heart palpitating with 
 fearful anticipations of some unpleasant adventure, until 
 they were aroused to action by a voice at the door ex 
 claiming 
 
 " Surrrender! or you are all dead men!" 
 
 At that instant the door was thrown from its hinges, and 
 the apartment was filled with the American Rangers, all 
 heavily armed. 
 
 "Surrender! I demand it in the name of the conti 
 nental congress!" exclaimed the leader of these unwel 
 come intruders. " Resistance is useless, and escape im- 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 65 
 
 possible, for the house is surrounded. You are our pris 
 oners." 
 
 Words are inadequate to depict the general consterna 
 tion produced by this alarming salutation. Some flew to 
 the attic; others retreated as precipitately to the cellar; 
 and all most devoutly wished themselves in the bowels of 
 the hay-stack, as there was nothing to hope from the 
 bowels of their captors. Several attempted to throw them 
 selves from the windows; but were soon convinced that 
 there was no chance of escape in that direction. The 
 secret, but unsuspected cause of all this confusion and 
 dismay, made a feint of concealing himself in a closet; but 
 was quickly dragged forth, and compelled to share the fate 
 of his companions, who were manacled in pairs, and 
 marched, like felons, to the village of White Plains. 
 
 6* 
 
66 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 THE ESCAPE . 
 
 -To be the mark 
 
 Of smoky muskets! O you leaden messengers, 
 That ride upon the violent speed of fire, 
 
 Fly with false aim. 
 
 Shakspcare* 
 
 THE historic events connected with the name of White 
 Plains, will long live in the pages of American history; 
 and if the reader have patience to accompany us through 
 a few more chapters, he will acknowledge that there is 
 sufficient cause for this lasting celebrity. At present, we 
 merely wish to introduce him to the scene of so many im 
 portant transactions. 
 
 Bronx river, a beautiful stream of water that rises just 
 on the south line of Newcastle, in the county of West- 
 chester, holds its course nearly due south to the village of 
 West Farms, from whence it empties into the East river, 
 between Morrissania and Throg s Neck. A few miles 
 east of this stream, and nearly parallel with it, is another 
 called Mamaroneck creek, which empties into Long Island 
 Sound, near a village of the same name. 
 
 Between these two little rivers, and near the head of the 
 latter, is the township of White Plains, comprised in an 
 area of about eight and a half square miles; with North- 
 castle on the north, Harrison on the east, Scarsdale on the 
 south, and Greensburgh on the west. On a fine plain, 
 near the centre of the town, stands the flourishing little 
 
MEMOIKS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 67 
 
 village of the same name, which has been the theatre of so 
 many revolutionary incidents. The reader will recollect 
 that we left our prisoners on the march to this place, under 
 a strong escort of Townsend s Rangers. 
 
 On arriving at the village, where the Committee of Safe 
 ty were still in session, awaiting the result of the enter 
 prise, each of the prisoners underwent a partial examina 
 tion, which resulted in their being ordered to Fishkill, there 
 to await a more formal investigation. Our hero was pri 
 vately reminded that he must still continue to support the 
 character he had assumed, until his arrival at their place of 
 destination, when some means should be provided by which 
 he might effect his escape, without awakening any suspi 
 cions as to his real character. 
 
 On the following morning, the whole party resumed their 
 journey, in the same order as before. After a march of 
 about twenty-five miles, they arrived at, Peekskill, a small 
 village on the eastern bank of the Hudson, where they took 
 boats, and crossed the river to Fort Montgomery. (1) Here 
 the prisoners were permitted to remain a short time, for rest 
 and refreshment. And here our hero encountered the most 
 distressing incident that he had ever yet experienced. 
 
 On entering the fortress, the first person he recognised 
 was his former tutor, the worthy gentleman of whom a 
 brief notice was taken at the conclusion of our first chapter. 
 The recognition was mutual ; but the circumstances under 
 which the meeting took place, rendered it peculiarly painful 
 to both parties. 
 
 The worthy preceptor started with terror and astonish 
 ment, on beholding his favourite pupil, the son of his dear 
 est friend, manacled like a felon, and dragged to prison, with 
 a gang of unprincipled wretches, under the ignominious 
 charge of treason to their country ! He gazed for a mo- 
 
68 TUB SPY rNMASKEDj OR 
 
 meat, as if unwilling to believe his senses,- then, advancing 
 to the prisoner, and seizing him by the hand, he exclaimed, 
 with an emotion that it was impossible to conceal, 
 
 "Enoch Crosby ! Tt cannot be possible ? Explain this 
 horrid mystery ? How is it that I see you in this situ 
 ation ?" 
 
 Crosby instinctively returned the friendly pressure of 
 his tutor s hand; then easting his eyes on the ground, he 
 meekly replied, 
 
 "You see me as I am. I have no explanation to offer." 
 "Is it possible ? Is it then true that you have turned traitor 
 to your country, and are now a prisoner to her brave de 
 fenders? It cannot be. There must be some dreadful 
 mistake. Speak, and relieve me from this fearful suspense. 
 Have you been concerned in the secret plots for which these 
 men are now in custody?" 
 
 "Were it not so," replied Crosby, with a slight tremor in 
 his voice, "we should both have been spared the pain of 
 this interview." 
 
 "O, who shall tell your poor old father this?" exclaimed 
 the other, dropping his pupil s hand, and clasping both his 
 own together in agony, while the big tears coursed each 
 other down his furrowed cheeks. "What will be the feel 
 ings of your doating parents, when they learn that the son 
 to whom they looked as the pride and prop of their de 
 clining age, has proved unworthy of the care and affection 
 which have been so freely lavished upon him ! That he has 
 forgotten the precepts of his father the lessons of his 
 teacher and is a convicted traitor to his country ! The 
 news will break their hearts." 
 
 For the first time, Crosby now felt the full weight of the 
 cross to which he had voluntarily lent his shoulder. He 
 fait and it almost crushed him. But it was too late to 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 69 
 
 recede; he had put his hand to the plough, and dared not 
 look back. With a groan of anguish, he lifted up his man 
 ly form beneath the load. The effort was desperate, but 
 it was successful. 
 
 "Spare me," he faintly articulated, as he brushed a tru 
 ant tear from his eye, and turned to accompany his fellow- 
 captives to their quarters. "There is one who knows 
 who judges who approves. He will comfort my parents. 
 Farewell." 
 
 So saying, he departed with the rest, leaving his good 
 old tutor to lament an apostacy as unexpected and inex 
 plicable as it was mortifying and distressing. The old gen 
 tleman immediately despatched a letter to the elder Crosby, 
 in which he communicated the afflicting intelligence with 
 as much caution, delicacy, and gentleness, as possible. It 
 was a blow for which the parents were not prepared ; but it 
 is not our province to pojjfrtray their feelings on the occa- 
 sion. We must accompany the son. 
 
 From Fort Montgomery, the prisoners were again em 
 barked, and proceeded up the river, through the lofty and 
 sublime scenery of the Highlands, and between those Her 
 culean pillars of the western world, which are supposed to 
 have been once united in an adamantine barrier across the 
 present course of the majestic Hudson. Leaving W T est 
 Point and Butter-Hill on the left, and the Collossean break- 
 neck,(2) St. Anthony, on the right, a beautiful champaign 
 country opened at once upon their view. Here the pleas 
 ant villages of New-Windsor, Newburgh, and Fishkill, with 
 the smiling landscapes beyond them, presented a charming 
 contrast to the rude scenery which our voyagers had just 
 left behind them. 
 
 On reaching the mouth of Fishkill creek, on the east 
 side of the Hudson, nearly opposite Newburgh, the prison- 
 
70 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 ers were landed; and from thence proceeded on foot, un 
 der their former escort, along the delightful valley, then 
 thickly studded with trees, through which that stream pur 
 sues its sinuous course to the river. A march of five miles 
 brought them to the beautiful little village which was to 
 terminate their journey. 
 
 Here the captive loyalists were committed to prison; or, 
 rather, conducted to church, for such was the edifice which 
 the peculiar circumstances of the times had converted into 
 a strong hold for the safe keeping of prisoners of war. It 
 was a low antiquated building, in the Dutch style of archi 
 tecture, with enormous thick walls of rough stone, pierced 
 with two rows of arched windows. The main building was 
 an oblong square, with a square tower attached to the eas 
 tern extremity, from the top of which arose a modest Gothic 
 steeple, surmounted by a ball and weathercock. The prin 
 cipal entrance was in the centre of the south side, fronting 
 the road which led from the village to the river. 
 
 Instead of the sepulchral yew, with which romance has 
 invariably embellished such consecrated ground, a number 
 of luxuriant willows here cast a melancholy shade among 
 the rustic memorials of departed worth. Here it was that 
 little groups of villagers were wont to assemble on a Sab 
 bath morning; and, while they awaited the appearance of 
 their pious clergyman, reverently discuss the local news 
 and politics of the day. 
 
 But, alas ! even the hallowed rites of the sanctuary must 
 sometimes give place to the blighting footsteps of ruthless 
 war! That roof which had so often resounded with the 
 language of "peace, and good will to man," was now re 
 echoing with the curses of disappointed malevolence. The 
 stone church had become a prison, as its more humble neigh 
 bour, (a wooden church without a steeple,) had, for similar 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 71 
 
 reasons, been converted into a hospital for the sick and 
 wounded. If this be sacrilege, of what was that British 
 General guilty, who prostituted an elegant church in Bos 
 ton to the purposes of a stable! But this is digression. 
 Our present business is at Fishkill. 
 
 This pleasant little village, (situated in a township of the 
 same name,) is in the county of Duchess, north of the 
 Highlands, and about five miles east from the Hudson. It 
 consists of a handsome collection of neat white farm-houses, 
 with here and there a mansion of more ample dimensions 
 and showy exterior. These buildings are principally erec 
 ted on a semi-circular street, a little north of a correspond 
 ing bend in the stream before mentioned ; and in the midst 
 of them, on a little plain, are the two churches, rising with 
 modest dignity above the elevation of the humbler man 
 sions around them. 
 
 The first appearance of this village in approaching it 
 from the south, is picturesque in the extreme. After 
 toiling, for fifteen miles, among the rugged * hills and 
 shapeless rocks, between which the road winds its serpen 
 tine course; when there appears no prospect of a speedy 
 termination to the traveller s fatigue; and when his im 
 patience begins to despair of relief; at that moment, the 
 village and plains of Fishkill suddenly open upon his view 
 with the effect of enchantment, affording an ample com 
 pensation for all his previous anxiety and perplexity. 
 
 Although this is the oldest village in tho county of 
 Duchess, it was but thinly populated at the time of whkJh 
 we are writing. The Marquis de Chateleux, who visited 
 it four years afterwards, when it had become the principal 
 depot of the American army, says, " There are not more 
 than fifty houses in the space of two miles." He adds, 
 however, that the American magazines, hospitals, work- 
 
72 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 shops, &LC. " form a little town of themselves, composed 
 of handsome large barracks, built in the wood at the foot 
 of the mountains." It is well known, that Fishkill pos 
 sessed all the qualities necessary for a place of military 
 depot, at this critical period; being situated on the high 
 road from Connecticut, near the river and West Point, that 
 "Gibraltar of America;" and protected, at the same time, 
 by a chain of inaccessible mountains, which occupy a 
 space of more than twenty miles between the Croton river 
 and that of Fishkill. 
 
 But whatever local advantages, or rural charms, this 
 village might have boasted in the year 1776, they were all 
 lost on the wretched inmates of the stone church. The 
 Committee of Safety had arrived from White Plains, and 
 were now in session, at a farm-house within a few rdHs of 
 their prison. Thither were the newly-arrived captives 
 conducted, one by one, to undergo a second private exam 
 ination. The muster-roll, and other papers found on the 
 person of their leader, were considered as a sufficient testi 
 mony of their traitorous intentions: they were, therefore, 
 remanded to prison to await a more formal investigation 
 before a competent tribunal. 
 
 Crosby, in his turn, was also placed at the bar of this 
 military inquisition. On entering the apartment where 
 his employers were seated in all that magisterial dignity 
 which surrounds, or is supposed to surround, the stern arbi 
 ters of life and death, he affected such extreme reluc- 
 jfance to advance, as rendered it necessary for the officer 
 in attendance to compel him to proceed. With clanking 
 chains, and an aspect of vacant despair, he at length ap 
 proached the awful bar, and tremblingly awaited the 
 pleasure of his judges. A lurking smile was visible in 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 73 
 
 each of their visages; but the prisoner appeared to be too 
 much agitated with terror to observe it. 
 
 O 
 
 As soon as the officer had resumed his station on the 
 outside of the door, however, and Crosby was left alone 
 with the Committee, the characters were, changed; for 
 they at once lost the gravity of judges, and laughed out 
 right at a scene which so nearly approached the ludicrous. 
 When their merriment had a little subsided, they highly 
 commended Crosby for the effective manner in which he 
 had performed his part, and the important service he had 
 thereby rendered to his country. They then consulted 
 with him on the best mode of making his escape; and 
 requested him, when that was effected, to repair with all 
 possible diligence, to Wappinger s Creek, and call upon 
 Mr. *****, who would furnish him with further instruc 
 tions, as "there was business for him on the other side the 
 Hudson." 
 
 Crosby signified his readiness to continue in this hazard 
 ous and disreputable service; but suggested the propriety 
 of his assuming a different name, in order to prosecute it 
 with greater effect. The committee approved the idea, 
 and it was finally understood between them, that all com 
 munications from their secret agent would, in future, bear 
 the signature of "JOHN SMITH." 
 
 As soon as these preliminaries were all duly adjusted, 
 the Committee resumed their former stern deportment, and 
 Crosby his fictitious character. The officer re-entered, 
 and, in obedience to orders, led his trembling prisoner back 
 to the church. 
 
 On the approach of night, a competent number of sol 
 diers were detailed for the prison guard, some of whom 
 were stationed in the basement of the tower, to guard the 
 eastern entrance of the building, On the outside, four 
 
 7 
 
74 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 armed sentinels were posted in as many different positions] 
 corresponding to the four cardinal points of the compass. 
 The remainder of the little force then in the village, were 
 in barracks, at a short distance from the church. 
 
 In entering and leaving his prison, Crosby had hastily 
 reconnoitred the premises without; and after his attend 
 ance on the Committee, he lost no time in making his 
 observations within. He soon ascertained that there was 
 only one avenue through which an escape could be at 
 tempted with the least probability of success; and that 
 was a window at the extreme northwest corner, which 
 was partially obscured by the thick foliage of a large wil 
 low that grew near it. Screened from observation by the 
 friendly gloom of this tree, he thought it practicable to 
 pass the sentinel and clear the church-yard in safety. Or, 
 should he not be able to elude the vigilance of the guard, 
 still the uncertainty of his aim in that shadowy position, 
 would leave little to apprehend from the discharge of his 
 musket. At all events, he determined to make the ex 
 periment. 
 
 Harassed in mind, and fatigued in body, the prisoners 
 soon availed themselves of such indifferent accommoda 
 tions as their situation afforded; and before the "noon of 
 night," there were few, besides Crosby, who were not 
 fast locked in the arms of sweet forgetful ness. But, as 
 Hamlet says, 
 
 may watch, M hile- others sleep, 
 Thus runs the world away. 
 
 When every sound was hushed, save the discordant 
 nasal chorus of the unconscious performers around him, 
 Crosby arose from his counterfeit slumber, and cautiously 
 approached the window, from which he had previously 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 75 
 
 succeeded in removing the fastenings. Without noise, he 
 raised the sash, 
 
 And, that they might not clank, held fast his chains." 
 
 In the next moment, he was safely seated on the soft mould 
 of a newly-covered grave, busily employed in divesting his 
 limbs of their iron bracelets. When this was accomplished, 
 he cautiously raised himself upon his feet; and, knowing 
 that a thick swamp lay within one hundred rods, north 
 west of the church, he started in that direction with as 
 much speed as the uneven surface of the bury ing-ground 
 would permit. 
 
 lie had not proceeded fifty paces, however, before he 
 was suddenly challenged by a sentinel on his right. Hesi- 
 tation would have been fatal. The swamp was before 
 him the path had become plainer he darted forward 
 with the celerity of a deer. The whizzing of a bullet and 
 the report of a musket saluted his ear at the same moment; 
 but he considered the salutation merely as a frie/dly warn 
 ing not to relax his speed. The race was for life or death; 
 for the alarm was given, and "the chase was up." Three 
 or four more leaden messengers,(3) each as harmless as 
 the first, passed him in quick succession; and, as if emu 
 lating their velocity, he pursued them with accelerated 
 swiftness. The pursuers were behind but the friendly 
 swamp was in front, extending its bushy arms to receive 
 him. One more effort^he is safe \ 
 
76 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN CAVE. 
 
 Honour and policy, like unsevered friends, 
 I the war do grow up together. 
 
 Shaksp tare. 
 
 WHILE the foregoing events were transpiring in the 
 vicinity of the Highlands, transactions of higher impor 
 tance and on a much larger scale, were going forward forty 
 miles below. It was an important object with Washington 
 to secure the roads and passes that communicated with the , 
 eastern states; to prevent which, Howe had left New- 
 York, with the greater part of the royal army, by the way 
 of Hurlgate, and landed as before mentioned, at Throg s 
 Neck, in Westchester county. It was evidently the deter 
 mination of the British General, either to force the Amer 
 icans from their position on York Island, or to enclose 
 them in it. 
 
 Aware of his design, Washington removed a part of his 
 troops from York Island to join those at Kingsbridge; 
 and, at the same time detached some regiments to West- 
 Chester. It still appeared to be his intention, however, 
 to retain that part of the island which he now occupied ; 
 and there was certainly a prevailing disposition among the 
 officers generally to do the same. But the gallant Lee, 
 who had just returned from a successful expedition at the 
 sou th,(l) gave such convincing reasons for evacuating the 
 island altogether, that it was immediately resolved to with 
 draw the bulk of the armv. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. T7 
 
 He also urged the expediency of evacuating fort Wash 
 ington ;(2) but in this he was opposed by Greene, who 
 argued, that the possession of that post would divert a large 
 body of the enemy from joining their main force; and in 
 conjunction with Fort Lee, on the opposite side of the 
 river, would be of great service in covering the transpor 
 tation of provisions and stores, up the Hudson, for the 
 service of the American troops. He added farther, that 
 the garrison could be brought off at any time, by boats 
 from the Jersey side of the river. 
 
 Unfortunately for the cause, the opinion of Greene pre 
 vailed. Though the system of evacuating and retreating 
 was generally adopted, an exception was made in favour 
 of Fort Washington, and near three thousand men were 
 assigned for its defence. An unfortunate error, as will 
 appear in the sequel; for, as Adjutant-General JRead after 
 wards said, in a letter to Lee, "If a real defence of the 
 lines was intended, the number was too few; if the fort 
 only, the garrison was too numerous by half." 
 
 In retreating from York Island, the American leader 
 was careful to make a front towards his enemy, from 
 Eastchester almost to White Plains, in order to secure the 
 march of those who were behind, and to defend the re 
 moval of the sick, the cannon, and the stores of the army. 
 In this manner, the Americans formed a line of small, 
 detached, intrenched camps, on the several heights and 
 strong grounds, from Valentine s Hill, near Kingsbridge, 
 on the right, to the vicinity of the White Plains, on the left; 
 the whole, of course, fronting eastward. 
 
 In the mean time, the enemy was not idle; although he 
 had, apparently, been so, for several days after his landing 
 at Throg s Neck which is a kind of mole or point, con 
 nected with the main by a long causeway, through a marshy 
 
 7* 
 
78 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 tract of considerable extent. His spies, however, had been 
 on the alert ; and the first movement of Washington was 
 the signal for Howe to commence his favourite scheme of 
 circumvention. 
 
 Flushed with his recent victory on Long Island, the 
 British General ardently longed to grapple, once more, 
 with his discomfitted opponent. But Washington wisely 
 considered that the prize at stake was of too much value 
 to be risked on the fortuitous result of a single contest, 
 under his present disadvantages of numbers and discipline. 
 He, therefore, cautiously avoided a general engagement, 
 while his troops were daily acquiring confidence and ex 
 perience by skirmishing with their enemies. 
 
 After several unsuccessful attempts to pass the cause 
 way before mentioned, which was strongly guarded by the 
 Americans, the British crossed to the other side of Throg s 
 Neck, embarked on board their boats, crossed over the 
 cove, and re-landed on a place called Pell s Neck. From 
 thence they commenced a brisk movement towards New- 
 Rochelle.(3) Three or four American regiments were 
 immediately sent forward to annoy them on their march. 
 These took a good position behind a stone fence; and 
 when the advance of the enemy had approached suffi 
 ciently near, poured such a well-directed fire upon his 
 columns, as caused many of his finest troops to bite the 
 dust. This unexpected assault not only checked, but 
 even caused the advancing party to fall back ; but, being 
 immediately supported, they returned vigorously to the 
 charge. For a short time the action was sharp and well 
 supported ; but the Americans were finally obliged to give 
 way to superior force, and the enemy pursued his march 
 almost to New-Rochelle, where he halted. 
 
MEMOIRS OP HNOCII CHOSBY. 70 
 
 Shortly after this affair, Howe removed the right and 
 centre of his army two miles farther north, on the road to 
 White Plains, During this movement, a skirmish took 
 place between two hundred of Lee s men, and three hun 
 dred Hessians, in which the latter suffered considerably. 
 The British then moved on, in two columns, and took a 
 position with the Bronx river, in front ;(4) upon which 
 Washington assembled his main force at White Plains, 
 behind intrenchments. 
 
 Thus, like two skilful chess-players, did these able Gen 
 erals mancEuvre their men; while the theatre of their 
 movements, like an immense chess-board, was crossed with 
 lines, and chequered with redoubts and intrenchments. 
 But an important crisis in the game was now evidently at 
 hand ; one more move must, apparently, decide it. Heaven 
 grant that it may be "checkmate to the king." 
 
 But while these two gallant opponents are thus sternly 
 looking defiance at each other, both eagerly watching 
 for an opening to strike, it is our duty to return to the 
 fugitive whom we left in the swamp, near the village of 
 Fishkill. 
 
 Crosby remained secure in this place of concealment, 
 until every sound of alarm and pursuit had ceased; he 
 then proceeded, with no little difficulty, to grope his way 
 through bushes and brambles, quagmires and morasses. 
 He doubtless reasoned with himself, on this occasion, as 
 jfEsop s fox is said to have done, under similar circum 
 stances " For the sake of the good, let me bear the evil 
 with patience; each bitter has its sweet; and these bram 
 bles, though they wound my flesh, preserve my life from 
 danger." 
 
 After much exertion and fatigue, hesuoceded in emerg 
 ing from the thicket; and, fortunately, on the side opposite 
 
80 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 to where he entered. He then pursued his course north 
 ward, with the speed of one who is sensible that every step 
 removes him farther from danger. 
 
 In less than two hours, he found his course impeded by 
 a stream, which he rightly conjectured to be Wappinger s 
 Creek, the boundary line between Fishkill and Pough- 
 keepsie.(5) 
 
 Agreeably to the instructions he had received from the 
 Committee, he now turned to the left, and a short half hour 
 brought him to the residence of Mr. *****. 
 
 To be suddenly aroused from bed, by some hasty mes 
 senger, at any hour of the night, had become so common 
 an occurrence, since the commencement of hostilities, 
 that this gentleman evinced no symptoms of surprise or 
 alarm, when he appeared at the door in his night-gown 
 and slippers, to answer to the knock of his untimely 
 visiter. A few brief sentences, exchanged in a low voice, 
 convinced both that they were treading on safe ground. 
 Crosby was, therefore, requested to enter and be seated, 
 while the other retired to resume such habiliments as were 
 better adapted to the purposes of business. 
 
 On the return of his host, Crosby was informed that his 
 coining had been anxiously waited for, as the Committee 
 had intimated that he might be expected before midnight. 
 Refreshments were then introduced; and while the weary 
 traveller was diligently employed in appeasing the cra 
 vings of a voracious o.ppetite, his entertainer proceeded to 
 "open the business of the meeting." 
 
 It appeared, that Mr. ***** had received certain infor 
 mation that an English officer was privately enrolling a 
 company, on the other side of the river. This fact he had 
 communicated to the Committee of Safety, on their arrival 
 at Fishkill; and they had agreed to send him an agent 
 
MEMOIRS OF BNOCH CROSBY. 81 
 
 with whom he might concert some feasible plan for seizing 
 the officer^ and making prisoners of his men* 
 
 This being a business in which Crosby, to use his own 
 expression, felt himself "perfectly at home," he readily 
 entered into the scheme, and undertook to see it accom 
 plished by his own ingenuity and address. This proposi 
 tion was gladly acceded to by his host, who gave him such 
 instructions as would tend to facilitate the project; and, 
 before daylight our hero was safely landed on the western 
 bank of the Hudson, in the town of Marlborough, a little 
 north of Newburgh. 
 
 Agreeably to the directions he had received, Crosby im 
 mediately struck into the country in a northwestern course 
 from the river; and, after proceeding about twelve miles, 
 applied at a farm-house for refreshment. Here a com 
 fortable breakfast was cheerfully prepared for him; and, 
 while partaking of it, he received such topographical infor 
 mation, as convinced him that ho had reached the right 
 spot to commence operations. 
 
 After finishing his repast, therefore, he began to make 
 himself known as an itinerant shoemaker, in pursuit of 
 work; and intimated a wish of being employed to make 
 shoes for the farmer or his family. 
 
 " I wish to do something to pay my way," added Crosby, 
 with an honest simplicity which he well knew how to as 
 sume; "as I don t like to be beholden to any one for a 
 meal s victuals or a night s lodging." 
 
 "That s all very right," returned the farmer; "every 
 honest man would wish to live by his own airnens." 
 
 "Well, don t you think that you could give me some 
 thing to do for a few days ? If you are not in want of shoes, 
 I would nt care to turn my hand to any thing." 
 
82 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 "Why, yes," replied the other, after a little reflection j 
 " I rather guess that I should like to have you work for me 
 a day or two. It is true, I have no shoemaking to do at 
 present; but if you can help me on the farm, in killing 
 hogs, and sich like, I should like to have you, and my wife 
 shall assist you. 
 
 Crosby, readily consented ; and, as there was no cavil 
 on the score of wages, the bargain was soon struck. He 
 accordingly went to work with that characteristic diligence 
 and assiduity which was always certain to win the appro 
 bation of his employers, 
 
 But though his whole time and attention appeared to be 
 devoted to the duties of his new vocation, his grand object 
 was never lost sight of. At every fitting opportunity, he 
 strove, by sundry indirect, and apparently indifferent, in 
 quiries, to elicit some information from the family, that 
 might assist in the prosecution of his ulterior designs. For 
 two days he was unsuccessful; but, on the third, he was 
 indebted to accident for what his ingenuity had been vainly 
 exerted to obtain. 
 
 It was a rnild morning, near the close of October, that 
 Crosby and his employer were making some arrangements 
 for the business of the day, when their attention was ar 
 rested by a sound that resembled distant thunder. It 
 came from the southeast, from whence a light air was 
 breathing; but neither cloud nor rack appeared in that 
 quarter. 
 
 "Can that be thunder?" asked Crosby. 
 
 "I should rather guess not," replied the other; "we sil- 
 dom have it so late in the fall. It is more likely the two 
 parties are skrimmagirig below." 
 
 "They must be skirmishing to some purpose," observed 
 Crosby. "That is the language of artillery, and not of the 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 83 
 
 smallest calibre. And yet," continued he, in a soliloqui 
 zing tone, "they cannot be above the Plains." Then, turn 
 ing to his companion, he inquired if he thought the report 
 of cannon could be heard so far. 
 
 "Why, yes, I should say so," replied the other. "From 
 here to White Plains is only about forty miles, in a straight 
 line; and in the last French war, when General Aber- 
 crombie was beat at Ticonderoga, the cannon was heard 
 at Saratogue, which is over fifty miles, as plain as we hear 
 these." 
 
 The sounds still continued, without much intermission, 
 while both remained silent, and listened with interest. At 
 length Crosby ventured to observe 
 
 "They must have warm work below. Both parties must 
 lose blood, which ever gains the day." 
 
 "Ah! these are awful times ."sighed the other. "There s 
 no telling how it will end." 
 
 "What do you think of all this business?" asked Cros 
 by, in a tone that did not indicate much interest in the 
 question. 
 
 "Why, really, I don t know what to think," replied the 
 other, evasively. "Sometimes 1 think it is a very doubtful 
 case with us; and then, again, I almost think, if I had a 
 good chance, and no family to support, that I would just go 
 down to the lower party. But, you know, it won t do for 
 me to say so." 
 
 "Perhaps you could nt get down there safe, if you felt 
 even so much disposed to go," said Crosby, in a tone that 
 might be considered interrogatory or not, as the auditor 
 pleased. 
 
 "O, yes, I could," returned the other, with a significant 
 leer, that intimated the speaker knew more than he was 
 at liberty to communicate. 
 
A 
 
 84 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Like a keen pointer, Crosby had now scented the game, 
 and was determined to persevere in the pursuit; he there 
 fore, promptly answered 
 
 "Well, T wish that J could; for I believe that I might do 
 better there than by staying here." 
 
 The other turned on him a look of cautious scrutiny; 
 but, reading nothing in his countenance to excite suspicion, 
 he ventured to observe - 
 
 "I can tell you, if you promise not to expose me, how you 
 can get there if you wish." 
 
 "Of course, I will not expose you ; for how can I, with 
 out exposing myself? I will be much obliged to you if 
 you will assist me in going down, so that I may not be de 
 tected by the rebels." 
 
 "Well, then I will tell you," returned the other, with re 
 newed confidence; at the same time looking cautiously 
 around, in every direction, to ascertain that no listeners 
 were near. "Do you see yonder mountain? On the west 
 side of it is a curious little cave, that s been dug o purpose; 
 but you might pass it a hundred times without knowing 
 there was sich a thing there. In that cave, an English 
 Captain keeps himself concealed; and we, who are in the 
 secret, supply him with every thing that heart can wish. 
 He is recruiting among the Highlands, and has nearly got 
 his company filled." 
 
 "I will offer myself immediately," exclaimed Crosby, 
 with a sudden animation, that might have excited suspicions 
 in the mind of a keener observer than his companion; who, 
 without noticing it, replied 
 
 "Well -I will tell you just where you can go to find 
 him; or, wait till after dark, and I will go with you." 
 
 "That will be the very thing," returned our hero, in* 
 wardly chuckling at the success of his manoeuvre. "By 
 oining his company, I can go down in safety." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 85 
 
 " No doubt of it. But we must be very cautious. In 
 these times, every one is watching his next neighbour." 
 
 "You may depend upon my prudence," returned Crosby. 
 " 1 have no inclination to get into the hands of the rebels 
 again; it was at the hazard of my life that I escaped from 
 them at Fishkill." 
 
 "What! have you really been taken by them? Why, 
 how in nature did you get away?" 
 
 Crosby here recapitulated the particulars of his escape 
 from the stone church, and then added 
 
 " They are obstinate dogs, for, you hear, they are at it 
 yet." 
 
 "Let the riglars get them at close quarters, with the 
 baggonet, and the rebels will stand no chance," replied the 
 other. "They must be at long shot now, or the skrim- 
 mage would not last so long." 
 
 Here the conversation ended; and, separating to pursue 
 their respective avocations, they met no more till supper 
 time. After which they set out, according to agreement, 
 to seek an interview with the military hermit in the "cave 
 of the mountain." 
 
 On arriving at the western side of this lofty eminence 
 which our hero s conductor had pointed out to him in 
 the morning, they paused near a clump of dwarf cedars 
 which grew at its base. In front of them was a dark 
 looking object, which proved to be a huge rock, cleft in 
 twain by some concussion of the elements, or by a precipi 
 tate descent from the dizzy steep above it. With a heavy 
 stick, which the farmer carried with him, he struck seve 
 ral blows, in quick succession, on the flat surface of the 
 rock; and, in a short time, a bright ray of light darted 
 from behind it, and gradually increased in brilliancy. In 
 the next moment the object of their visit stood before t 
 
 8 
 
86 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 with a small lantern in his hand, by the aid of which 
 he took a critical survey of his visitors without speaking. 
 He then bid the farmer welcome, who promptly introduced 
 his companion as " John Smith, a faithful friend to his 
 majesty," and instantly disappeared. 
 
 The Captain received Crosby very cordially; and after 
 numerous inquiries, to all of which he received plausible 
 and satisfactory answers, he at length exclaimed 
 
 " Well, sir, you appear to have limb and muscle, and 
 would make a clever looking soldier. I should like to 
 have you in my corps of Highlanders, which have just 
 been collected. Come, what say you?" 
 
 "I have not the least objection," replied Crosby; "and 
 as I have no fixed home, or place to go to, I should like to 
 stay with you; for if the rebels catch me again, they will 
 show me nc mercy." 
 
 "Agreed!" exclaimed the Captain, after eyeing him 
 
 sharply for a few moments. " You are a d d honest 
 
 looking fellow, and I ll try you. Come sir; see if you can 
 double up that gigantic carcase of yours so as to get into 
 that hole," pointing to the mouth of an artificial excava 
 tion in the mountain, just behind the cloven rock, which 
 Crosby had not before observed. 
 
 The new recruit instantly obeyed the orders of his sw- 
 perior, and found himself in a small, comfortable, well- 
 furnished apartment, with seats, and other conveniences, 
 suitable for two or three persons. In the centre of the 
 floor, stood a small round table, liberally supplied with 
 a great variety of cold meats, pastry, bread, butter, cheese, 
 and every other kind of eatables that the neighbouring 
 farm-houses could furnish. But what the occupant of the 
 cave most earnestly commended to the attention of his 
 guest, was a large jug, or rather its contents, which he 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 87 
 
 swore was as fine Madeira as ever graced the table of Sir 
 Harry, or even his lordship himself. 
 
 "Come, my good fellow, help yourself," said the hermit, 
 pushing the jug to his new proselyte, after filling his own 
 goblet to the brim. " Ah ! you shall live like a fighting 
 cock, for the few days longer that I have got to burrow 
 in this hole. A health to his Majesty, and success to the 
 good cause." 
 
 "With all my heart," exclaimed Crosby, and drained 
 the goblet. 
 
 As our hero now appears to be very comfortably situ 
 ated, in a strong hold with plenty of provisions for the 
 garrison, we will venture to leave him there for a few 
 days, while we revisit the scene from whence proceeded 
 those " sounds of war," which gave rise to the conversa 
 tion that ultimately brought about the present change in 
 his circumstances. 
 
88 THE SPY UMMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CHADERTON S HILL. 
 
 -This day hath made 
 
 Much work for tears in many an English mother, 
 Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground: 
 Many a widow s husband groveling lies 
 Coldly embracing the discoloured earth. 
 
 Shaks. King John. 
 
 WE left the two hostile armies, in front of each other, 
 at White Plains, with souls "in arms, and eager for the 
 fray." On the morning of the 28th of October they still 
 retained the same position, sharply watching each other s 
 motions. 
 
 In the mean time, a commanding eminence on the 
 southwest of the American camp, had caught the attention 
 of Washington ; who, knowing the importance of strength 
 ening his position, resolved to reconnoitre the ground im 
 mediately. He, accordingly, ordered such of his general 
 officers as were not on duty, to attend him, and rode to 
 the spot; but, on examination, found it not so suitable for 
 his purposes as he had anticipated. 
 
 "Yonder," said Lee, pointing to another eminence on 
 the north, "is the ground we ought to occupy." 
 
 "Let us, then, go and view it," replied the commander- 
 in-chief; and away they posted as fast as their mettlesome 
 steeds would carry them. 
 
 They had not proceeded far, however, when a light- 
 horse-man was seen coming up, on full gallop, his steed 
 
 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 89 
 
 almost out of breath. Hastily saluting the General, he 
 exclaimed 
 
 " The British are on the camp, sir 1" 
 
 "Then, gentlemen," said Washington, "we have other 
 business than reconnoitring. Follow me !" 
 
 So saying, he put spurs to his prancing charger, and 
 galloped to the camp, swiftly followed by his well-mounted 
 Generals, Lee, Heath, and the rest. On arriving at head 
 quarters, the party were met by the Adjutant General, the 
 gallant Read, who hastily addressed his commander 
 
 " The guards, sir, have been all beat in, and the whole 
 army are now at their respective posts in order of battle." 
 
 Washington, on hearing this, turned coolly to his offi 
 cers, and dismissed them with this brief order 
 
 "Gentlemen, you will repair to your respective posts, 
 and do the best you can."(l) 
 
 Here they separated each officer repairing to his own 
 division, which he found in the lines, firmly awaiting the 
 charge, which had already commenced on the right of the 
 Americans, by a column of Hessians, the forlorn hope of 
 the British army. They were commanded by General 
 de Heister and Colonel Rhal, who directed their first at- 
 tack against the Americans that were posted on an emi 
 nence called Chaderton s Hill, commanded by General 
 M Dougall. 
 
 The cannonade now became brisk on both sides. Sud 
 denly, the enemy s right column, consisting of British 
 troops, under the command of General Leslie, appeared 
 in the road leading to the court-house, in front of Heath s 
 division, on the American left. This advancing column 
 was preceded by about twenty light-horse-men, in full 
 gallop, brandishing their swords r as if they intended to 
 decapitate every Yankee they could reach. 
 
 8* 
 
90 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Without hesitation, they leaped the fence of a wheatfield, 
 at the foot of the hill on which the brave Malcolm s regi 
 ment was posted; of which circumstance the cavaliers 
 were not aware, until a shot from a field-piece struck in 
 the midst of them, and unhorsed one of the party without 
 ceremony. 
 
 This being a hint that the gentlemen could not well mis- 
 undersiand, they wheeled short about, and galloped out of 
 the field as fast as they came in ; nor did they slacken their 
 speed until a friendly hill left nothing but the tips of their 
 plumes for Malcolm to waste his fire on. 
 
 Whether it was owing to this circumstance, (the precip 
 itate flight of his horse,) or to previous arrangement, it is 
 certain that the British column advanced no farther up the 
 road, but suddenly wheeled to the left, by platoons, as fast 
 as they came up; and passing through a bar or gateway, 
 directed their head towards the troops on Chaderton s Hill, 
 already engaged with the Hessians. 
 
 The appearance of this column of well-disciplined 
 troops, the flower of the British army, was truly imposing. 
 Their brightly polished arms, bristling with bayonets, glit 
 tering in the sunbeams with almost a dazzling lustre. 
 What a contrast to their undisciplined opponents, the 
 American militia, who, with rusty muskets, irregular ac 
 coutrements, and scarcely a bayonet to a platoon, stood 
 before them undismayed, and (even when vanquished) 
 unsubdued ! 
 
 The cannonade still continued brisk across the Bronx; 
 the Americans firmly retaining their position on the hill, 
 and the enemy directing all his energies to dislodge them. 
 Convinced, at length, that long shot would never effect 
 the object, preparations were made to eome to closer 
 quarters. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 91 
 
 For this purpose, a part of the enemy s left column, 
 composed of British and Hessians, forded the river, and 
 marched along, under cover of the hill, until they had 
 gained sufficient ground to the left of the Americans; 
 when, by facing to the left, their column became a line 
 parallel with their opponents. In this order they ascended 
 the hill with a quick movement. 
 
 The fire from the British artillery now ceased, of course, 
 in order not to endanger their own men, who were bravely 
 advancing to charge the Americans on the summit of the 
 hill ; but the fire of the musketry between the two parties 
 was so rapid and incessant, that it was impossible to dis 
 tinguish the sounds. 
 
 The Americans finally gave way before superior discip 
 line, and moved off the hill in as good order as could have 
 been expected. The British ascended the hill very slowly, 
 but in that close, compact order for which their infantry 
 are so justly celebrated. There is no doubt, however, 
 that every man felt glad when he had reached the summit, 
 where they formed and dressed their line, without evincing 
 any disposition to pursue their retreating foe. 
 
 The fact is, both parties felt perfectly willing to rest 
 awhile after the fatigues of the day. It is true, that ob 
 taining possession of the contested eminence gave the 
 British great advantage over their opponents; but, feeling 
 too sore to pursue this advantage, they were content to let 
 things remain as they were for the present. 
 
 During this action, which ought to be called the "Battle 
 of Chaderton s Hill, n several hundreds fell on both sides. 
 It was a waste of lives without much advantage to either 
 party. In the midst of the engagement, however, the 
 American baggage and stores were moved off in full view 
 of the British army. (5) 
 
92 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Washington soon after changed his front, by drawing 
 back the right and centre of his forces to some hills in his 
 rear, and leaving the left wing in its former position; thus 
 forming a line nearly east and west, fronting his enemy 
 on the south. In this eligible position he expected and 
 desired an action ; but the enemy did not see fit to make 
 the attempt. He afterwards withdrew the whole army to 
 the heights of Northcastle, about five miles above White 
 Plains, near the Connecticut line, where his position was 
 so strong that Howe found it necessary to adopt an entire 
 new plan of operations. 
 
 In the mean time, Crosby was enjoying ease and luxury 
 in the "cave of the mountain," which was regularly sup 
 plied with provisions by several farmers who secretly fa- 
 voured the royal cause. He found the Captain to be a 
 good-humoured jovial fellow, somewhat coarse in his 
 manners, but not a disagreeable companion. As he and 
 Crosby lived and messed together, they were, of course, 
 on the most familiar terms of intimacy; it will, therefore, 
 be readily conceived, that the latter soon made himself 
 acquainted with every particular of the other s plans. 
 
 "In three days, my lad, we shall cross the Highlands," 
 said the Captain, gaily, as he folded up a letter which had 
 just been handed him by our hero s late employer. 
 
 " In three days," repeated the other. " Let me see 
 that will be Tuesday, as this is Saturday." 
 
 "Yes, this is Saturday, and to-morrow will be Sunday, 
 when your motley, psalm-singing, rebel army will be 
 chaunting hallelujahs through their noses; that is, if our 
 cavalry didn t shave off those vocal appendages at White 
 Plains." 
 
 "According to the letter you have just read to me, it 
 would seem that some of the royal cavalry have been even 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 93 
 
 closer shaved by the rebels in Heath s division," returned 
 Crosby, with a slight indication of humour in his counte 
 nance. 
 
 " By Heaven !" exclaimed the Captain, "you look and 
 talk as if you were glad of it." 
 
 " I should be glad to have been in their situation," said 
 Crosby, drily. 
 
 "Where? Behind the hill?" 
 
 "No I would have cleared the hill, and made for the 
 Heath." 
 
 "Good! If the flash of your musket be like that of your 
 wit, you will be an honour to the corps." 
 
 "Wit sometimes wounds a friend." 
 
 "Then there the comparison ends, for your musket will 
 only be levelled at the rebels. But come; let s to business. 
 Do you know where the little heap of earth stands which 
 the Yankees call Butter Hill?"(3) 
 
 " Yes at the north entrance of the Highlands, opposite 
 St. Anthony s face."(4) 
 
 "True and were that break-neck rock a real living 
 saint, and the opposite hill composed of genuine Goshen 
 butter, the saint s motith would water. But. % as I was 
 saying, on the western side of that mountain, (for so we 
 would call an eminence of fifteen hundred feet in England,) 
 is a lonely barn, belonging to a good loyalist, and a very 
 fine fellow. To that barn we must all go on Tuesday 
 evening; and, after taking an hour s rest in the hay-mow, 
 pursue our course to the royal lines. To-morrow, you and 
 I will bid good-bye to this cursed hole, as my friend S**** 
 has generously offered to accommodate the whole of us, 
 until we march." 
 
 Having nothing to oppose to this arrangement, Crosby 
 made no objection ; and Sunday evening saw the whole 
 corps (about thirty) assembled at the house of Mr. S****. 
 
94 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 But how was the Committee of Safety to be made ac 
 quainted with these circumstances? This was a question 
 that, for some time, baffled the ingenuity of our hero; as 
 he was aware that he could not absent himself a moment 
 without exciting suspicions. At length, however, he hit 
 upon a plan, and hastened to put it into execution. Taking 
 the Captain apart, he thus commenced it* 
 
 "I am apprehensive, sir, that our being here altogether 
 may turn out to be bad policy." 
 
 "Your reasons, Jack, your reasons," said the other, with 
 a dramatic air. "The devil s in t if we are not retired 
 enough; there s not a neighbour within a mile." 
 
 "It is just such retired situations that Townsend s Ran 
 gers are always searching. They seldom seek for organi 
 zed companies of loyalists in populous villages." 
 
 "D n Townsend s Rangers! They are over the 
 
 river." 
 
 "That s not certain. They are every where by turns, 
 and no where long. But let us suppose the worst. If the 
 rebels should discover us, and surprise us all together, the 
 whole corps is at once annihilated. But if we disperse un 
 til the hour of marching, they can only pick up one or two, 
 and the main body will remain safe." 
 
 "D n me, Jack, but you shall be my orderly. Your 
 advice is good, and we will separate immediately. No one 
 shall know where another sleeps, and that will prevent 
 treachery. There s an improvement of my own, Jack. 
 Go choose your own lodgings; and you need be at no 
 loss in this bundling country of yours. But recollect, here 
 we all muster at seven o clock, on Tuesday evening." 
 
 With these words they separated; when Crosby lost no 
 time in repairing to the house of a man whom he knew to 
 be a warm friend to the country, and desired him to saddle 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 95 
 
 his horse instantly, and carry an express to the Committee 
 of Safety, at Fishkill. The other complied without hesita 
 tion ; and, while he was preparing for the journey, our hero 
 wrote the following communication : 
 
 " To the Committee of Safety. 
 
 "Gentlemen 
 
 "I hasten this express to request you to order Captain 
 Townsend s company of Rangers, to repair immediately to 
 the barn, situated on the west side of Butter- Hill, and 
 there to seciete themselves until we arrive, which will be 
 to-morrow evening, probably about eleven o clock ; where, 
 with about thirty tories, they may find, 
 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "JonN SMITH." 
 
 Monday evening, Nov. 4, 1776. 
 
 As soon as this express was despatched to Fishkill, Cros 
 by repaired to the house of his former employer, where he 
 remained until the hour appointed on the following evening; 
 when, (his messenger having returned with an answer,) he 
 rejoined his company which was now assembled at the 
 house of Mr. S****. Every thing being arranged for their 
 departure, they took leave of their loyal host, and cautious 
 ly proceeded across the country, to Cornwall, where they 
 forded Murderer s Creek, and soon reached the solitary barn 
 where they contemplated to rest in safety. 
 
 Completely jaded by their long and rapid march, every 
 one was eager to secure a snug birth in the hay, in order 
 to snatch an hour s repose before they resumed their jour 
 ney. Our hero nestled down with the rest, close to the 
 side of the building; and, in a few minutes, he was the 
 only individual awake. 
 
96 THE SPY VNMASKED; OK 
 
 In about an hour he heard some one cough on the out 
 side the barn. This, being the pre-concerted signal, was 
 immediately answered by Crosby, through an opening be 
 tween the boards; and, in the next moment, the building 
 was filled with armed men, headed by Captain Townsend, 
 accompanied by Colonel Duer, one of the Committee of 
 Safety, who had given the signal before mentioned. 
 
 "Surrender!" exclaimed Townsend, in a voice that star 
 ted every drowsy slurnberer from his rustling couch. "Sur 
 render! or, by the life of Washington you have taken your 
 last nap on this side the grave !" 
 
 No resistance was attempted, for none would have availed 
 against such fearful odds. Some gave up without hesita 
 tion, while others endeavoured to conceal themselves in 
 the hay; but they were soon dragged forth, and mustered 
 on the barn-floor, where several of .the Rangers were sta 
 tioned with lanterns. 
 
 "Who commands this band of heroes?" demanded 
 Townsend. 
 
 "I do," answered the Englishman, promptly and proud 
 ly. "I have the honour to bear his majesty s commis 
 sion, and demand your authority for this arrest and 
 detention." 
 
 "The authority of the continental congress, whose com 
 mission I have the honour to bear," answered Townsend : 
 "I shall, therefore, trouble you for such papers as you may 
 have in your possession: we pledge ourselves, however, 
 that nothing of a private nature shall be detained." 
 
 The Englishman reluctantly complied with this military 
 usage, and at Townsend s request, proceeded to call his 
 own men by the muster-roll. At the name of Enoch Cros 
 by no answer was returned. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY, 97 
 
 "Search for him with your bayonets!" exclaimed Town- 
 send, and fifty blades were instantly plunged into as many 
 different sections of the hay-mow. Our hero now began to 
 think it high time to show himself, and ask for quarter. 
 
 On descending to the floor, the first person he recognised 
 was Colonel Duer, a member of the Committee, who had 
 accompanied the party for the express purpose of affording 
 Crosby an opportunity to escape; but this generous inten 
 tion was completely frustrated by the zeal of Townsend, 
 who instantly knew the prisoner, and seized him with an 
 arm as muscular and sinewy as his own. 
 
 "Well met again old comrade!" exclaimed the Ranger, 
 with a smile of triumph. "You showed us a light pair of 
 heels at Fishkill ; but if I do not see them made sufficiently 
 heavy this time, may I never be a Major." 
 
 "Who is he?" inquired Duer, affecting ignorance of the 
 prisoner s person. 
 
 "Enoch, the patriarch," returned Townsend, smiling at 
 his own conceit. "He who disappeared from the church 
 in Fishkill, almost as mysteriously as his ancient namesake 
 is said to have done from the earth." 
 
 "It is true, he did play us a slippery trick," observed 
 Duer, who thought it necessary to say something. "But 
 we cannot blame the poor fellow for consulting his own 
 safety." 
 
 "Poor!" echoed Townsend. "If he be poor, John Bull 
 must pay him ill." 
 
 "Yes, indeed," said the Lieutenant, who felt his own 
 honour a little piqued at Crosby s former escape : "King 
 George owes him a dukedom." 
 
 "And Congress a halter," added the Captain, as he re 
 signed the silent subject of these sarcasms to two men, who 
 
 9 
 
98 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 soon shackled his limbs in such a manner as to prevent the 
 possibility of his again giving them the slip. 
 
 As soon as the prisoners were all secured, the party were 
 ready to march; and, "to shorten a long story," as 
 Crosby quaintly expressed it, not many hours elapsed, 
 before he found himself in full view of the stone church 
 atFishkill. 
 
 But Crosby, it appears, had forfeited the protection of 
 the church; for while the other prisoners were conducted 
 into that friendly asylum, he was compelled to march a 
 mile further, to a farm house on the east side of the plain, 
 which lies in front of the village. 
 
 Here he was permitted to halt ; and soon discovered that 
 it was not only the temporary head-quarters of Captain 
 Townsend, but the permanent residence of Mr. Jay, chair 
 man of the Committee of Safety. This circumstance, 
 however, was not likely to operate in his favour, asJTown- 
 send immediately adopted such prompt measures to prevent 
 the escape of his prisoner, as evinced the deep interest that 
 officer felt in his detention. Crosby was placed in a room 
 by himself, and a guard detailed for his security, comprising 
 some of the most vigilant members of the corps. 
 
 AU men must eat at times, and Captain Townsend had 
 fasted for the last twelve hours. Under such circumstan 
 ces, it is not surprising that he awaited the preparations 
 for supper with no little degree of impatience. This feel 
 ing, however, was frequently beguiled and diverted by the 
 frank, free, and insinuating address of a rosy -cheeked lass, 
 who, on this occasion, officiated incapacity of house-maid. 
 The Captain was no anchorite, and the maid appeared to 
 be scrupulously attentive to his most trifling wants; until 
 he became so completely absorbed with love, wine, and 
 broiled chickens, that he forgot there was such a man as 
 Enoch Crosby in the world. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 99 
 
 But Miss Charity was too liberal in her opinions of right 
 and wrong to 
 
 "Feast the rich, and let tilt humble starve." 
 
 She very considerately reflected that the sentinel at Cros 
 by s door, might probably be as sharp set as his Captain ; 
 and, under this impression, without consulting the supe 
 rior, prepared him another chicken, which she accompa 
 nied with a bottle of Jay s best old French" brandy. How 
 the Ranger relished the joke was never accurately ascer 
 tained; but one thing is certain, that, owing either to the 
 quality or quantity of the liquor, he actually fell asleep on 
 his post. 
 
 About midnight, our hero was aroused from an unquiet 
 slumber, by a gentle shake of the shoulder. On opening 
 his eyes, he beheld the figure of a female bending over him, 
 with a dark lantern in her hand. 
 
 "Follow me, without speaking," said she in a whisper; 
 "and hold fast by them ugly things, that they don t make a 
 noise." 
 
 Crosby instinctively obeyed in silence, and followed his 
 fair conductor from the apartment. For a moment he 
 paused to gaze at the snoring sentinel, while- Charity care 
 fully closed and locked the door. She then led the -way 
 through a small garden, in the rear of the house, and, 
 pointing to the West Mountain, against the side of which 
 the moon was pouring a stream of mellow radiance, she 
 bid him haste to seek a shelter amidst its almost impene 
 trable fastnesses. 
 
 "But how have you effected this?" asked the bewildered 
 and astonished prisoner; "and what will be the result to 
 yourself, and that careless sentineT 
 
100 THE SPY UNMASKED, OR 
 
 "Fear nothing, for either," hastily replied the girl ; "but 
 hasten to the mountains. I shall instantly return the key 
 to Townsend s pocket, who is himself snoring on the sofa. 
 Dr. Miller s opiates are wonderfully powerful when mixed 
 with brandy. Now, fly for your life ! The sentinel shall 
 be on his feet when the relief conies. You have not a mo 
 ment to lose. I shall be at Hopewell by the time the alarm 
 is given. Not another word I want no thanks-^Jay is 
 your protector Fly!" 
 
 With these words she disappeared in the house. 
 
 The heavy shackles with which our hero s limbs wer* 
 encumbered, allowed him to move but slowly. The coast 
 was perfectly clear, however, and the moon illumined the 
 whole of the plain before him. No obstacle appeared to 
 oppose his progress to the mountain, which, rising like a 
 huge pyramid, seemed to invite his approach. He advan 
 ced with confidence, but with tardiness and fatigue, until 
 he reached a little thicket on the left, where he determined 
 to stop, and, if possible, free himself from his fetters. This 
 object being effected, after much exertion, he bounded for 
 ward with a heart as much lightened as his heels, until he 
 found himself beyond the possibility of pursuit, among the 
 intricate passes of that gigantic eminence. 
 
 On the following morning Townserid found himself re 
 freshed, the key in his pocket, and a trusty sentinel before 
 the door of his prisoner s apartment. There was no other 
 outlet to the room except a window, closed with a strong 
 shutter, and guarded by another sentinel on the outside. 
 No alarm or noise had been heard by any one during 
 the night, and what doubt could there be of the prisoner s 
 safety? 
 
 But words are inadequate to a description of Townsend ^ 
 feelings, when, on taking th key from his pocket, and un~ 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CH03BV. 101 
 
 locking the door, the apartment was found evacuated and 
 without a tenant. The guard were all summoned, but 
 every one protested his ignorance and innocence of the 
 prisoner s escape,- and all united in expressing their sur 
 prise that a man in irons could creep up the chimney. 
 But there was no other alternative; if he did not escape 
 that way, which way could he have made his egress from 
 the. apartment? 
 
 Captain Townsend could not forgive this second decep 
 tion. He felt that his honour, as an officer, was implicated ; 
 and inwardly swore that if Enoch Crosby became his pris 
 oner again, a very summary process should put an end to 
 his career.(5) 
 
 9* 
 
102 THE SPY UNMASKED OR 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE SECRET PASS. 
 
 We must find 
 
 An evident calamity, though we had 
 Our wish, which side should win: for either thou 
 Must, as a foreign recreant, be led 
 With manacles through our streets, or else 
 Triumphantly tread on thy country s ruin. 
 
 Shaks. Corio!anus.. 
 
 As soon as our hero considered it prudent to leave his 
 place of concealment in the West Mountain, which was 
 riot until the following night, he cautiously descended in a 
 southern direction ; and being, by this time, well acquain 
 ted with every pass through the Highlands, knowing where 
 the ravines might be penetrated, and where the streams 
 were fordable, he proceeded with silent celerity, and in 
 creasing confidence. For several hours he pursued his 
 course without interruption, carefully avoiding such spots 
 as he knew to be inhabited ; sometimes plunging into thick 
 ets, at others finding it necessary to ascend hills that ap 
 peared to be almost inaccessible. 
 
 About sunrise, he ventured to descend into the highway, 
 where he continued to travel until fatigue and hunger com 
 pelled him to seek for a habitation where he might safely 
 apply for refreshment. 
 
 At this juncture, he found himself within a quarter of 
 a mile of a farm-house, the owner of which he knew to 
 be a tory, and would doubtless supply his immediate wants. 
 He directed his steps accordingly, and soon received a 
 cheerful welcome from the mistress of the f imily r her 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 103 
 
 husband being absent from home. He told his story, or 
 as much of it as was proper to be related, and his loyal 
 hostess could not find language to express her commissera- 
 tion of his suffering, and her indignity at the wrongs he 
 had received at the hands of the abominable rebels ! In 
 short, she treated him like a son; and insisted upon his 
 making her house his home, for as long a time as he 
 thought it prudent to remain. On his departure, she 
 loaded him with provisions and clothes, with a capacious 
 new pack to contain them. 
 
 Being well aware that patrols were scouring the country 
 in every direction, who, if they recognized him, would be 
 sure to retake him, he felt the necessity of being very cau 
 tious in his movements. It is true, that he might meet a 
 cordial welcome from those who secretly favoured the 
 British cause: but at a period when so many were induced 
 by circumstances to disguise their real sentiments, it was 
 difficult to discriminate between friends and foes. Every 
 whig would have thought it a duty he owed his country 
 to deliver up the fugitive to the vengeance of her violated 
 laws; while many, who felt interested in his safety, were 
 deterred from affording him protection by a prudent regard 
 for their own. 
 
 Under such circumstances, our hero soon found himself 
 placed in a very unpleasant dilemma; while every suc 
 ceeding day seemed to increase the gloom which, like a 
 portentous cloud, hung over his untoward destiny. Hunted 
 like a beast of the forest by one party suspected and 
 avoided by the other he felt himself, at times, an outcast 
 in the world a houseless wanderer, without a country or 
 a home 1(1) While looking at this side of the picture, it 
 exhibited a cheerless, dreary scene of desolation, at the 
 Contemplation of which his heart sickened within him. 
 
104 THE SPY UNMASKED; on 
 
 But when he recollected the object for which he had volun 
 tarily submitted to this living martyrdom when he re 
 viewed the motive of the sacrifice a ray of peaceful tran- 
 quility, emanating from a self-approving conscience, stole 
 over his mind, which he would not have exchanged for the 
 crown and sceptre of England. 
 
 It was near the close of a toilsome day^s wandering, in 
 the cheerless month of November, that he called at an 
 indifferent looking farm-house, and requested to be accom 
 modated for the night. This request was cheerfully 
 granted; and,. throwing off his pack, he sat down, with a 
 thankful heart, to rest from the fatigues of the day. 
 
 He had not remained in this situation long, when two 
 large men, armed with muskets, entered the apartment. 
 One of them started on seeing our traveller; and in a low 
 voice, said something to his companion,, to which the other 
 apparently assented. 
 
 Crosby remained silent, watching the movements of 
 these men with the deepest interest, as he suspected 
 them to be volunteer scouts, numbers of which were con 
 stantly on the look-out for such persons as were suspected 
 of toryism. 
 
 In a short time they advanced to our hero, and, after 
 surveying him attentively, one of them accosted him 
 
 "I think, sir, that I have seen your face before." 
 
 "Very possibly, sir," returned Crosby, coolly; "though 
 I cannot say that I have the pleasure of recollecting 
 yours." 
 
 " Probably not. But if I mistake not, I saw you con - 
 ducted to Fishkill prison, a short time since, in company 
 of a number of tories, arrested by Townsend s Rangers." 
 
 "O, yes, it is he," exclaimed the other; "I could swear 
 to him among a thousand." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 105 
 
 " So, you have made your escape, sir, it seems," con 
 tinued the first speaker. " But under our escort, you will 
 not find it so easily done again. To-morrow morning you 
 shall accompany us to Heath s head-quarters; and, if the 
 provost-marshal does his duty, your plots and escapes will 
 soon be terminated. The Committee of Safety will not 
 take the trouble. of trying you again." 
 
 " It is a serious subject for jesting," observed Crosby, 
 throwing an unquiet eye around, as if in search of some 
 avenue for escape. 
 
 " You will find it no jest," returned the other. " Jay 
 and Duer are determined to make an example of you. A 
 tory they can pardon and pity. But a traitor, who, after 
 bearing arms in the good cause, basely turns those arms 
 against his countrymen, has forfeited all claims to protec 
 tion. Mercy to such a wretch would be cruelty to our 
 country "(2) 
 
 "And think you that Jay would pronounce me a trai 
 tor ?"(3) asked Crosby with some earnestness. 
 
 "How could he do otherwise?" returned the other. 
 "What have you to urge in your own defence?" 
 
 Notwithstanding his reliance on the secret protection 
 of the Committee, our hero felt a strong repugnance to 
 become a prisoner again so soon; especially, as the exas 
 perated Rangers, (at a time when the civil law was but 
 little regarded by the soldiery,) might feel themselves 
 justified in inflicting a summary punishment, without the 
 ceremony of a trial. Weakened arid fatigued as he was 
 by toilsome marches, he could not contend against such 
 odds with any hope of success. Having weighed all these 
 circumstances in his rnind, he concluded that he would be 
 justified in appealing to the last resort; his present situa 
 tion being one of extremity. He, therefore, drew a small 
 
106 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 folded paper from a secret place within the lining of his 
 vest, and presented it to his interrogator. 
 
 "Read that, sir," said he, proudly, "and learn how 
 easy a thing it is to mistake a man s real character; and 
 how prone we are to suspect the innocent." 
 
 The two strangers perused the paper in silent astonish 
 ment; and, for a moment, appeared unwilling to credit their 
 own senses. At length, however, he who appeared to be 
 the principal, returned the paper, saying, 
 
 " 1 am satisfied, sir, that we have been mistaken in your 
 real character, for those signatures I know to be genuine; 
 and the writers certify that you are actually engaged in the 
 service of your country. But how is the mystery to be 
 explained? Why were you imprisoned by the orders of 
 these very men ?" 
 
 " Ask me no further questions, if you please," replied 
 Crosby, as he returned the pass to its secret depository. 
 " Be content to believe me a true whig, and in the service 
 of my country. But, above all, I most earnestly request 
 you as you wish well to the cause, never to disclose what 
 you have now learned to any human being." 
 
 So saying, he re-shouldered his pack; and, after eva 
 sively answering the numerous questions with which they 
 assailed him, he bade both a hasty "good evening," and 
 left them to wonder at the strangeness of the adventure. 
 He now felt convinced that it would not be prudent to 
 remain there for the night, as he had at first intended ; 
 and being somewhat refreshed by the short respite he had 
 enjoyed, he travelled onward, in search of a more eligible 
 asylum. 
 
 After proceeding more than two miles farther, he ven 
 tured to apply at another cottage, and renew his request 
 for accommodation; which, after much solicitation on his 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CBOSBY. 107 
 
 part, was, at length, reluctantly complied with by the 
 woman of the house. Here again he disencumbered him 
 self of his pack, and sat down, much fatigued with his 
 prolonged journey. 
 
 While inwardly congratulating himself on the happy 
 termination of that day s labours, arid fondly anticipating a 
 comfortable night s rest, his attention was caught by the 
 particular and suspicious manner with which he found him 
 self regarded by a man who had just entered, and taken 
 a seat by the fire. Crosby felt confident that he had some 
 where seen him before; but could not recall to mind the 
 place or circumstances; and began to feel somewhat 
 alarmed at the closeness of his scrutiny. At length, 
 Crosby spoke 
 
 "Somewhat cool, this evening, sir." 
 
 Without noticing this sagacious remark, the other started 
 on his feet, and exclaimed, with a bitterness of tone that 
 well corresponded with the ghastliness of the grin that 
 accompanied it. 
 
 "Now I know you! I thought I could not be mistaken. 
 
 You are the very d d rascal that betrayed us to the 
 
 rebel Committee, and caused our company to be taken and 
 confined in jail. Now sir, if you don t make yourself 
 scarce pretty d d quick, I will call one of my neigh 
 bours, who swears that, if ever he can lay eyes on you 
 again, he will take every drop of your heart s blood !" 
 
 Crosby made several efforts to reply, during the delivery 
 of this philippic ; but the other refused to hear a word he 
 had to say, and thus continued 
 
 " You shall leave this house immediately sir; but not till 
 I have had the satisfaction of pounding you !" 
 
 " Come on, sir," said our hero rising coolly from his 
 seat, and elevating himself to the full height of his manly 
 
108 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 statures while that of his antagonist appeared to dwindle 
 in the same proportion. u Come on, sir!" repeated he, 
 deliberately rolling up his sleeves, and displaying a pair of 
 muscular arms and bony fists of the most formidable di 
 mensions. " Come on I am ready to try you a pull." 
 
 But, from some cause or other, the host had suddenly 
 changed his mind, and appeared a little more inclined to 
 the side of mercy ; for, in a less elevated tone, he replied, 
 ! " I believe I will let you off this time, if you will leave 
 my house immediately, and never set your foot in it 
 again. 1 " 
 
 Tired and jaded as he was, Crosby thought it best to 
 comply ; and travelled another mile before he succeeded in 
 procuring lodgings for the night; but there he learned a 
 fact which induced him to change his plans immediately. 
 
 He had long been anxious to obtain a private interview 
 with the Committee; but dared not venture to Fishkill, 
 while Townsend remained in the village with his vigilant 
 Rangers. He now ascertained, however, that the corps 
 was on the other side of the river,(4) and resolved to profit 
 by the circumstance on the following morning. This de 
 termination he put in execution, and arrived at Duer s 
 residence on the succeeding evening, without interruption 
 or molestation. 
 
 After a long consultation, that gentleman advised him 
 to repair privately to a retired residence, on Wappinger s 
 Creek; the farm-house of an honest old Dutchman, and 
 there work at his trade for the family, and keep himself 
 concealed from observation, until further orders. 
 
 Being furnished with a complete set of tools for the pur 
 pose, he shouldered his pack, and proceeded to the desig 
 nated place ; where he soon found himself very comfort 
 ably situated, in the family of the friendly old Dutchman, 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 109 
 
 who had feet enough in his family to keep the shoemaker 
 in constant employment. [t is true, a large majority of 
 them were the property of females; but Crosby soon found, 
 by actual admeasurement, that the understanding of a 
 plump, round face, rosy-cheeked, country Dutch lass, is 
 not such a trifling appendage, as the same article appears 
 to be among our modern city belles; for, at the period of 
 which we are writing, the doctrine of Dr. Sitgreaves most 
 generally prevailed, that "the wider the base, the more 
 firm is the superstructure." 
 
 In this tranquil asylum he had continued but two day?, 
 when a letter from Duer, desiring his immediate attendance 
 on the committee, at Fishkiil, was handed him on his seat, 
 by a messenger sent express for that purpose. 
 
 The good old Dutchman, as well as every member of 
 his family, evinced much curiosity to know the purport of 
 this communication; which they knew, by some expres 
 sions that had fallen from the messenger, must have come 
 from high authority.; and our hero immediately rose, in 
 their estimation, at least one hundred per cent. Could he 
 have conversed with Mynheer, in the mother-tongue of the 
 latter, there is little doubt that he might now have " taken 
 his pick" among the daughters, with a good farm into the 
 bargain. 
 
 "Auch!" exclaimed the Dutchman, knocking the ashes 
 from his pipe; "You know tee shentlemen of tee army? 
 Vat for tey rite you ?" 
 
 "I suppose they want shoes for the soldiers," replied 
 Crosby, rising from his seat, and taking off his leather 
 apron, which he carefully spread over his unfinished work 
 and tools. " I understand that the poor fellows are all 
 barefoot, and there s a cold winter at hand. At all events, 
 10 
 
110 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 I must go and see; but will probably return time enough 
 to finish Catrine s shoes for Sunday." 
 
 " Now don t you disappoint me," cried the smiling girl, 
 with sparkling eyes, and one of her sweet insinuating 
 tones. "If you do, you ll be sorry." 
 
 "Tevil take tee shoes!" exclaimed the father, filling 
 his pipe again. " Vy you hotter tee shentlemen mit 
 shoes, ven he got bishness mit tee army? You know 
 Gitty ish shick pon tee ped, and vont vant hern till Christ 
 mas. But, dunder and blixem, man ! You vont trudge to 
 Vishkill mit Shank s mare. Here, you Hauns! Puckle 
 tee pest shaddle on Valdecker, and pring him to tee horse- 
 plock, tirectly you hear !" 
 
 Crosby was not very strenuous in declining this polite 
 arrangement of his friendly host; but was soon mounted, 
 and waving a farewell to the whole group, who had assem 
 bled in the yard to witness his departure, he struck his 
 pony into a gallop, and was soon out of sight. y 
 
 On reaching Fishkill, he immediately waited on Duer, 
 to learn the pleasure of the committee; who reminded him 
 that it would be extremely unsafe for him to remain in that 
 place long enough for the committee to hold a consultation ; 
 he therefore directed him to leave the village as secretly 
 as he entered it, and travel about three miles, in a north 
 east direction, to a place called Hopewell; there to inquire 
 for Dr. Miller, who kept a small retail druggist shop, where 
 one of the committee would meet him in the course of the 
 afternoon. j 
 
 In compliance with these instructions, Crosby again 
 mounted his Dutch pony, and soon found the residence of 
 the doctor, who happened to be absent from home, and 
 not expected back until evening. -, f 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. Ill 
 
 This information was communicated by a sprightly 
 smiling female, whose voice and figure struck Crosby as 
 not being entirely new to him; while some marked pe 
 culiarity in her manner of addressing him, evinced, on her 
 part, a reciprocal recognition. But it was in vain that he 
 tasked his recollection to elucidate the mystery; until, 
 with an arch smile, and an emphasis of much meaning, 
 she said 
 
 "If you wish any article from the shop, sir, 1 think I 
 can wait upon you to your satisfaction. Doctor Miller s 
 opiates, you recollect, are wonderfully powerful when 
 mixed with brandy. They have been known to put even 
 the vigilant Rangers to sleep." 
 
 "Is it possible!" exclaimed Crosby. "Are you then 
 the " 
 
 " Hush ! Not a word on that subject, for your life 1" 
 returned the damsel, in a low voice. " Those men by the 
 fire are not Rangers; but it might not be safe to expose 
 your real name in their hearing." She then added aloud, 
 " You had better take a seat by the fire, Mr. Brown ; as 
 the Doctor will not be home until dark." 
 
 Several of the neighbours were, as usual, collected 
 round the fire, at one end of the shop, discussing the news 
 and politics of the day. Crosby ventured to mingle with 
 the group; and not being personally known to either, had 
 the satisfaction -to hear his own adventures related, and 
 descanted on, with all those embellishments, variations, and 
 exaggerations, that ever accompany the verbal disposal of 
 retailed wonders. 
 
 " There can be no doubt," observed one, " that Sir 
 Henry Clinton obtained that information from Crosby. 
 
 How else could Knyphausen, and his d d Hessians 
 
 have known the way to Spiten-devil Creek ?(5) 
 
112 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 "Aye, and how the d 1, without the assistance of 
 
 some spy, could the regulars have known on which side 
 to attack the post on Laurel-Hill ?"(6) demanded another, 
 looking round him with an expression of triumph that 
 challenged contradiction. " The Dutchman s left column, 
 you know, bore all the brunt of the battle, and were pretty 
 decently peppered." 
 
 "Well, well," said a third, with a self-complacent smile, 
 and a knowing toss of the head ; " Every dog has his day. 
 But if Townsend ever gets the traitor in his clutches 
 again, he will soon dangle in the air, without judge or 
 jury." 
 
 " What sort of a fellow is this Crosby?" asked our hero, 
 addressing the last speaker. " Have you ever seen him? " 
 
 "O yes, I saw him at Fishkill. He is a little slender 
 artful looking fellow, of about five feet three. There s no 
 confining him; for he ll creep out of a knot hole; and I 
 have no doubt that all our late disasters may be attributed 
 to his secret intercourse with the enemy." 
 
 " It is shrewdly suspected," said Crosby, drily, "that 
 this fellow was at the bottom of the affair at Kipp s Bay." 
 
 " Very probably," said the other, forgetting the nature 
 of that affair ;(7) wherever there is a tory plot, you may 
 swear that Crosby is head -devil in the business." 
 
 " Whether at the head or tail," observed a third, "his 
 intrigues have given an unfortunate turn to our affairs. 
 Fort Washington and Fort Lee, are both in the hands of the 
 enemy.(8) The American army is retreating through the 
 Jerseys, and Howe is close upon their heels." 
 
 "But did nt Gooch do the neat thing?" exclaimed the 
 first speaker. 
 
 " Gooch ! Who the d 1 is he?" asked his friend. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 1 DJ 
 
 u Who is he! A full-blooded Yankee from Boston, and a 
 captain in Heath s division. During the attack on Fort 
 Washington, which was bravely defended by Colonel 
 Magaw, the commander-in-chief, who was across the 
 river, on the high bank at Fort Lee, was a spectator of the 
 whole affair. He wished to send a message across to 
 Magaw, and Gooch offered to be the bearer of it. He 
 ran down to the river jumped into a small boat pushed 
 over in style landed under the bank ran up to the fort, 
 and delivered the message came out ran and jumped 
 over the broken ground dodged the Hessians, some of 
 whom struck at him with their pieces, while others at 
 tempted to thrust him with their bayonets. But he 
 escaped through the whole got into his boat, and returned 
 to Fort Lee. (9) 
 
 "Was that message a recommendation to surrender?" 
 asked Crosby. 
 
 "So it is presumed," replied the other. "Magaw had 
 been summoned to surrender; but requested that he 
 might be allowed to consider until nine o clock the next 
 morning, before he gave a decisive answer. Only two 
 hours were granted, and Magaw replied that he would 
 defend the fort to the last moment. After receiving Wash 
 ington s message, however, the fort was surrendered: and 
 it would have been a useless waste of lives to hold out any 
 longer." 
 
 "Was our loss great?" asked Crosby. 
 
 "Not in killed and wounded;" returned the other; "but 
 the loss in prisoners was a serious blow indeed. It is said 
 they were marched to the city, and crowded into piisons 
 and sugar-houses, where they are now dying off by dozens; 
 so that probably very few of the poor fellows will ever get 
 home again." 
 
 10* 
 
114 THE SPY UNMASKED; OK 
 
 At this stage of the conversation, a gentleman entered 
 the shop; and, without noticing the speakers, advanced 
 to the counter, and ordered a phial of medicine. In this 
 new comer, our hero instantly recognized the person of 
 Jay, who had ridden from Fishkill on an elegant horse, 
 which was standing at the door. While the shopman was 
 waiting upon his customer, Crosby slipped out, and pre 
 tended to be admiring the noble animal, until his owner 
 approached to remount. Our hero politely held the stir 
 rup, while Jay seized that opportunity to whisper in his 
 
 "It will not do; there are too many observers in thi& 
 place. Return to the Dutchman s, and there wait for 
 further orders." 
 
 He then mounted; and was soon out of sight, on the 
 road to Fishkill. 
 
 On re-entering the shop, which he did without being per 
 ceived, Crosby discovered that his own person had^ been 
 the subject of remark, by the loungers present. 
 
 "His conversation and manners bespeak the gentleman," 
 observed the principal speaker. " I wonder who he is y 
 and what his business can be with Dr. Miller?*" 
 
 " He appears to be acquainted with Jay," said another; 
 " for I saw them whispering together at the horseblock. 7 
 
 On overhearing these remarks, Crosby began to feel 
 apprehensive, that if he remakied much longer, these vil 
 lage politicians might become more inquisitive than he 
 could wish. He therefore told the shopman that he would 
 call in the evening; then mounted his horsey and soon 
 found himself on the banks of Wappinger. 
 
 His host met him in the yard, in front of the cottage, 
 with his inseparable companion, the pipe, in his mouth. 
 
 "Veil, ten, sho you cot pack," said he, puffing a huge 
 volume of curling vapour from his mouth. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 115 
 
 "O yes," replied Crosby, dismounting. "There is no 
 difficulty in getting back, on such a horse as yours, when 
 his head is once turned towards home/ 
 
 "O yaw, Valdecker vill ride any potty right to mine 
 house. Here, Haunse! Take off tee shaddle, ant rup him 
 town mit a visp of shtrawj ant, to ye hear, Haunse! tont 
 let him trink till he coutchM coold." 
 
 "O there is no danger," returned Crosby ; "I have not 
 rode him hard. But how are the girls, and poor Gitty ?" 
 
 "Veil, she complains as she is leetle petter; put she 
 stood up, ven tinner vosh ready, pon tee ped, and ate pred, 
 mit putter py it." 
 
 By this time they had entered the house, where Crosby 
 was met by the smiling Catreen, who kindly welcomed 
 him back, and again reminded him of her Sunday shoes. 
 These he promised to attend to immediately; and, after 
 visiting Gitty in her room, resumed his seat, and pursued 
 his usual vocation. 
 
116 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 LIGHTS AND SHADOWS. 
 
 -Why then, you princes, 
 
 Do you, with cheeks abashed behold our works: 
 And think them shames, which are, indeed, nought else 
 But the protractive trials of great Jove, 
 To find persistive constancy in men. 
 
 Shakspeare. 
 
 THE political intelligence which Crosby gathered from 
 the conversation atHopewell, proved, alas! to be too true. 
 Forts Washington and Lee had fallen into the hands of the 
 enemy, and the Americans were retreating across the 
 Jerseys, closely pursued by the British; so closely "that 
 the rear of the army pulling down bridges, was often 
 within sight and shot ojp the van of the other, building 
 them up."" 
 
 At Newark, Washington asked Colonel Reed, "Should 
 we retreat to the back parts of Pennsylvania, will the Perm- 
 sylvanians support us?" 
 
 "That may depend upon contingencies," replied the 
 Colonel. "If the lower counties are subdued, and give 
 up, the back counties will doubtless do the same." 
 
 "My neck does not feel as though it was made for a 
 halter," returned Washington, passing his hand over it. 
 "We must repair to Augusta county, in Virginia. Num 
 bers will be obliged to repair to us for safety, and we must 
 try w.hat we can do in carrying on a predatory war; and, 
 if overpowered, we must cross the Alleghajiy mountains." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CEOS BY. 117 
 
 To increase the gloom which now shrouded his future 
 prospects, the hero, about this time, was deprived of one 
 of his most able coadjutors and active generals. The vete- 
 rqn Lee, while leading on his division to join the main ar 
 my, incautiously took up his lodgings at a house three or 
 four miles from his troops. This circumstance was imme 
 diately communicated, by some unprincipled tories, to 
 Colonel Harcourt, of the British light-horse, who resolved 
 to attempt his capture. Accordingly, with a detachment 
 of dragoons, he speedily surrounded the house; made Lee 
 his prisoner; and, not permitting hirn time to take his hat 
 and cloak, mounted him on a horse, and conveyed him to 
 New -York. 
 
 In the mean time, Carleton s army in Canada, after dri 
 ving the Americans from post to post, had made their ap 
 pearance before Ticonderoga. A naval engagement had 
 also taken place between the two fleets on Lake Champlain, 
 which continued about four hours, and then resulted in the 
 defeat of the Americans. The enemy, soon afterwards, 
 established himself at Crown Point, and strengthened the 
 fortifications; while Gates, with a corresponding ardour, 
 continued to increase the works of defence at Ticonderoga, 
 determined to give his neighbour a warm reception, if he 
 honoured him with a visit. 
 
 During the development of the foregoing transactions, 
 the Committee of Safety felt very anxious respecting the 
 state of affairs on the northern frontier. Frequent instan 
 ces had been reported to them, of persons, in that quarter, 
 being detected in enlisting soldiers for the tory regiments 
 in New-York. It had been already decreed, that every 
 person of this description, who might fall into the hands of 
 the Americans, should be tried by a court martial; and, if 
 found guilty, executed as a spy.(l) Some had already suf- 
 
118 THE SPY UNMASKED; <ttt 
 
 fered death under this law, and still the nefarious practice 
 was continued. Under such circumstances, the commit 
 tee deter mined to send Crosby to the north. 
 
 Our hero was still a member of the friendly Dutchman s 
 family* Gitty had recovered her health, and the Sunday 
 shoes of Catreen had been once displayed at church. 
 
 It was a cold morning near the close of December, and 
 at a very early hour, that Crosby received a communica 
 tion from the Committee of Safety, on the subject of this 
 Northern excursion. He had just resumed his seat on 
 what has been not unaptly termed St. Crispin s fiddle; for, 
 in the present instance, it not only resembled that instru 
 ment inform, but also in tone, as its unstable joints squeak 
 ed in unison to the music of the hammer and lapstone. 
 Such as it was, however, it was the manufacture of Cros 
 by s own hands ; exhibiting another evidence of that Yan 
 kee ingenuity which has since become proverbial in the 
 production of horn flints, wooden nutmegs, and artificial 
 pumpkin-seeds. 
 
 He had just taken his seat, and was attempting to soften a 
 roll of wax by the warmth of his own breath, when, casting 
 his eyes to the window, he saw a horseman at the gate, in 
 the act of dismounting from a white steed, of superior form 
 and dimensions. 
 
 The unusual clatter of an old iron knocker, which or 
 namented the front door of the building, soon announced 
 a message of more than ordinary import; on being admit 
 ted, however, the messenger appeared to have forgotten the 
 abject of his journey amid the more important concerns 
 of blowing his fingers, and warming his feet. But as soon 
 as such matters were perfectly arranged to his mind, he 
 took a letter from his pocket, and inquired for Jacob 
 Brown.(2) 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 1 19 
 
 * I answer to that name, for want of a better," quaintly 
 observed Crosby, waxing his thread. 
 
 "Then you are the man into whose hand I am directed 
 to deliver this letter. An answer is expected by those who 
 sent me." 
 
 Crosby broke the seal, perused the epistle, and then 
 wrote a brief reply, with which the messenger departed on 
 foot. This done, our hero repaired to the sleeping-room of 
 hi* host, who was yet in bed, and informed him that he 
 was under the necessity of leaving him immediately ; being 
 ordered to the north, on business that would admit of no 
 delay, and that a swift horse had been sent for the express 
 purpose of expediting his journey. 
 
 "Dunder!" exclaimed the other, starting up in his 
 bed. "Ten you vill not shtay mit us all tee Christmas 
 holidays. 
 
 "Not an hour," replied Crosby. 
 
 "Veil, den, shtay till I kit up, and Catreen kit tee break 
 fast by tee table. You must not ride pon your pelly empty 
 in tee coldt." 
 
 The whole family were soon mustered ; and, by the time 
 Crosby had completed his own preparations for the journey, 
 the table was loaded with hot buckwheat cakes, fried sausa 
 ges, and every other substantial argument with which a 
 Dutch farmer s larder is always liberally supplied. During 
 breakfast, our hero expressed his gratitude to every mem 
 ber of the family, for the kindness and hospitality which he 
 had uniformly received at their hands. 
 
 "Nonsense, man, nonsense!" exclaimed the generous 
 Dutchman. "Who vouldn t do tee same, ish no petter ash 
 nobody." 
 
 | After taking an affectionate leave of every member of 
 , the family, and slily saluting Catreen as he stooped to as- 
 
120 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 sist her in buckling his portmanteau, which she had liber 
 ally furnished with necessaries, Crosby left the hospitable 
 mansion, and mounted his horse. He then inquired of his 
 host, who had followed him to the gate, the most direct 
 road to Sharon. 
 
 "To Sharon? Val, you see dat road pon de hel?" point 
 ing in a northeast direction. 
 
 "O, yes, 1 see it." 
 
 "Val you musht not take dat roat. You see dis roat py 
 teecolabarak?" 
 
 "Yes, sir." 
 
 "Valj dat ish not tee roat. But you musht go right 
 straight py tee parn, and vere you see von roat dat crooks 
 just so see here," bending his elbow, and describing it 
 at the same time "and ven you kit dere, keep right along; 
 and you musht mind to come pack, and shtay all night mit 
 me, and malo done our Haunse s shoes. "(3) 
 
 In due time, Crosby found himself in the right road, and 
 mounted, upon an excellent horse. But the dreary season 
 of the year, and the consequent inclemency of the weather, 
 rendered the journey extremely unpleasant. In speaking 
 of this excursion, Crosby says 
 
 "I travelled as far as Bennington,(4) in Vermont, a dis 
 tance of one hundred and twenty-five miles, and suffered 
 much from the col j and severe storms I encountered, and 
 from riding on horseback, contrary to my usual habits. 
 Had it not been for expediting my journey, I should rather 
 have trusted to my legs." 
 
 The object of his journey, however, was accomplished; 
 for, besides detecting a number of secret enemies to the 
 country in that quarter, whom he caused to be apprehended 
 and brought to justice; he obtained such information, also, 
 as enabled him ultimately to surprise a company of them 
 much nearer home. 
 
ME310IRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 121 
 
 In the mean time, while Washington, with the main body 
 of the American army, was retreating through the Jerseys, 
 closely pursued by the enemy, General Heath, with his 
 division, remained to fortify and defend the Highlands, on 
 both sides the river. While attending to this arduous duty, 
 assisted by Lincoln, Wooster, Scott, and Ten Broeck, he 
 received the agreeable intelligence that Washington, who 
 had previously retreated over the Delaware, into Pennsyl 
 vania, had suddenly turned upon his pursuers with the most 
 .complete success. 
 
 Such an event was totally unexpected by the enemy, who 
 were reposing in confident security in Trenton, and other 
 parts of New-Jersey. They had been celebrating the fes 
 tival of Christmas with unusual satisfaction, occasionally 
 mingling in their libations some bitter sarcasms against the 
 flying Yankees. The mercenaries of Hesse, Waldecker, 
 and Hanover, who were posted at Trenton, were particular 
 ly elated on this occasion, as they fondly believed that then- 
 labours were now over, and the promised reward ready for 
 their acceptance. They imagined that they had at length 
 succeeded in driving the rebels from their country, and that 
 their houses and lands were to be immediately divided 
 among the Hessians for such had been the delusive tale 
 with which they had been flattered by their false-hearted 
 employers. 
 
 Under such impressions, they celebrated the birth of 
 the Sa"viour with unusual demonstrations of joy; and feast 
 ed, and drank, and laughed, and sang, until the night was 
 far spent. It was the Hessians Christmas banquet, 
 
 But, like the impious feast of Belshazzar, its termination 
 was to be fatal. The handwriting was already on the walj 
 of their air-built castle of success and security. In the 
 morning watch, the hero of Liberty came upon them like 
 
 11 
 
122 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 a thief, and few escaped. After a contest of half an hour, 
 those who had not fallen, surrendered to the victorious chief, 
 and his gallant little band of barefooted heroes. (5) 
 
 The news of this affair was like the first ray of sunshine 
 after a long dismal gloomy storm. It rejoiced the Com 
 mittee of Safety, elated and encouraged the army, and re 
 vived the drooping hopes of Americans in every section of 
 the country. 
 
 In the midst of their congratulations on this auspicious 
 event, the same gallant band stole a march upon the British 
 who were posted at Princeton, over whom they obtained 
 another complete victory. (6) 
 
 The tide of success which had so long flowed in favour 
 of the enemy, had now turned against them; while the 
 Americans, suddenly aroused from a state of despondency, 
 had become elated with joy; and, in their turn, pursued 
 their invaders with as much rapidity as they had recently 
 fled before them. Washington had always been popular; 
 he was now the idol of the army the acknowledged sa 
 viour of his country. 
 
 In order to take advantage of the general consternation 
 which these events had produced in the ranks of the enemy; 
 and, if possible, to drive them entirely out of the Jerseys, 
 Washington sent an express to Heath, whose head-quarters, 
 were at Peekskill, directing him to draw his forces from the 
 Highlands, (excepting a sufficient guard,) and march them 
 down through the "neutral ground," towards New- York, 
 as if he had a design upon the city. This manoeuvre had 
 the desired effect. The enemy became alarmed for the 
 safety of the city, and withdrew his forces to protect it. 
 
 Heath advanced down as far as Kingsbridge, where a 
 battle took place, without much advantage on either side. 
 He then retired to the fortresses of the Highlands, where 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 12 
 
 he retained the command until Washington ordered him to 
 take that of the eastern department, and hold his head 
 quarters at Boston. 
 
 Several other events of interest occurred about this pe 
 riod. General Dickenson, with four hundred militia, and 
 fifty Pennsylvania riflemen, defeated a British foraging par 
 ty of equal numbers, taking nine prisoners, one hundred 
 horses, forty wagons, besides a number of sheep and cattle. 
 Shortly after this affair, Colonel Neilson, of New-Bruns 
 wick, with a party of militia, defeated the British Major 
 Stockton, killed four of his men, and captured fifty-nine, 
 together with their commander. 
 
 Every such incident produced a beneficial effect on the 
 reviving hopes of America; and tended, not a little, to les 
 sen the mortification arising from several concomitant dis 
 asters; such as the enemy taking possession of Rhode- 
 Island; and also, their destroying some stores at Peekskill. 
 
 This latter affair, however, was of trifling import. Heath 
 had gone to Boston; and M Dougall. who commanded the 
 post at Peekskill, finding it prudent to retire, on the ap 
 proach of the enemy, the object of their expedition was 
 partially accomplished. But the gallant Willett, then a 
 Lieutenant-Colonel, with only sixty men, came upon the 
 enemy by surprise, and compelled them to retire with great 
 precipitation, on board their vessels in the North river, after 
 having suffered a considerable loss. 
 
124 THE SPY UMM ASKED; OR 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 QUAKER HILL. 
 
 Do you confess, twas not a thirst of honour 
 Drew you thus far; but hopes to share the spoil 
 Of conquered towns, and plundered provinces? 
 Fired with such motives, you do well to join 
 With Cato s foes, and follow Csesar s banners. 
 
 Addison. 
 
 WHILE the prospects of the American army were the 
 most gloomy, and the hopes of the people at the lowest ebb, 
 the two Howes, flushed with the rapid successes of the roy 
 al troops, had availed themselves of the occasion, and put 
 forth a second proclamation, granting pardons to all those 
 who should, within sixty days, subscribe a declaration to 
 remain peaceable, not to take up arms, nor encourage others 
 to act against the king s authority. At the same time, 
 they charged and commanded all who were assembled in 
 arms, against his majesty, to disband ; arid all legislative 
 assemblies, committees, &,c. to desist from their treasona 
 ble practices, and relinquish their usurped power, within 
 sixty days from the date of the proclamation. 
 
 In order to convince the friends of England that Crosby 
 was in the employment of Howe, the Committee of Safety, 
 previous to his journey to the north, had furnished him 
 copies of the foregoing proclamation, together with Howe s 
 former declaration, offering .rewards to such Americans as 
 would assist him in subjugating their fellow-countrymen. 
 
 By exhibiting these documents to such as were too wary 
 to avow their real sentiments, our hero was certain to gain 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY, 125 
 
 their confidence, which was all that was requisite to secure 
 their ultimate detection. It was not always easy to deter 
 mine who were genuine whigs, as hundreds assumed that 
 mask to conceal their real characters. But there was little 
 difficulty or danger in denouncing the cautious and the 
 wavering as tories. In a cause where the liberties of a 
 whole nation, and the lives and property of thousands, are 
 all at stake, "he who doubts is damn d." He that is not 
 for his country, is virtually operating against it. It was 
 to such persons that Crosby exhibited the British proclama 
 tions, and always with success. 
 
 But there were not wanting occasions of detecting the 
 blustering pretenders also. Crosb y had sufficient discern 
 ment, and had seen enough of human nature, to know 
 that hypocrisy is apt to overact its part. Under this im 
 pression, he frequently set his trap for some of the most 
 violent brawlers in the cause of liberty and always with 
 the same result for the mask of patriotism was instantly 
 thrown off, while the wearer would secretly confess to the 
 bearer of Howe s proclamation, that he was at heart a par- 
 lizan of Britain. 
 
 On returning from this excursion, while on his way to 
 Fishkill, our hero ascertained that a company of loyalists 
 was about being formed and organized at Pawling, a small 
 town in Duchess county, near the Connecticut line, and not 
 many miles distance from the scenes _of his boyish days, 
 
 To Pawling, therefore, he immediately repaired;,, where, 
 in the course of a fortnight, he succeeded in winning the 
 confidence of the recruiting officer; and, as usual, agreed 
 to become a member of the company. 
 
 In the centre of this town is an extensive valley, boun 
 ded by high hills on the east and west; and in the midst of 
 the valley is a great swamp, where Croton -river, Fishkill 
 
 u* 
 
126 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 creek, and some other streams, take their rise. On the 
 east side of the valley, a well known eminence, called 
 Quaker hill, rears its gigantic height, on which stands a 
 large old-fashioned Quaker meeting-house. 
 
 It was at a retired habitation, in the vicinity of this build 
 ing, that the newly-formed companies of tories were in the 
 habit of holding their secret meetings. Our hero, accor 
 dingly, made his arrangements, to have the whole corps, 
 himself included, taken into custody. Unwilling, how 
 ever, to trust himself again in the hands of the rangers, 
 and aware that his absence at the time of the capture, 
 would awaken the suspicions of his less fortunate comrades, 
 he applied to a Colonel Morehouse, who resided in the 
 vicinity, and requested his co-operation. This gentle 
 man had no immediate command, but promised to assem 
 ble and arm a sufficient number of men for this particular 
 occasion. 
 
 Accordingly, at the time appointed, the tories being all 
 collected at their usual rendezvous, two of the members 
 hastily entered, with some degree of consternation depicted 
 in their faces, one of whom addressed the captain 
 
 "Sir, there is a company of armed men collecting at 
 Colonel Morehouse s. What can be their object?" 
 
 "Are we betrayed! 1 exclaimed the Captain, looking 
 sternly round upon the company. "Can it be possible that 
 we have any traitors among us?" 
 
 "O iio;" replied the Lieutenant. "The probability is, 
 
 that the lower party are coming up to drive the d d 
 
 rebels off; and that Morehouse has collected this company 
 to oppose them." 
 
 "Some of you go out, and reconnoitre,"* said the Captain ; 
 "and if there be any apearance of danger, give us timely 
 notice." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CBOSBY. 127 
 
 Five or six immediately sallied forth, while their com 
 rades remained in anxious suspense for their report. This 
 suspense, however, was not of long duration; for the 
 challenge of "stand! surrender!" soon saluted the ears 
 of the whole party, and threw them into a state of con 
 sternation, dismay, and confusion, which it would be dif 
 ficult if not impossible to describe. Some sprang from 
 the windows, and attempted to conceal themselves by 
 plunging into snow-banks; others ran to the top of the 
 building, and secreted themselves under the eves of the 
 roof. Crosby retreated to an adjoining room, and crept 
 under a bed; but was soon dragged out, when he learned, 
 to his secret joy, that scarcely one of the party had suc 
 ceeded in making good his escape. Seeing his fellow- 
 captives undergoing the process of being bound, our hero 
 was immediately seized with such a severe lameness in one 
 of his limbs, as rendered it utterly impossible for him to 
 walk. 
 
 " I beg that you would not bind me," said he to the 
 Colonel: "for in attempting to escape I have sprained my 
 leg in a most shocking manner, and am not able to move a 
 step." 
 
 "Go you shall!" exclaimed the Colonel, preparing to 
 mount his horse. " Lame, or not lame, dead or alive, to 
 prison you go with the rest. If you cannot walk, you 
 shall be carried; here s a good horse, that will carry 
 double, and you shall be tied to the crupper." 
 
 So saying, the Colonel mounted, and ordered two of hi 
 men to raise up Crosby and seat him, straddle, on the 
 crupper behind him. The men instantly obeyed, withou 
 much tenderness for the sprained leg, of which the prisonei 
 bitterly complained. 
 
128 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 The whole cavalcade, horse and foot, now took up the 
 line of march, with their prisoners tied together in pairs. 
 On approaching the place of confinement, the Colonel 
 dropped in the rear, and in a whisper gave Crosby the 
 necessary directions for escaping. The escort halted in 
 two lines, between which the prisoners marched into the 
 building. While every eye was fixed upon the procession, 
 Crosby slipped from the Colonel s horse, and disappeared ; 
 nor was his absence noticed for several minates ; so that 
 all search for the fugitive was* rendered unavailing.(l) 
 
 From Pawling, Crosby made his way to Patterson, a 
 few miles further south j but "finding no game in that 
 quarter," he concluded to repair to Fishkill for further 
 orders. On reaching that place, and obtaining a private 
 interview with the Committee, they informed him that the 
 service on which they next wished to employ him, would 
 expose him to the danger of taking the small-pox, which 
 then prevailed in various sections of the country. They 
 therefore wished him to repair to Dr. Miller s, and receive 
 the disorder by inoculation; to which proposition he very 
 readily assented. Being furnished by the Committee with 
 a letter of introduction, together with the necessary 
 funds in "continental," he immediately waited on the 
 Doctor for that purpose. The process was so favourable, 
 that the patient was confined but a few days. 
 
 As soon as he was pronounced fit for duty, the Com 
 mittee requested Crosby to visit the city of Albany, and 
 the town of Claverack,(2) upon special business with 
 Colonel Van Ness. Of the purport of this mission, or the 
 time it occupied, we have not been informed : but during 
 the absence of their agent, the Committee of Safety was 
 dissolved ,(3) and two Commissioners appointed in their 
 stead; viz. Captain M. Smith, and a Mr. Benson, 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 129 
 
 At Claverack, Crosby remained some time, acting as an 
 agent, in transferring the property which had been left by 
 those tories who had joined the enemy, into the hands of 
 such as had abandoned their own property, in order to 
 escape from the British. " This course," says Crosby, 
 "had a very beneficial effect; as the tories soon became 
 tired of leaving their property to the enjoyment of other 
 people." 
 
 On returning to the vicinity of the "Neutral Ground," 
 our hero resumed his former vocation of ferreting out such 
 tories as were concerting plans to aid the common enemy, 
 and causing them to be brought to justice. But such was 
 the result of his ingenuity and address, that his plans 
 were always so contrived as to leave an impression on the 
 minds of his victims, that he was one of their warmest 
 adherents. He was frequently taken and imprisoned with 
 the rest; but always escaped, and in such a mysterious, 
 inexplicable, wonderful mariner, as occasionally elicited 
 from some good old Dutch matron, a dark hint, or an 
 " ambiguous giving-out," that Enoch Crosby had entered 
 into a solemn covenant with a certain being whose name 
 shall not sully our pages. 
 
 Through the medium of the tories, whose confidence in 
 our hero s loyalty was every day strengthened by the risks 
 he run to serve their cause, he obtained much valuable 
 intelligence respecting the contemplated movements of the 
 lower party. This he always found means to communi 
 cate to the Commissioners, who as regularly transmitted 
 the same to head-quarters. 
 
 The year 1777 \vas distinguished by many events, 
 highly interesting to those who were engaged in the glo 
 rious struggle for American freedom ; and there is little 
 doubt that in the development of several, the unseen 
 agency of Crosby produced the most auspicious results. 
 
130 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Among the fortunate incidents of the year, may be enu 
 merated the brilliant success of Colonel Meigs, at Sag- 
 Harbour, on Long-Island ;(4) the capture of the British 
 General Prescott, by Colonel Barton, of Providence, 
 R. I.;(5) Colonel Willett s successful sally from Fort Stan- 
 wix, since called Fort Schuyler;(6) General Stark s vic 
 tory at Bennington;(7) Colonel Brown s success at Lake 
 George and Ticonderoga ;(8) the battles of Saratoga and 
 Still water ;(9) the defeat of the Hessians at Red Bank, by 
 Colonel Greene ;( 10) and, finally, the surrender of General 
 Burgoyne, with his whole army, to General Gates. (11) 
 
 But this life, alas ! is a chequered scene, and the cur 
 rent of human affairs seldom runs smooth. As a set off 
 to the foregoing, the Americans had to deplore a series of 
 disasters. The most important of these were, the un 
 successful battles of Brandy wine and Germantown;(12) 
 Wayne s defeat at Paoli;(13) Warner s defeat at Hubbards- 
 town, in Vermont ;( 14) Herkimers defeat while marching 
 to the relief of Fort Stanwix;(15) the plundering and burn 
 ing of Danbury, in Connecticut, and the consequent battle, 
 in which General Wooster was mortally wounded, and a 
 number of Crosby s old friends and fellow-soldiers slain ;(16) 
 the occupation of Philadelphia by the enemy; the capture 
 of Fort Montgomery ;( 17) and the wanton conflagration 
 of the continental village of Esopus, and Livingston s 
 manor. 
 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 131 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE SPY UNMASKED. 
 
 Fictitious characters aside are thrown, 
 And epilogues are given in their own. 
 
 \Pletyer s Manual. 
 
 INTRIGUE and stratagem in war, are not only justifiable, 
 but absolutely necessary; and he who proves the greatest 
 adept in these, will eventually pluck the laurel from the 
 brow of his opponent. But that man must possess more 
 art, ingenuity, and address, than generally falls to the 
 share of an individual, who can support a fictitious political 
 character for months, and even years, without being com 
 pelled, sooner or later, to throw off the mask, and to stand 
 exposed in his own proper person. 
 
 Such, at length, proved to be the destiny of our hero. 
 The mysterions and inexplicable exits, by which he uni 
 formly eluded the fate and penalties of his less fortunate 
 companions, began to excite suspicions, which were not 
 long in receiving confirmation. The loyalists naturally 
 concluded that there was something more in this than 
 mere chance and good luck, if their philosophy could only 
 find it out; and by consulting on the subject, collating cir 
 cumstances, and comparing notes, they at length came to 
 the conclusion that Enoch Crosby, instead of being what 
 he pretended, a friend to the king, was in fact an American 
 Spy; and unanimously resolved to take a summary and 
 exemplary vengeance on the delinquent. 
 
132 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Aware of the threatening storm, Crosby thought it pru 
 dent to retreat from its fury. He had a brother-in-law, 
 residing in the Highlands, to whom he had lately imparted 
 the secret of the part he had been playing, for the pur 
 pose of relieving his parents from the burden of anxiety 
 under which they had so long laboured. He therefore 
 concluded to retire to the Highlands, and remain with his 
 relation, until he could procure a respectable situation in 
 the army of Washington. 
 
 But he was watched, by his new enemies, more closely 
 than he had anticipated ; and, on the second day of his re 
 tirement, was fired at through a window, by some person in 
 ambush on the outside of the house. The ball just grazed 
 his neck, and lacerated the collar of his coat; it then 
 buried itself in an opposite wainscot, where the perforation 
 is still to be seen. But, on the strictest search, no traces 
 of the assailant could be discovered. 
 
 Our hero was now compelled to be very circumspect and 
 guarded in his movements; seldom venturing to show him 
 self on the outside of the dwelling, and constantly sleeping 
 in a retired back room, with a loaded musket at hand. 
 But what precaution can elude the subtility of determined 
 vengeance? 
 
 "A few nights subsequent to the foregoing incident," 
 says Crosby, in relating this circumstance to the compiler, 
 11 an armed gang came to the house of my brother-in-law, 
 burst open the door, dragged him from his bed, and de 
 manded where I was to be found. On his refusing to tell 
 them, they commenced beating him until they had almost 
 killed him. Perceiving that there was no alternative left 
 him, but either to die under their hands, or to inform them 
 where I slept, he directed them to my room, which v they 
 entered with the fury of demons. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 133 
 
 "I now awoke, out of a sound sleep, when the first object 
 that met my view, was a large hideous looking fellow, 
 coming at me, with a light in one hand, and a drawn pistol 
 in the other. I immediately sprang from my bed; but, 
 before I could reach my gun, he discharged his pistol at 
 me happily without effect. I instantly returned his fire; 
 but, being in a scuffle, my aim was imperfect, and the shot, 
 of course, ineffectual. I then grappled with him, and soon 
 had him on the floor, completely at my mercy. 
 
 " At this moment, however, finding myself, amidst the 
 smoke and confusion, assailed by three others, I was obliged 
 to relinquish my fallen enemy, who sprang upon his feet, 
 while I was defending myself against this formidable rein 
 forcement. Two of them at length succeeded in making 
 themselves masters of my hands and arms, which they 
 held extended, while a third presented a pistol to my breast, 
 with the manifest intention of blowing me through the 
 body. But. this was prevented by the humane interference 
 of him who had just recovered his feet, 
 
 " Don t shoot the d d rascal 1 . exclaimed he. Let 
 
 us pound him to death ! 
 
 "And, sure enough, at it they went; but soon found 
 that I had hands and feet as well as themselves. More 
 than one of them was saluted with a kick in the wind- 
 chest, that shortened his breath; and, notwithstanding their 
 superior numbers, several of them got a flooring, from a 
 pair of fists that had seen some service. 
 
 "But they finally proved too powerful for me; when, 
 exhausted with exertion and loss of blood, I fell on the floor 
 in a state of insensibility." 
 
 Supposing that they had now consummated their bloody 
 purpose, these merciless marauders left their senseless vic 
 tim weltering in his gore, and returned to the apartment of 
 
 12 
 
134 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 his brother-in-law, who was not in a much more enviable 
 situation; while the shrieks of women, and the cries of 
 children, added to the distress and confusion of the scene. 
 
 The villains then proceeded to plunder the house. They 
 broke open every drawer and closet they could find ; and 
 not a single portable article, of the most trifling value, was 
 left behind. Among other things, they took the clothes 
 and musket of our fallen hero, together with a sum of 
 money belonging to his brother-in-law. They then de 
 parted with their booty, leaving the family in a situation 
 that baffles description.(l) 
 
 But these midnight assassins had happily thought more 
 of their plunder, than of their personal safety. The re 
 port of fire-arms had alarmed the neighbours, who hastily 
 assembled and pursued the retreating ruffians, whom they 
 finally overtook on the bank of the Croton. They were 
 considered as outlaws, undeserving of quarter. Those who 
 escaped the fire of their pursuers, were driven into the 
 river, and several of them drowned! On the fall of the 
 stream, in the ensuing spring, the musket of our hero, with 
 some other articles, were found and restored. 
 
 Crosby recovered very slowly from his wounds and 
 bruises, so that it was several months before he was fit for 
 active duty of any kind. The health of his brother-in-law 
 was much more speedily restored ; but the event itself was 
 one of too much consequence to every individual con 
 cerned, to be easily forgotten. 
 
 In the mean time, through the influence of the Marquis 
 Lafayette, an alliance had been formed between France 
 and the United States of America. This event gave a 
 new and brighter aspect to affairs; and was soon followed 
 by the active co-operation of a French army and fleet. 
 Lafayette himself had been appointed a major-general, by 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 135 
 
 Congress, at an early period of the war; but, as yet, held 
 no separate command. He had, however, distinguished 
 himself, in several engagement?, by the side of Washington- 
 and, at the battle of Brandy wine, received a severe wound. 
 While posted at Barren-Hill, in Pennsylvania, with a 
 detachment of two thousand five hundred men, an attempt 
 was made by General Grant, at the head of seven thousand 
 British troops, to surprise him. But the Marquis defeated 
 his design by a masterly retreat, which did him much 
 honour. He also acted a conspicuous part at the battle 
 of Monmouth,(2) where victory perched on the standard 
 of freedom. 
 
 Time rolled its ceaseless course, and the great contest 
 was continued with various success; dame Fortune some 
 times smiling on one party, and sometimes on the other. 
 While the enemy could boast of his successful depredations 
 at Rhode-Island, Egg-Harbour, Nantucket, New-Haven, 
 and various other places, the Americans could congratu 
 late themselves on Wayne s glorious victory at Stony- 
 Point ;(3) the enemy s repulse at Rhode-Island, by General 
 Sullivan ;(4) and on the success of Major Lee, at Powles 1 
 Hook. (5) Although they had to deplore the unfortunate 
 surprise of Colonel Baylor, at Tappan, by the British 
 Genera] Gray, who ordered no quarter to be given to the 
 Americans; yet they had the consolation of several bril 
 liant achievements, on their own part, which were unsul 
 lied by a single act of inhumanity, or a drop of needless 
 blood. 
 
 The history of our hero furnishes no event of interest, 
 since the midnight assault of his enemies, until we find 
 him holding a subordinate command in the elegant corps 
 of the Marquis Lafayette. 
 
 
136 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 Two brigades had been selected from the different regi 
 ments in the main army, by Washington himself, as a com 
 pliment to his gallant young friend, and fellow-labourer 
 in the glorious cause of liberty. When duly organized, 
 they were paraded and reviewed by the commander-in- 
 chief, with all his general officers, who were unanimously 
 of the opinion that the whole army could not furnish a 
 more excellent corps of light infantry. They were then 
 presented, in form, to the young marquis, who was so de 
 lighted with his command, that he immediately equipped 
 them at his own individual expense, in a style of superior 
 elegance. To every officer he presented an elegant sword, 
 and the privates were clothed in a beautiful uniform. 
 " He infused into this corps a spirit of pride and emulation, 
 viewing it as one formed and modelled according to his 
 own wishes, and as deserving his highest confidence. 
 They were the pride of his heart he was the idol of 
 their regard. They were constantly panting for an oppor 
 tunity of accomplishing some signal achievement worthy 
 of his and their character, and their wishes were ultimately 
 gratified." 
 
 A detachment from this corps, commanded by Colonel 
 Van Cortlandt, was stationed on the east side the Hudson, 
 to manoeuvre on the "Neutral Ground," where the inhab 
 itants were now continually exposed to the ravages and 
 insults of refugees and tories. One company of this de 
 tachment was commanded by Crosby, during the absence 
 of his captain to the north; and was not unfrequently en 
 gaged in some interesting affair with the enemy s outposts 
 and patroles. 
 
 The situation of the "Neutral Ground," at this period, 
 was painfully interesting to the patriot as well as the phi 
 lanthropist. The country was rich and fertile, and the 
 
MEMOIRS OP ENOCH CROSBY. 137 
 
 farms appeared to have been advantageously cultivated; 
 but it now wore the marks of a country in ruins. A large 
 proportion of the proprietors having abandoned their farms, 
 the few that remained, found it impossible to harvest the 
 produce. The meadows and pastures were covered with 
 grass of a summer s* growth, and thousands of bushels of 
 apples and other fruit were ripening on the trees, for no 
 other purpose than to fall and rot on the ground! 
 
 The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth, 
 The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, 
 Wanting the scythe, all uncorrected, rank, 
 Conceives by idleness: and nothing teems, 
 Cut hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs, 
 Losing both beauty and utility. 
 And as our vineyards, fallows, meads, and hedges, 
 Defective in their natures, grow in wildness. 
 
 Shafcs. Hen. V. 
 
 Those of the inhabitants of the " Neutral Ground" who 
 were lories, had joined their friends in New-York; while 
 the whigs had retired into the interior of the country. 
 Some of each side had taken up arms, and were now the 
 most cruel and deadly foes. Within the British line, were 
 hordes of banditti, consisting of lawless villains, who de 
 voted themselves to the most rapacious pillage and robbery 
 among the defenceless inhabitants between the lines, many 
 of whom were dragged off to New- York, after witnessing 
 the plunder of their houses and farms. These shameless 
 marauders were known v by the names of cow-boys and 
 refugees; who, by their atrocious deeds, had become a 
 scourge and terror to the people. 
 
 In the vicinity of the American lines, was another class 
 
 of robbers, equally unprincipled, but still more criminal, 
 
 because they committed their depredations under the mask 
 
 of patriotism, These were called skinners, and professed 
 
 12* 
 
138 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 to be whigs; while the cow-boys claimed the title of loy 
 alists. The lust of plunder alone was the governing 
 impulse of each. 
 
 Numerous instances occurred of these miscreants sub 
 jecting defenceless persons to cruel tortures, to compel 
 them to deliver up their money, or to disclose the places 
 where it had been secreted. It was not uncommon for 
 them to hang a man by his neck till apparently lifeless ;(6) 
 then restore him; repeat the experiment, and leave him for 
 dead. 
 
 While Crosby was on duty in the vicinity of Teller s 
 Point, where the waters of the Croton empty into Tappan 
 Bay, a British sloop of war came up the river and anchored 
 in the stream, opposite the Point. With an unconquerable 
 predilection for stratagem, our hero immediately concerted 
 a plot, for the sole purpose, as he says, of affording "a 
 little sport for his soldiers." He, accordingly proceeded 
 down to the Point, accompanied by six men; five of whom, 
 besides himself, concealed themselves in the woods, which 
 grew a short distance from the shore, while the other para 
 ded the beach, so as to display Lafayette s uniform in so 
 conspicuous a manner as to attract the notice of the officers 
 on board the vessel. 
 
 The enemy swallowed the bait; and a boat soon put off 
 from the sloop of war, manned with eleven men, under the 
 command of a lieutenant, to make a prisoner of this one 
 yankee, who precipitately fled into the woods, as the barge 
 approached the shore. The Englishmen followed, threaten 
 ing to shoot the fugitive unless he stopped and surrendered. 
 
 As soon as the pursuers had passed his own little party, 
 which were scattered in various directions, Crosby ex 
 claimed 
 
 " Come on, my boys ! Now we have them !" 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 139 
 
 At this signal every man sprang up in his place, with 
 a shout that made the welkin ring; making, at the same 
 time, such a rustling in the bushes, that the British, 
 thinking themselves surrounded by a superior force, sur 
 rendered without resistance. On the next day they were 
 inarched to Fishkill, and confined in the old Dutch 
 church. 
 
 Van Cortlandt s detachment was small; but by a well- 
 managed finesse, he often succeeded in deceiving the ene 
 my, as to its real numbers. He would occasionally ap 
 proach the British lines; and, posting his men in scattered 
 positions, among the hills, cause each squad to beat to arms 
 successively. They would then show themselves to the 
 British, and manoeuvre in such a manner as to appear like 
 reinforcements coming down to join the main body. This 
 ruse de guerre often deterred the enemy from pursuing his 
 predatory excursions against the defenceless inhabitants of 
 the "Neutral Ground." 
 
 Van Cortlandt s detachment, however, was at length or 
 dered to West Point, and from thence to the main army at 
 Tappan, in New-Jersey ; where Crosby remained until his 
 stipulated term of service had expired. In the mean time, 
 the following incident occurred, for the authenticity of 
 which we have the testimony of Van Cortlandt himself; 
 although the particulars, it is believed, have never before 
 been published. 
 
 A young man, of Peekskill, by the name of John Pauld 
 ing, while serving his country in the Westchester militia, 
 was taken prisoner, and sent to the city of New- York. Whe 
 ther he was confined in a sugar-house, or the provost(7) 
 as it was then called, we have not been informed; nor do 
 we know the length of time he remained a captive. It was 
 in the summer of 1780, however, about the period that a 
 celebrated satirical poem was published in New-York, en- 
 
140 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 titled the "Cow-Chase,"(8) from the pen of John Andre, 
 adjutant-general in the British army. 
 
 Though vigilantly watched, Paulding was allowed the 
 liberty of his prison-yard, a capacious enclosure surroun 
 ded by a strong high fence. By bribing a coloured woman, 
 who lived in the vicinity, to furnish him with a ladder, 
 he one night effected his escape from the yard; and, after 
 remaining concealed sometime in her cellar, succeeded in 
 reaching the North River, undiscovered. Here he found 
 a boat, and finally landed in safety, on the Jersey shore, 
 near Hoboken. He then made the best of his way to 
 the American army at Tappan, where he related his ad 
 venture to his fellow-townsman, Colonel Van Cortlandt, 
 whose assistance he solicited, in proceeding to Peekskill. 
 Van Cortlandt, accordingly, supplied him with money, 
 furnished him with a pass, and procured him a passage 
 across the river. 
 
 After landing on the eastern side of the Hudson, Pauld 
 ing directed his course homeward; but had not proceeded 
 far, when he met two of his former companions in arms, 
 David Williams and [saac Van Wert; who hailed his re 
 turn with joy, and heartily congratulated him on his fortu 
 nate escape, After some conversationj they prevailed upon 
 Paulding to relinquish his intention of going directly to 
 Peekskill, and to accompany them on an excursion down 
 the "Neutral Ground," towards the British lines, where 
 they were going, they said, "to have some fun with the 
 cow-boys." Young and enterprising Paulding readily ac 
 ceded to the proposal ; and, after providing himself with a 
 musket, and other requisites, he accompanied his reckless 
 associates to Tarrytown, where they achieved an adven 
 ture that immortalized their names, and saved their country 
 from inevitable ruin. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 141 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE SPY AND THE TRAITOR. 
 
 -Is there not some chosen curse, 
 
 Some hidden thunder in the stores of heaven, 
 Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the man 
 Who owes his greatness to his country s ruin! 
 
 Addison, 
 
 ABOUT the middle of September, the commander-in- 
 chief, attended by Generals Lafayette and Knox, with a 
 splendid retinue, left the American camp in New-Jersey, 
 and proceeded to Hertford, in Connecticut, for the purpose 
 of holding a conference with the commanding officers of 
 the French fleet and army, which had lately arrived at 
 Rhode Island. In the mean time, the command of the 
 American army devolved on Major-General Greene, whose 
 head-quarters were at Tappan, where the corps to which 
 Crosby was attached, was now stationed. 
 
 A week had elapsed since the departure of Washington, 
 and no incident of importance had occurred. Greene had 
 learned, through the medium of his spies, that some secret 
 expedition was on foot, at the city of New- York ; but of its 
 nature and direction, he could not obtain the smallest hint. 
 On the ninth day, however, at three o clock in the morning, 
 an alarm was spread through the American camp; and, in 
 a few minutes, all were under arms. A detachment, con 
 sisting of two regiments, was immediately ordered to march 
 to West Point, with all possible expedition ; and the rest 
 of the troops were directed to hold themselves in readiness 
 to march at a moment s warning. 
 
142 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 While every one was pondering in his own mind the 
 probable object of this sudden movement, and vainly en 
 deavoring to conjecture the cause, a general order was pro 
 mulgated, which soon explained it to the whole army, 
 filling every breast with astonishment and indignation. 
 The following communication, in the orders of General 
 Greene, was read by the Adjutants to their respective re 
 giments : 
 
 "Treason, of the blackest dye, was yesterday discovered. 
 General Arnold, who commanded at West Point, lost to 
 every sentiment of honour, of private and public obliga 
 tion, was about to deliver up that important post into the 
 hands of the enemy. Such an event must have given the 
 American cause a dangerous, if not a fatal, wound. Hap 
 pily the treason has been timely discovered, to prevent the 
 fatal misfortune. The providential train of circumstan 
 ces, which led to it, affords the most convincing proofs that 
 the liberties of America are the object of divine protection. 
 At the same time that the treason is to be regretted, the 
 General cannot help congratulating the army on the happy 
 discovery. Our enemies, despairing of carrying their 
 point by force, are practising every base art to effect, by 
 bribery and corruption, what they cannot accomplish in a 
 manly way. 
 
 "Great honour is due to the American army, that this is 
 the first instance of treason of the kind, where many were 
 to be expected from the nature of our dispute. The bright 
 est ornament in the character of the American soldiers is, 
 their having been proof against all the arts and seductions 
 of an insiduous enemy. 
 
 "Arnold has made his escape to the enemy; but Major 
 Andre, the Adjutant-General of the British army, who came 
 out, as a spy, to negotiate the business, is our prisoner." 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CBOSBY. 143 
 
 The particulars of Andre s arrest and trial are familiar 
 to every reader.(l) Lieutenant-Colonel Jameson was then 
 the commanding officer on the American lines, above the 
 neutral ground; and to him was Andre conducted by his 
 incorruptible captors, Paulding, Van Wert, and Williams; 
 whom in our last chapter, we left on their way to Tarry- 
 town. The prisoner immediately requested Jameson to 
 inform Arnold, by letter, that John Anderson was taken 
 on his way to New-York, with which request the Lieuten 
 ant-Colonel immediately complied. Arnold received the 
 letter about ten o clock in the morning, while at break 
 fast. Two of Washington s aids, Major Shaw and Dr. 
 M Henry, had just arrived, and were at breakfast at Ar 
 nold s table. His confusion was visible, but no one could 
 divine the cause. 
 
 Struck with the pressing danger of his situation, momen 
 tarily expecting Washington s return from Hartford, the 
 traitor called instantly for a horse. 
 
 "A horse !" exclaimed he, as he started from the table. 
 "Any one even if a wagon horse!" 
 
 He then bade a hasty adieu to his wife, and enjoined a 
 positive 9rder on the messenger not to inform any one that 
 he was the bearer of a letter from Colonel Jameson, he re 
 paired to his barge, and ordered the coxswain, with eight 
 oarsmen, to proceed down the river, to the sloop-of-war 
 Vulture, which he reached in safety, under the protection of 
 a flag, and which immediately set sail for New-York. 
 
 Washington arrived at Arnold s quarters in two hours 
 after the traitor had escaped. Not finding Arnold at home, 
 and being informed that he had gone to West Point, Wash 
 ington passed over the river to view the works at that post; 
 but not finding Arnold, he returned, in the hope of meeting 
 
144 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 him at his quarters. But here he was again disappointed, 
 for no person could account for his absence. 
 
 Mrs. Arnold was now in her chamber, in great agitation 
 and distress, deprived of her reason, and Dr. Eustis in at 
 tendance. At a lucid interval, she requested to see Wash 
 ington; but by the time he reached the chamber, her dis 
 traction returned, and she knew him not. He then with 
 drew, and repairing to (he dining-room, sat down to dinner, 
 but soon arose again with apparent agitation. He then 
 took Colonel Lamb aside, and expressed to him his suspi 
 cion that Arnold had deserted to the enemy. In less than 
 two hours it was ascertained that the conjecture was too 
 well founded; fora despatch arrived from Col. Jameson, 
 with an account of the capture of Andre, accompanied by 
 his own letter of confession. The prisoner was conducted 
 to West Point, and from thence to head-quarters at Tappan, 
 where preparations were made for his trial by a court- 
 martial. 
 
 Washington immediately proceeded to the camp, at Tap- 
 pan ; and, the moment he arrived, sent for Major Lee, who 
 was posted, with the Virginia light-horse, some distance in 
 front. "This officer repaired to head-quarters with celer 
 ity, and found the General in his marquee alone, busily en 
 gaged in writing. So soon as Lee entered, he was reques 
 ted to take a seat, and a bundle of papers, lying on the table, 
 was given to him for perusal. 
 
 "In these papers, much information was detailed, tending 
 to prove that Arnold was not alone in the base conspiracy 
 just detected ; but that the poison had spread and that a 
 Major-General whose name was not concealed, was certain 
 ly as guilty as Arnold himself. 
 
 "This information had just been received by Washington, 
 through his confidential agents in New- York j and Lee in> 
 
MMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 145 
 
 mediately suggested the probability that the whole was a 
 contrivance of Sir Henry Clinton, in order to destroy that 
 confidence between the commander and his officers, on 
 which the success of military operations depend. 
 
 " The suggestion, replied Washington, is plausible, and 
 deserves due consideration. It early occurred to my own 
 mind, and has not been slightly regarded. But the same 
 suggestion applies to no officer more forcibly than a few 
 days ago it would have done to General Arnold, now known 
 to be a traitor. 
 
 " I have sent for you, sir, in the expectation that you have 
 in your corps individuals capable and willing to undertake 
 an indispensable, delicate, and hazardous project. Whoev 
 er comes forward on this occasion, will lay me under great 
 obligations personally; and, in behalf of the United States, 
 I will reward him amply. No time is to be lost; he must 
 proceed, if possible, this night. My object is to probe to 
 the bottom the afflicting intelligence contained in the papers 
 you have just read, to seize Arnold, and, by getting him, to 
 save Andre. They are all connected. While my emissa 
 ry is engaged in preparing means for the seizure of Arnold, 
 the guilt of others can be traced ; and the timely delivery 
 of Arnold to me, will possibly put it into my power 
 to restore the amiable and unfortunate Andre to his 
 friends."(2) 
 
 Lee readily undertook to find a member of his corps 
 capable of executing this hazardous service, but doubted 
 whether he would consent to engage in an enterprise, the 
 first step to which was desertion. The person he selected 
 was the Sergeant-Major of the corps, Champe by name, and 
 a Virginian by birth ; who, after much persuasion, consen 
 ted to undertake it. He that night deserted to the enemy ; 
 and, though closely pursued, reached Powles 1 Hook in ^tfe- 
 13 
 
146 
 
 OR 
 
 ty, and was taken on board a British galley, which convey 
 ed him to New- York, where he was closely examined by 
 Sir Henry Clinton, who gave him a le/er of introduction 
 to Arnold, who immediately appointed him one of his re 
 cruiting sergeants. 
 
 In the mean time, the interposition of Sir Henry Clin 
 ton who was extremely anxious to save his much-loved aid- 
 de-camp, still continued; and it was expected that the ex 
 amination of witnesses, and the defence of the prisoner, 
 would protract the decision of the court of inquiry, which 
 assembled on the twenty-ninth of the month, and give suf 
 ficient time for the consummation of the project commit 
 ted to Champe, from whom information had just been re 
 ceived that gave some hopes of his success. 
 
 But a complete disappointment took place from a quarter 
 unforseen and unexpected. Andre disdained defence, and 
 prevented the examination of witnesses, by confessing the 
 character in which he stood. He was consequently de 
 clared to be a spy, and condemned to suffer accordingly. 
 
 Washington approved the sentence, and ordered his exe 
 cution to take place on the first day of October, at five 
 oVlock in the afternoon. In this decision he w*as warran 
 ted by the very unpromising intelligence contained in ano 
 ther letter from Champe, which he had just received; by 
 the still existing implication of other officers in Arnold s 
 conspiracy; by a due regard to public opinion; and by real 
 tenderness to the prisoner himself. 
 
 Neither Congress nor the nation could have been, with 
 propriety, informed of the cause of the delay, had any 
 been interposed; and without such information, it must 
 have excited in both, alarm and suspicion. The secret was 
 known to none but Washington, Lee, Champe, and a confi 
 dential agent in New- York. Andre himself could not have 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 147 
 
 been intrusted with it; and would, consequently, have at 
 tributed the unlooked-for event to the expostulation and 
 exertion of Sir Henry Clinton, which would not fail 
 to produce in his breast expectations of ultimate relief ; to 
 excite which would have been cruel, as the realization of 
 such expectation depended only on a possible, but improba 
 ble, contingency. 
 
 On the first day of October, at the hour appointed, a 
 large concourse of people assembled to witness the execu 
 tion of the gallant and unfortunate young officer. The 
 gallows was erected, and the grave and coffin prepared ; 
 but a flag-of-truce arrived with a communication from Sir 
 Henry Clinton, making another and further proposals for 
 the release of Major Andre ; in consequence of which the 
 execution was postponed until twelve o clock on the follow 
 ing day 
 
 This flag was accompanied by the British General Ro 
 bertson, with Andrew Elliott and William Smith, Esquires, 
 for the purpose of pleading for the release of Major Andre 
 the royal army being in the greatest affliction on the oc 
 casion. 
 
 Elliott and Smith, not being military -officers, were not 
 permitted to land; but General Greene was appointed, 
 by the commander-in-chief, to meet Robertson, at Dobb s 
 ferry, and to receive his communications. He had, how 
 ever, nothing material to urge, but that Andre had come 
 on shore under the sanction of a flag, and therefore could 
 not be considered as a spy. But this plea was contradic 
 ted by Andre s own confession. 
 
 Having failed in this point, Robertson requested tha t 
 the opinion of disinterested persons might be taken ; and 
 proposed Generals Knyphausen and Rochambeau, as proper 
 persons. This proposition could not be acceded to. 
 
148 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 "Robertson then had recourse to threats of retaliation, 
 on some people in New- York and Charleston ; but he was 
 told that such conversation could not be heard nor un 
 derstood. 
 
 "He next urged the release af Andre on motives of hu 
 manity, saying he wished an intercourse of such civilities 
 as might lessen the horrors of war, and cited instances of 
 Sir Henry Clinton s merciful disposition; adding that An 
 dre possessed a great share of that gentleman s affection 
 and esteem, and that he would be infinitely obliged if ho 
 was spared. He offered, that if his earnest wishes were 
 complied with, to engage that any prisoner in their posses 
 sion, whom Washington might name, should be immediate 
 ly set at liberty."(3) 
 
 But all intercession was fruitless ; and least of all availed 
 a letter to Washington, of which Robertson was the bearer, 
 from the traitor Arnold, filled with threats of retaliation, and 
 the accountability of Washington for the torrents of blood 
 that might be spilt, if he should order the execution of An 
 dre ! It is difficult to say which created the most astonish 
 ment in the breast of Greene that Arnold should have 
 the consummate effrontery to write such a letter; or that 
 Robertson should consent to be the bearer of it. 
 
 Nothing, of course, was effected by this interview, and 
 the messengers returned in despondency to New- York. An 
 dre, in the mean time, during his confinement, trial, and 
 condemnation, evinced a composure and dignity of mind, 
 that enlisted the sympathies of all in his favour. Not a 
 murmur escaped him; while the civilities and attentions 
 bestowed on him, were gratefully and politely acknowl 
 edged. Having left a mother and two sisters in England, 
 he was heard to mention them in terms of the tenderest af 
 fection ; and in his letter to Sir Henry Clinton, he recom 
 mended them to his particular attention. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 149 
 
 Crosby assures us that, though every one acknowledged 
 the policy of the sentence, there was scarcely one that 
 spoke of his approaching fate without evincing the deepest 
 emotions of sympathy. The principal guard officer, who 
 was constantly in the room with Andre, informed Crosby 
 that when the fatal hour arrived, and the prisoner was sum 
 moned to attend, he heard and complied without any visible 
 emotion; and while all present were more or less affected, 
 he retained a serene countenance, with calmness and com 
 posure of mind. 
 
 The prisoner walked from the stone house in which he 
 had been confined, between two subaltern officers, arm in 
 arm. A large detachment of troops was paraded, and an 
 immense concourse of people assembled, to witness the 
 awful ceremony. As the situation of Crosby, in the pro 
 cession, was not so convenient for observation, we will give 
 the remaining particulars in the language of Dr. Thacher, 
 to whose excellent journal we have already acknowledged 
 ourselves largely indebted. 
 
 "During the solemn march to the fatal spot, * says the 
 Doctor, "I was so near as to observe every movement, arid 
 participate in every emotion, which the melancholy scene 
 was calculated to produce. The eyes of the immense mul 
 titude were fixed on the prisoner; who, rising superior to the 
 fears of death, appeared as if conscious of the dignified 
 deportment which he displayed. II betrayed no want of 
 fortitude, but retained a complacent smile on his counte 
 nance, and politely bowed to several gentlemen whom he 
 knew, which was respectfully returned. 
 
 "It was his earnest desire to be shot, as being the mode 
 
 of death most conformable to the feelings of a military 
 
 man, and he had indulged the hope that his request would 
 
 be granted. At the moment, therefore, when suddenly 
 
 13* 
 
150 THE SPY UNMASKED; OR 
 
 he came in view of the gallows, he involuntarily started 
 backward, and made a pause. Why this emotion, sir? 
 said an officer at his side. Instantly recovering his com 
 posure, he said I am reconciled to my death, but I detest 
 the mode." 
 
 "While waiting, and standing near the gallows/ con 
 tinues Dr. Thacher, "I observed some degree of trepida 
 tion; placing his foot on a stone, and rolling it over, and 
 choking in his throat, as if attempting to swallow. So 
 soon, however, as he perceived that things were in readiness, 
 he stepped quickly into the wagon; and, at this moment, he 
 appeared to shrink; but, instantly elevating his head with 
 firmness, he said, It will be but a momentary pang; and 
 taking from his pocket two white handkerchiefs, the pro 
 vost marshall, with one, loosely pinioned his arms; and, 
 with the other, the victim, after taking off his hat and stock, 
 bandaged his own eyes, with perfect firmness, which melted 
 the hearts and moistened the cheeks, not only of his servant, 
 but of the throng of spectators. 
 
 "The rope being appended to the gallows, he slipped the 
 noose over his own head, and adjusted it to his neck, 
 without the assistance of the awkward executioner. Colo 
 nel Scammel now informed him that he had an opportunity 
 to speak, if he desired it. He raised the handkerchief 
 from his eyes, and said I pray you to bear me witness that 
 I meet my fate like a brave man. The wagon being now 
 removed from under him, he was suspended, and instantly 
 expired. It proved, indeed, but a momentary pang. 
 
 "He was dressed in his royal regimentals and boots; and 
 his remains, in the same dress, were placed in an ordinary 
 coffin, and interred at the foot of the gallows; and the spot 
 was consecrated by the tears of thousands."(4j 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY. 151 
 
 The enterprise of Champe was well concerted, and 
 would probably have succeeded but for an unforseen ac 
 cident. On the day preceding the night fixed upon for 
 the execution of the plot, Arnold removed his quarters to 
 another part of the town; and Champe, with all Arnold s 
 new recruits, were transferred from their barracks to one 
 of the transports. He was thus compelled to proceed 
 with Arnold to Virginia, where he made his escape, and 
 rejoined the American army soon after it had passed the 
 Congaree, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon. 
 
152 THE SPY UNMASKED: OR 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, 
 Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; 
 Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, 
 Our dreadful marches to delightful measures; 
 Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front. 
 
 Shahspeare. 
 
 A FEW weeks after the foregoing events, intelligence 
 was received of a very brilliant exploit of the militia in 
 North Carolina, under Colonels Campbell, Cleveland, 
 Shelby, and Sevier; who, with about three thousand vol 
 unteers, attacked and defeated Major Ferguson, at the 
 head of a large force of refugees and tories. Ferguson, 
 with one hundred and fifty of his men, were killed, and 
 eight hundred and ten taken prisoners, of whom one hun 
 dred and fifty were wounded. They also took fifteen 
 hundred stand of arms. Of the Americans, Colonel Wil 
 liams was mortally wounded ; about twenty kilted, and a 
 number disabled. Ten of the prisoners were immediately 
 hung as traitors. This is called the battle of King s 
 Mountain. 
 
 But few incidents occurred in the vicinity of New-York , 
 during the ensuing winter and spring. In July following, 
 the French and American armies formed a junction at 
 White Plains, from whence they proceeded to New- Jersey. 
 After some ingenious manoeuvring to deceive the British 
 with respect to his real designs, Washington suddenly 
 marched to the south with the combined armies, leaving 
 Sir Henry Clinton under the apprehension of an imme 
 diate attack on the city of New-York. 
 
MEMOIRS OF ENOCH CROSBY, 153 
 
 The result of this southern expedition is well known. 
 Cornvvallis surrendered his army at Yorktown, and the 
 ministry of England gave up the contest in despair. Our 
 independence was acknowledged, peace restored, and the 
 smiles of joy scattered over the long-afflicted country. 
 
 Crosby remained, with the division of the army which 
 was left under the command of Heath, for the defence of 
 the posts in the Highlands, until the period of his engage 
 ment had expired. He then retired to Southeast, where 
 his father died shortly afterwards ; and there he has since 
 resided up to the present day. 
 
 He cultivates a small farm, the product of his own in 
 dustry, since the peace of 1783; having received, for all 
 his revolutionary services, only the trifling pittance of two 
 hundred and fifty dollars.(l) He has had two wives, the 
 last of which was the widow of Colonel Greene; and he is 
 the father of four children, two sons and two daughters, 
 who are grown up, and settled in the county of West- 
 chester. For twenty-eight years, he was justice of the 
 peace in the town of Southeast; and for the last fourteen 
 years, he has held the office of deacon in the Presbyterian 
 church. He has likewise held that of deputy-sheriff for 
 the county. He is universally, respected by his neigh 
 bours, acquaintance, and fellow- citizens generally; and 
 now enjoys a " green old age," which, we trust, will be 
 succeeded by a happy immortality; for Enoch Crosby 
 was, " for years, a faithful and unrequited servant of his 
 country. Though man does not, may God reward him 
 for his conduct."(2) 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 (1) "Harvey Birch," says Cooper, in his interesting 
 novel of the Spy, "was supposed to be a native of one of 
 the Eastern colonies." Spy, Vol. i. p. 81. 
 
 (2) It is well known, that the "mother country" had, 
 for a long period, reaped a rich harvest from the trade of 
 her colonial subjects in North America. In order to secure 
 a perpetuity of these commercial advantages, by com 
 pelling her colonists to "let their workshops remain in 
 Europe," sundry prohibitory acts were passed by parlia 
 ment, in the year alluded to, which produced considerable 
 excitement on this side the Atlantic. 
 
 (3) This town derives its name from its situation, being 
 the southeast corner of Putnam county. In extent it is 
 about six miles square; bounded by Connecticut on the 
 East, and the county of Westchester (the neutral ground) 
 on the South. The face of the country is rather moun 
 tainous and hilly, with numerous little valleys running 
 Southwest and Northeast. h is well watered by the 
 Croton and Mill rivers, arid their tributary streams. There 
 are, in the town, five natural ponds, the largest of which is 
 two miles in length and one in breadth. 
 
 (4) Tudor, in his life of Otis, gives us the following 
 interesting anecdote : " When President Adams was min- 
 
156 APPENDIX. 
 
 ister at the court of St. James, he often saw his country 
 man, Benjamin West, the late president of the royal acad 
 emy. Mr. West always retained a strong and unyielding 
 affection for his native land. Mr. West one day asked Mr. 
 Adams, if he should like to take a walk with him, and see 
 the cause of the American revolution. The minister, 
 having known something of this matter, smiled at the pro 
 posal, but told him that he should be glad to see the cause 
 of that revolution, and to take a walk with his friend West 
 any where. The next morning he called according to 
 agreement, and took Mr. Adams into Hyde Park, to a spot 
 near the Serpentine river, where he gave him the following 
 narrative. The king came to the throne a young man, 
 surrounded by flattering courtiers; one of whose frequent 
 topics it was, to declaim against the meanness of his 
 palace, which was wholly unworthy a monarch of such a 
 country as England. They said that there was not a sov 
 ereign in Europe who was lodged so poorly ; that his sorry, 
 dingy, old brick palace of St. James, looked like a stable, 
 and that he ought to build a palace suitable to his kingdom. 
 The king was fond of architecture, and would therefore 
 more readily listen to suggestions, which were in fact all 
 true. This spot that you see here, was selected for the 
 site, between this and this point, which were marked out. 
 The king applied 10 his ministers on the subject; they in- 
 quired what sum would be wanted by his majesty, who said 
 that he would begin with a million : they stated the ex 
 penses of the war, and the poverty of the treasury, but 
 that his majesty s wishes should be taken into full consid 
 eration. Some time afterwards the king was informed, that 
 the wants of the treasury were too urgent to admit of a 
 supply from their present means, but that a revenue might 
 be raised in America to supply all the king s wishes. Thii 
 
APPENDIX . 157 
 
 suggestion was followed up, and the king was in this way 
 first led to consider, and then to consent, to the scheme of 
 taxing the colonies." 
 
 (5) When these resolutions were first read in the house of 
 burgesses, in Virginia, the boldness and novelty of them 
 affected one of the members to such a degree, that he cried 
 out " Treason ! treason !" 
 
 (6) In all America there had been but seven presses 
 issuing newspapers, previous to the year 1750. In 1765, 
 they had increased to twenty-six on the continent, and Jive 
 in the West India Islands. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 (1) Mrs. Warren. 
 
 (2) Mrs. Warren s American Revolution. 
 
 (3) The clergymen of New-England, in particular, were 
 among the strongest advocates of "Whig principles;" there 
 were a few instances only of a separation of a minister 
 from his people, in consequence of political sentiment. It 
 was recommended by the provincial congress of Massa 
 chusetts, that on other oecasions than the Sabbath, min 
 isters of parishes should adapt their discourses to the times, 
 and explain the nature of civil and religious liberty, and 
 the duties of magistrates and rulers. A zealous divine, 
 who had been compelled to abandon the people of his 
 charge in Boston, on one occasion used, in the pu lpit, at 
 P*** ? the following emphatic language: "O Lord, if our 
 enemies will fight us, let them have fighting enough. If 
 more soldiers are on their way hither, sink them, O, Lord, 
 to the bottom of the sea."Thacher"s Journal, p. 23. "The 
 clergy of New-England were a numerous, learned, and 
 respectable body, who had a great ascendancy over the 
 minds of their hearers. They connected religion and 
 
 14 
 
158 APPENDIX. 
 
 patriotism, and, in their sermons and prayers, represented 
 the cause of America as the cause of Heaven." Ramsey. 
 "The clergy were among the first and most zealous patriots, 
 both in speaking and writing in vindication of the rights of 
 their country. No class of men had more deeply imbibed 
 the spirit of their venerable ancestors, the first settlers of 
 New-England, than they. None more generally engaged 
 in the cause of their injured country, nor had a greater and 
 more general influence upon the people." Morsels Rev. 
 
 (4) Mr. Cooper frequently intimates that the parents of 
 Harvey Birch had been suddenly "reduced from compe 
 tence to poverty." See Spy, Vol. i. p. 33 and 156. 
 
 (5) Mrs. Warren s American Revolution. 
 
 (6) John Adams 9 letter to Dr. Morse. 
 
 (7) The town of Boston instituted an annual oration in 
 commemoration of this catastrophe, and among the first 
 orators were such names as Hancock, Warren, and Lovell, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 (1) The Americans, determined to oppose the revenue 
 system of the English parliament, in every possible shape, 
 considered the attempt of the East India. Company, to 
 evade the resolutions of the colonies, and dispose of teas in 
 America, as an indirect mode of taxation, sanctioned by 
 the authority of parliament. Several public meetings 
 were held on the subject, particularly in the town of Boston. 
 At one of these meetings, while the assembled multitude 
 were in quiet consultation, on the safest mode to prevent 
 the sale and consumption of an herb, noxious at least to 
 the political constitution, the debates were interrupted by 
 the entrance of the sheriff, with an order from the governor, 
 styling them an illegal assembly, and directing their imme 
 diate dispersion. 
 
APPENDIX. 159 
 
 This authoritative mandate was treated with great con 
 tempt, and the sheriff instantly hissed out of the house. A 
 confused murmur ensued, both within and without the walls; 
 but in a few moments all was again quiet, and the meeting 
 adjourned without delay. 
 
 Within an hour after this was known abroad, there ap 
 peared a great number of persons, clad like the aborigines 
 of the wilderness, with tomahawks in their hands, and 
 clubs on their shoulders, who, without the least molesta 
 tion, marched through the streets with silent solemnity, and 
 amidst innumerable spectators, proceeded to the wharves, 
 boarded the ships, demanded the keys, and without much 
 deliberation knocked open the chests, and emptied several 
 thousand weight of the finest teas into the ocean. No op 
 position was made, though surrounded by the king s ships; 
 all was silence and dismay. 
 
 This done, the procession returned through the town in 
 the same order and solemnity as observed in the outset of 
 their attempt. No other disorder took place, and it was 
 observed the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed 
 for several months. 
 
 The number of persons disguised as Indians is variously 
 stated none put it lower than sixty, none higher than 
 eighty. The destruction of the tea was effected by the 
 disguised persons, and some young men who volunteered ; 
 one of the latter collected the tea which fell into the shoes 
 of himself and companions, and put it into a phial, and 
 sealed it ;up ; which phial is now in his possession, con 
 taining the same tea. The contrivers of this measure 
 and those who carried it into effect, will never be known ; 
 some few persons have been mentioned as being among the 
 disguised; but there are many and obvious reasons why 
 secresy then, and concealment since, were necessary. 
 
160 APPENDIX. 
 
 None of these persons who were confidently said to have 
 been of the party, (except some who were then minors 
 or very young men,) have ever admitted that they were so. 
 Mr. Samuel Adams is thought to have been in the counsel 
 ling of this exploit, and many other men who were leaders 
 in the political affairs of the times ; and the hall of council 
 is said to have been the back room of Edes and Gill s print 
 ing office, at the corner of the alley leading to Brattle-street 
 church from Court-street. There are very few alive now, 
 who helped to empty the chests of tea, and these few will 
 probably be as prudent as those who have gone before 
 them." 
 
 (2) The 1st day of June, 1774, the day when the Boston 
 port-bill began to operate, was observed, in most of the col 
 onies with uncommon solemnity, as a day of fasting and 
 prayer. 
 
 (3) When General Washington heard of the battle of 
 Lexington, April 19, 1775, and of the slaughter of the 
 Americans on that occasion, he said, "I grieve for the 
 death of my countrymen ; but rejoice that the British are 
 still so determined to keep God on our side : for the smiles 
 of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disre 
 gards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven 
 itself has ordained." Weems 1 Life of Washington. 
 
 (4) The celebrated Rev. John Home (Tooke,) two years 
 after the event, was tried, in England, and found guilty of 
 publishing an advertisement, in which it was asserted, 
 "that the king s troops had committed murder at Lexington, 
 in America;" he was, conseqently, sentenced to imprison 
 ment for a year, to pay a fine of 2001. and to find security 
 for his good behaviour for three years . Fordyce^s Chron. 
 
 (5) Israel Putnam ( afterwards Major-general,) was 
 ploughing in his field when he heard the news. He in- 
 
APPENDIX. 161 
 
 stantly slopped his team, left the plough in the furrow, 
 mounted a horse> and in eighteen hours was on the battle 
 ground, a distance of one hundred miles! He then re 
 turned to Connecticut, and raised an army; the provincial 
 congress of Massachusetts having that day voted to raise 
 thirty thousand men. 
 
 (6) Mrs. Warren s American Revolution. 
 
 (7) This excitement was not confined to any class, age, 
 or sex. The females largely participated in the patriotic 
 ardour that prevailed, and exhibited instances of heroic 
 virtue that were never surpassed by the celebrated women 
 of Sparta. 
 
 The following anecdote, which is too well authenticated 
 to be disputed, furnishes one instance, among thousands 
 of that heroic spirit and love of liberty which characterized 
 the American females during the struggle for independence. 
 
 "A good lady we knew her when she had grown old 
 in 1775, lived on the sea-board, about a day s march from 
 Boston, where the British army then was. By some un 
 accountable accident, a rumour was spread in town and 
 country, in and about there, that the regulars were on a full 
 inarch for that place, and would probably arrive in three 
 hours at farthest. This was after the battle of Lexington, 
 and all, as might be well supposed, was in sad confusion 
 some were boiling with rage and full of fight, some with 
 fear and confusion, some hiding their treasures, and others 
 flying for life. In this wild moment, when most people, in 
 some way or other, were frightened from their property, 
 our heroine, \vho had two sons, one about nineteen years 
 of age, the other about sixteen, was seen by our informant, 
 preparing them to discharge their duty. The eldest she 
 was able to equip in fine style she took her husband s 
 fowling-piece, made for duck or plover, (the good man 
 14* 
 
162 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 being absent on a coasting voyage to Virginia,) and with it 
 the powder-horn and shot-bag; but the lad thinking the 
 duck and goose shot not quite the size to kill regulars, his 
 mother took a chisel, cut up her pewter spoons, and ham 
 mered them into slugs, and put them into his bag, and he 
 set off in great earnest, but thought he would call one 
 moment and see the parson, who said, Well done my 
 brave boy God preserve you and OH he went in the 
 way of his duty. The youngest was importunate for his 
 equipments, but his mother could find nothing to arm him 
 with but an old rusty sword; the boy seemed rather un 
 willing to risk himself with this alone, but lingered in the 
 street, in a state of hesitation, when his mother thus up 
 braided him. You John H*****, what will your father 
 say, if he hears that a child of his is afraid to meet the 
 British? go along; beg or borrow a gun, or you will find 
 one, child some coward, I dare say, will be running away, 
 then take his gun and march forward, and if you come 
 back, and I hear you have not behaved like a man, I shall 
 carry the blush of shame on my face to the grave. She 
 then shut the door, wiped the tear from her eye, and waited 
 the issue; the boy joined the march. Such a woman 
 could not have cowards for her sons. Instances of refined 
 and delicate pride and affection occurred, at that period, 
 every day, in different places; and in fact this disposition 
 and feeling was then so common, that it now operates as 
 one great cause of our not having more facts of this kind 
 recorded. What few there are remembered should not be 
 lost. Nothing great or glorious was ever achieved which 
 women did not act in, advise, or consent to." 
 
 (8) It is worthy of remark, that every one of these young 
 men, returned from the Northern campaign in safety; while, 
 during their short absence, one hundred deaths occurred in 
 
APPENDIX. 163 
 
 the town where they belonged. Perhaps, by going into 
 danger, many of them preserved their lives. 
 
 (9) This legislative body had voted to raise thirty thou 
 sand men; thirteen thousand and six hundred of them to 
 be of their own province; and that a letter and delegate 
 be sent to the several colonies of New-Hampshire, Connec 
 ticut, and Rhode Island. The Committee of safety also 
 sent letters to the several towns in the colony soliciting as 
 sistance. 
 
 (10) This .enterprise was managed by Colonels Easton, 
 Arnold, and Allen ; and so secretly, judiciously, and rapidly 
 was the expedition conducted, that they entered the garri 
 son before it was known that an enemy was near it. Ar 
 nold and Allen contended for the honour of entering the 
 fort first; but it was finally agreed that they should both 
 go in together. They advanced abreast, and entered the 
 fortress at the dawning of day. A sentry snapped his 
 piece at one of them, and then retreated through the cover 
 ed way to the parade. The Americans followed, and im 
 mediately drew up. The commander, surprised in his bed, 
 was called upon to surrender the fort. "By what author 
 ity? 1 exclaimed the astonished officer, rubbing his eyes, 
 and scarcely knowing whether he was asleep or awake. 
 
 "I demand it in the name of the great Jehovah, and of 
 the continental congress," was the reply of Colonel Allen. 
 
 (11) The heights of Charlestown were so situated as to 
 make the possession of them a matter of great consequence, 
 to either of the contending parties. Orders were therefore 
 issued, June 16th, by the provincial commanders, that a 
 detachment of a thousand men should intrench upon 
 Breed s Hill.* Here the Americans, between midnight 
 
 *Historians, through mistake, have called the hill where the battle wag fought 
 Bunker Hill, which is a quarter of a mile north of Breed s or Russell i Hill , 
 where the battle was fought. 
 
164 APPENDIX. 
 
 and morning, with uncommon expedition and silence, threw 
 up a small redoubt, which the British did not discover till 
 the morning of the 17th, when they began an incessant 
 firing, and continued it till afternoon. With the intrepidity 
 of veteran soldiers, the Americans bore this fire, and pro 
 ceeded to finish their redoubt, and to throw up a breast 
 work, extending eastward of it to the bottom of the hill. 
 About noon, General Gage detached Major-General Howe, 
 and Brigadier-General Pigot, with the flower of his army, 
 in two detachments, amounting in the whole to nearly 
 3000 men. They landed at a point about 150 or 200 rods 
 southeast of the redoubt, and deliberately prepared fur the 
 attack. While the troops, who first landed, were waiting 
 for a reinforcement, the Americans on the left wing towards 
 Mystic River, for their security, pulled up some adjoining 
 post and rail fence, and set it down in two parallel lines 
 near each other, and filled the space between with hay, 
 which the day before was mowed and remained in the adja 
 cent field. The British troops, in the mean time, formed 
 in two lines, and about 3 o clock advanced slowly towards 
 the Americans. The hills and steeples in Boston, and the 
 circumjacent country, were crowded with anxious specta 
 tors of the dubious conflict. While some felt for the honour 
 ot the British troops, multitudes, with a keener sensibility, 
 felt for the liberties of a great and growing country. The 
 attack commenced on the part of the British troops. The 
 Americans had the precaution, in obedience to the orders 
 of their commanding officer, to reserve their fire till their 
 enemies had approached within ten or twelve rods of their 
 works. They then began a well-directed and furious dis 
 charge of small arms, which mowed down their enemies 
 in ranks, and occasioned a disorderly and precipitate re 
 treat. Their officers rallied them with difficulty, and push- 
 
APPENDIX. 165 
 
 ed them forward with their swords, to a second attack. 
 They were in the same manner put to flight a second time. 
 With still greater difficulty they were forced by General 
 Howe to a third attack. By this time the powder of the 
 Americans began to fail, and their redoubt was attacked on 
 two sides. Under these circumstances, a retreat was order 
 ed; the left wing of the Americans, northeast of the re 
 doubt, still continuing their fire, ignorant of what had ta 
 ken place on the right, till the British had nearly surroun 
 ded them. The retreat was effected, with an inconsidera 
 ble loss, considering the greater part . of the distance they 
 had to pass was completely exposed to the incessant fire of 
 the Glasgow man-of-war, and two floating-batteries. In 
 this retreat, Warren fell. 
 
 During the heat of this bloody action, by order of Gen 
 eral Gage, Charlestown was set on fire, by a battery on 
 Cops Hill, in Boston, and a party from the Somerset man- 
 of-war, lying in Charles River, and nearly four hundred 
 houses, including six public buildings, were consumed, 
 with their furniture, &c. valued by nineteen men, under 
 oath, at 156,900Z specie; and two thousand persons redu 
 ced from affluence and mediocrity, to the most aggravated 
 poverty and exile. 
 
 The number of Americans engaged in this memorable 
 action was only fifteen hundred. There have been few 
 battles in modern wars in which, all circumstances consid 
 ered, there was a greater slaughter of men than in this 
 short engagement. The loss of the British, as acknowl 
 edged by General Gage, amounted to 1054 men. Nineteen 
 commissioned officers were killed, and seventy wounded. 
 The loss of the Americans was seventy-seven killed, two 
 hundred and seventy-eight wounded and missing. 
 
166 APPENDIX. 
 
 The death of Major-General Warren, who four days be-^ 
 fore had received his commission, and who, having had no 
 command assigned him, fought this day as a volunteer, was 
 particularly and greatly lamented. "To the purest pat 
 riotism, and the most undaunted bravery, he added the 
 eloquence of an accomplished orator, and the wisdom of an 
 able statesman." 
 
 (12) Mrs. Warren s American Revolution. 
 
 (13) In the yea*r 1775, the city of New-York (we mean 
 the compact part of it) extended no farther north than 
 Partition-street, now called Fulton-street, near St. Paul s 
 church. Beyond this there" were only a few scattering 
 houses, with here and there a handsome country-seat. It 
 was considered a pleasant ramble "out of town" to go to 
 "the fields," where the City Hall now stands. 
 
 (14) The fortress of Ticonderoga, so often mentioned 
 in the history of the American wars, is now a heap of ruins, 
 though many of the walls are so entire as to exhibit proofs 
 of the excellency of their construction, and of the plan of 
 the works. It was built by the French in 1756, on a point 
 of land formed by the junction of lake George creek with 
 lake Champlain, in N. lat. 43 50, and 34 E. long, from 
 New-York: elevation above lake Champlain, 110 feet; 
 above tide waters, 196 feet. The name is derived to us 
 from the Indians, Frenchified; and signified noisy: Che-on- 
 de-roga; probably in allusion to the water. But the French 
 called it Fort Carillon. It was a place of great strength, 
 both by nature and art. On three sides, it is surrounded 
 by water, and about half of the other side is occupied by a 
 deep swamp, and the line of defence was completed by the 
 French, with the erection of a breast-work, nine feet high, 
 on the only assailable ground. In 1758, General Aber- 
 crombie, with the British army, assailed this fortress; was 
 
APPENDIX. 167 
 
 defeated July 9, with the loss of 1941 men. But it was 
 surrendered to General Amherst, in July of the following 
 year. It was the first fortress carried by the arms of Amer 
 ica, in the war that established our Independence; it was 
 taken by surprise, by Colonel Allen, May 10, 1775, and 
 retained till July 1777, when it was evacuated, on the ap 
 proach of General Burgoyne with the British army. 
 
 (15) About 115 miles north of Ticonderoga. 
 
 (16) Ramsay says, that "the British pickets were driven 
 into the fort. The environs were then reconnoitred, and 
 the fortifications were found to be much stronger than had 
 been suspected. This induced the calling of a council of 
 war, which recommended a retreat to Isle aux N T oix." Mrs. 
 Warren says, that "an unexpected attack from a large body 
 of Indians obliged them to retreat to their former post, and 
 await the arrival of reinforcements." The latter account 
 is in strict conformity with Mr. Crosby s own statement. 
 Both, however, may be correct. 
 
 (17) Montgomery was a warm-hearted Irishman,- and 
 war was his profession. He had been a captain of gren 
 adiers in the 17th regiment of British troops, of which 
 Moncton was Colonel. In 1772, he quittted his regiment, 
 though in a fair way of preferment, because he disapproved 
 of the sentiments of the ministry, and had imbibed an affec 
 tion for America, which he viewed as the rising seat of arts 
 and freedom. A sentiment of a still more tender nature 
 might have had some influence in this transaction, as he 
 soon afterward married the beautiful and accomplished 
 daughter of Judge Livingston, of New- York. His many 
 amiable qualities had procured him an uncommon share of 
 private affection, and his great abilities an equal proportion 
 of public esteem. His name was mentioned in parliament 
 with singular respect. The minister himself acknowledged 
 
168 APPENDIX. 
 
 his worth, while he reprobated the cause he had espoused. 
 He concluded an involuntary panegyric, by exclaiming 
 "Curse on his virtues! they have undone his country." 
 When he embraced his amiable lady for the last time, on 
 his departure for Canada, and bade her a tender farewell, 
 his parting words were "You shall never blush for your 
 Montgomery." She never did but a nation wept his un 
 timely fall. 
 
 "Yes, yes, I go," he whispered soft, 
 
 "In freedom s cause my sword to wield, 
 Columbia s banner waves aloft, 
 
 And glory calls me to the field." 
 Then foremost on the foe he prest, 
 
 While war s rude tempest wildly roar d, 
 Till, gushing from the hero s breast, 
 
 The purple tide in torrents pour d. 
 
 He fell, and oh! what fancies stole 
 
 Through memory s vista, bright and warm. 
 Till one loved image o er his soul 
 
 Came like an angel in the storm. 
 But loudly swell d the bugle s blast, 
 
 His hand instinctive grasp d the steel; 
 ^Again it swell d but all was past, 
 
 The warrior s breast had ceased to fee?. 
 
 Woodworth 
 
 (18) Ramsay s American Revolution. 
 
 (19) Major Preston, the commanding officer at St. John s, 
 surrendered that fortress on receiving honorable terms of 
 capitulation. "By those it was agreed, that the garrison 
 should march out with the honours of war; that the officers 
 and privates should ground their arms on the plain; the offi 
 cers to keep their side-arms, and their fire-arms be reserved 
 for them, and that the people of the garrison should retain 
 their effects. About five hundred regulars, and one hun 
 dred Canadians became prisoners to the provincials. They 
 
APPENDIX. 169 
 
 also acquired thirty-nine pieces of cannon, seven mortars, 
 and two howitzers, and about eight hundred stand of arms. 
 Among the cannon were many brass field-pieces, an article 
 of which the Americans were nearly destitute." 
 
 (20) On Lake Champlain, about twelve miles north of 
 Ticonderoga. "The celebrated fortress of Crown Point, 
 one of the best ever erected within the present territory of 
 the United States, gave its name to this town, which con 
 tains the ruins of the fort. Along the lake, the surface is 
 pretty level, but high mountains pervade the western part. 
 The fort itself is on a point of land jutting far into the 
 water northward, and washed by a considerable bay on the 
 west, called West Bay. This fortress was first erected by 
 the French, in 1731, and called Fort St. Frederick. In 
 1759, it was surrendered to the British troops under Gener 
 al Amherst, and was occupied by them until May 14, 1775, 
 when it fell into the hands of the Americans, (as stated 
 in a preceding note,) but was evacuated in 1776, and again 
 fell into the hands of the British. The walls were of wood 
 and earth, twenty-two feet thick, and sixteen feet in height. 
 It was about fifteen hundred yards square, surrounded by 
 a deep and broad ditch, cut in a solid granite rock, with 
 immense labour. On the north is a double row of strong 
 stone barracks, of a capacity to contain two thousand troops. 
 On the same side was a gate, a strong drawbridge, and a 
 covered way to the margin of the lake. The whole are 
 now in ruins, and ihe outworks, of which there were some 
 pretty extensive, are little else than heaps of rubbish, bare 
 ly sufficient to revive remembrance." -Spafforffs Ga 
 zetteer. 
 
 ^ (21) So called from its having been the scene of a 
 
 bloody massacre on the Sabbath day. A large party of 
 
 whites had encamped there, without suspecting an enemy 
 
 15 
 
170 APPENDIX. 
 
 to be near them 5 but the Indians came upon them suddenly, 
 and cut them off, almost to a man. Very few escaped to 
 tell the disastrous story. We have often heard the tradition, 
 but are not in possession of the particulars. Lake George, 
 of course, could not have been attractive to our travellers 
 in the middle of winter, but in any other season it is the 
 most beautiful sheet of clear water in America, perhaps in 
 the world. It is about thirty-three miles in length, and 
 nearly two in breadth. Its northern extremity approaches 
 within two and a half miles of lake Champlain, and the 
 outlet is little more than three miles long, where it is said 
 to descend 157 feet. Lake George is surrounded by high 
 mountains, and is excelled in romantic beauties by no sim 
 ilar waters in the world. Its water is very deep, the bottom 
 so clean that neither winds or freshets render it turbid, and 
 it abounds with the finest of fish for the angler. Salmon 
 trout are taken weighing twenty pounds and upwards, with 
 a great variety of other fish. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 (1) At the close of the year 1775, the continental army 
 near Boston, was reduced to a very critical situation, being 
 obliged to substitute new raised troops and militia, in the 
 place of those who had been in service five or six months j 
 and this exchange was made within musket-shot of the 
 enemy s lines. During part of this period, their numbers 
 were not sufficient to man the lines, nor was there powder 
 enough in camp to furnishybwr rounds a man! They had 
 only four small brass cannon, and a few old honey comb 
 iron pieces, with their trunnions broken off; and these were 
 ingeniously bedded in timbers, in the same manner as that 
 of stocking a musket. These machines were extremely 
 unwieldy and inconvenient, requiring much skill and labour 
 
APPENDIX. 17 1 
 
 to elevate and depress them. Had the enemy in Boston 
 been made acquainted with the situation of their besiegers, 
 the consequences might have been unpleasant. Thacher^s 
 Journal. 
 
 (2) On the 22d of February, 1776, it was evident that 
 some great preparations were on foot, in the American ar 
 my, for some important event. Orders were received, in 
 the hospital department, to prepare lint and bandages, to 
 the amount of two thousand, for fractured limbs and other 
 gun-shot wounds. On the second of March, a very heavy 
 discharge of cannon and mortars commenced from all the 
 works at Cambridge and Roxbury, which continued at in 
 tervals for two days. This, it seems, was merely a finesse 
 to draw the enemy s attention to a wrong quarter. On the 
 fourth, the designs of Washington were made known to the 
 army. 
 
 "The object in view," says Dr. Thacher, "is now gene 
 rally understood to be the occupying and fortifying of the 
 advantageous heights of Dorchester. A detachment of 
 our troops is ordered to march for this purpose this eve 
 ning; and ourregimentj with several others, have received 
 orders to march at four o clock in the morning, to relieve 
 them. We are favoured with a full bright moon, and the 
 night is remarkably mild and pleasant; the preparations 
 are immense; more than three hundred loaded carts are in 
 motion. By the great exertions of General Mifflin, our 
 Quarter-Master General, the requisite number of teams 
 has been procured. The covering party of eight hundred 
 men advance in front. Then follow the carts with the in 
 trenching tools; after which, the working party of twelve 
 hundred, commanded by General Thomas, of Kingston. 
 Next in the martial procession are a train of carts, loaded 
 with fascines and hay, screwed into large bundles of seven 
 
172 APPENDIX. 
 
 or eight hundred weight. The whole procession moved on 
 in solemn silence, and with perfect order and regularity ; 
 while the continued roar of cannon serves to engage the 
 attention and divert the enemy from the main object. 
 
 At about four o clock our regiment followed to the 
 heights of Dorchester, as a relief party. On passing Dor 
 chester Neck I observed a vast number of large bundles of 
 screwed hay, arranged in a line next the enemy, to protect 
 our troops from a raking fire, to which we should have been 
 greatly exposed*, while passing and repassing. The carts 
 were still in motion with materials: some of them have 
 made three or four trips. On the heights we found two 
 forts in considerable forwardness, and sufficient for a de 
 fence against small arms and grape shot. The amount of 
 labour performed during the night, considering the earth 
 is frozen eighteen inches deep, is almost incredible. The 
 enemy having discovered our works in the morning, com 
 menced a tremendous cannonade from the forts in Boston, 
 and from their shipping in the harbour. Cannon shot are 
 continually rolling and rebounding over the hill; audit is 
 astonishing to observe how little our soldiers are terrified by 
 them. During the forenoon we were in momentary expec 
 tation of witnessing an awful scene ; nothing less than the 
 carnage of Breed s Hill battle was expected. The royal 
 troops are perceived to be in motion, as if embarking to 
 pass the harbour, and land on Dorchester shore, to attack 
 our works. The hills and elevations in this vicinity are 
 covered with spectators to witness deeds of horror in the 
 expected conflict. His excellency General Washington is 
 present, animating and encouraging the soldiers, and they 
 in their turn manifest their joy, and express a warm desire 
 for the approach of the enemy; each man knows his place, 
 and is resolute to execute his duty. Our breastworks are 
 
APPENDIX. 173 
 
 strengthened, and among the means of defence are a great 
 number of barrels, filled with stones and sand, arranged in 
 front of our works ; which are to be put in motion and made 
 to roll down the hill, to break the ranks and legs of the 
 assailants as they advance. These are the preparations for 
 blood and slaughter! Gracious God! if it be determined 
 in thy Providence that thousands of our fellow-creatures 
 shall this day be slain, let thy wrath be appeased, and in 
 mercy grant, that victory be on the side of our suffering, 
 
 bleeding, country. The anxious day has closed, and the 
 
 enemy has failed to molest us. From appearances, howev 
 er, there are strong reasons to suppose, that they have only 
 postponed their meditated work till another day. It is pre 
 sumed that the martial fire, which has been enkindled in the 
 breasts of our soldiery, will not be extinguished during the 
 night, and that they will not rest quietly under their disap 
 pointment. Early in the morning of the sixth, our regi 
 ment was relieved from its tour of duty, and I bade adieu 
 to Dorchester heights, without being called to dress a single 
 wound. Not more than two or three men were killed or 
 wounded during the twenty-four hours. Some of the 
 British troops were seen to embark, and pass down towards 
 the castle last evening, to be in readiness, it was supposed, 
 in conjunction with others, to attack our works this morning; 
 but a most violent storm came on in the night, and still 
 continuing, obliges General Howe to abandon his enter 
 prise; and thus has a kind Providence been fit to frustrate 
 a design, which must have been attended with immense 
 slaughter and bloodshed. General Howe must now be 
 sensible of his exposed situation, and be convinced of the 
 immediate necessity of evacuating the town of Boston, if 
 he would prevent the sacrifice of his fleet and army." 
 
 15* 
 
174 APPENDIX, 
 
 (3; The distresses of the inhabitants of Boston, during 
 the memorable winter of 1775-6, exceed description. 
 They had been promised permission to leave the town, if 
 they would deliver up their arms, which were accordingly 
 deposited in Faneul-Hall, to the care of the select-men. 
 But no sooner were the citizens completely disarmed, than 
 Gage violated his agreement, and refused to let them de 
 part. Nor was General Howe, his successor, any more 
 lenient; for he issued a proclamation, prohibiting all persons 
 attempting to quit the town, without a written license, on 
 penalty of military execution; and, if they escaped, they 
 were to be proceeded against as traitors, and their effects 
 to be forfeited. The consequences may be easily con 
 ceived. That ill-fated town was a scene of famine and 
 distress. The inhabitants were almost in a state of starva 
 tion, for the want of food and fuel. Totally destitute of 
 vegetables, flour, and fresh provisions, they were actually 
 obliged to feed on horse-flesh; while the pews of churches, 
 old houses, and timbered wharves, were demolished for 
 fuel. Thacher^s Journal. 
 
 (5) See Thacher s Journal, p. 64. 
 
 (6) See Thacher s Journal, p. 38. 
 
 (7) Ibid. p. 64. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 (1) See Chapter VI. third paragraph. 
 
 (2) In person, the pedlar was a man above the middle 
 height; spare, but full of bone and muscle. His eyes were 
 gray sunken, restless; and, for the few moments that they 
 dwelt on the countenances of those* with whom he con 
 versed, seemed to read the very soul." Spy, Vol. i. p. 34. 
 
 (3) *From whatever cause it proceeded, it is certain 
 that a disposition to do, to suffer, and to accommodate. 
 
APPENDIX. 175 
 
 spread from breast to breast, and from colony to colony, 
 beyond the reach of human calculation. It seemed as 
 though one mind inspired the whole. The merchants put 
 far behind them the gains of trade, and cheerfully sub 
 mitted to a total stoppage of business, in obedience to the 
 recommendation of men, invested with no legislative 
 powers. The cultivators of the soil, with great unanimity, 
 assented to the determination, that the hard-earned pro 
 duce of their farms should remain unshipped, although in 
 case of a free exportation, many would have been eager to 
 have purchased it from them at advanced prices. The 
 sons and daughters of ease renounced imported conveni 
 ences, and voluntarily engaged to eat, drink, and wear, only 
 such articles as their country afforded. These sacrifices 
 were made, not from the pressure of present distress, but 
 on the generous principle of sympathy, with an invaded 
 sister colony, and the prudent policy of guarding against a 
 precedent which might, in a future day, operate against 
 their liberties. 
 
 " The season of universal distress exhibited a striking 
 proof how practicable it is for mankind to sacrifice ease, 
 pleasure, and interest, when the mind is strongly excited 
 by its passions. In the midst of their sufferings, cheer 
 fulness appeared in the face of all the people. They 
 counted every thing cheap in comparison with liberty, and 
 readily gave up whatever tended to endanger it. A noble 
 strain of generosity and mutual support was generally 
 excited. A great and powerful diffusion of public spirit 
 took place. The animation of the times raised the actors 
 in these scenes above themselves, and excited them to deeds 
 of self-denial, which the interested prudence of calmer 
 seasons can scarcely credit." 
 
176 APPENDIX 
 
 (4) Westchester county is situated on the east side of the 
 Hudson, immediately above York Island. It is joined to 
 Putnam county on the north, and Connecticut on the east; 
 comprising about four hundred and eighty square miles. 
 It enjoys a direct communication with the Hudson on the 
 west, and with the Sound on the southeast. Its surface, in 
 some parts, is rugged and mountainous; in others, beauti 
 fully undulating, and luxuriantly fertile: the whole well 
 watered, and diversified with scenery that is truly pictu 
 resque and romantic. The centre of the county lying 
 between the two hostile armies, during the revolutionary 
 war, was called the " NEUTRAL GROUND." 
 
 (5) The county of Westchester, after the British had 
 obtained possession of the Island of New- York, became 
 common ground, in which both parties continued to act for 
 the remainder of the war of the revolution. A large pro 
 portion of its inhabitants, either restrained by their attach 
 ments, or influenced by their fears, affected a neutrality 
 they did not always feel. 1 " Spy, Vol. i. p. 2. 
 
 (6) As respects location, the Americans were always the 
 "upper" party, in the vicinity of New-York; for while 
 they letained possession of the city, the British were still 
 below them, at Staten Island. The same relative position 
 continued on their retreat through the county of West- 
 Chester. 
 
 (7) These Rangers were a company of mounted men, 
 reserved expressly for exigencies of this kind, whenever 
 they should occur, and to go wherever the Committee 
 should direct. 
 
 (8) "Harvey Birch had been a pedlar from his youth; 
 at least, so he frequently asserted." Spy, Vol.i.p. 31, 
 
APPENDIX, 177 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 (1) The particulars of this tragical event, sanctioned by 
 General Howe, who was knowing to them at the time, are 
 thus related by Miss H. Adams, in her History of New- 
 England. 
 
 " The retreat of General Washington left the British in 
 complete possession of Long Island. What would be their 
 future operations, remained uncertain. To obtain informa 
 tion of their situation, their strength, and future move 
 ments, was of high importance. For this purpose, General 
 Washington applied to Colonel Knowlton, who commanded 
 a regiment of light infantry, which formed the van of the 
 American army, and desired him to adopt some mode of 
 gaining the necessary information. Colonel Knowlton 
 communicated this request to Captain Hale, of Connec 
 ticut, who was then a Captain in his regiment. This young 
 officer, animated by a sense of duty, and considering that 
 an opportunity presented itself by which he might be useful 
 to his country, at once offered himself a volunteer for this 
 hazardous service. He passed in disguise to Long-Island, 
 examined every part of the British army, and obtained the 
 best possible information respecting their situation and 
 future operations. 
 
 In his attempt to return, he was apprehended, carried 
 before Sir William Howe, and the proof of his object was 
 so clear, that he frankly acknowledged who he was, and 
 what were his views. 
 
 Sir William Howe at once gave an order to the provost 
 marshal to execute him the next morning. 
 
 The order was accordingly executed in a most unfeeling 
 manner, and by as great a savage as ever disgraced hu 
 manity. A clergyman, whose attendance he desired, was 
 
1 78 APPENDIX. 
 
 refused him: a bible, for a moment s devotion, was not 
 procured, though he requested it. Letters, which on the 
 morning of his execution, he wrote to his mother, and other 
 friends, were destroyed ; and this very extraordinary reason 
 given by the provost marshal, that the rebels should not 
 know that they had a man in their army, who could die 
 with so much firmness. 
 
 Unknown to all around him, without a single friend to 
 offer him the least consolation, thus fell as amiable and as 
 worthy a young man as America could boast, with this as 
 his dying observation, i that he only lamented he had but 
 one life to lose for his country. How superior to the 
 dying words of Andre. Though the manner of his execu 
 tion will ever be abhorred by every friend to humanity and 
 religion, yet there cannot be a question but that the sen 
 tence was conformable to the rules of war, and the practice 
 of nations in similar cases. 
 
 It is, however, a justice due to the character of Captain 
 Hale, to observe, that his motives for engaging in this 
 service, were entirely different from those which generally 
 influence others in similar circumstances. Neither expec 
 tation of promotion nor pecuniary reward induced him to 
 this attempt. A sense of duty, a hope that he might in 
 this way be useful to h is country, and an opinion which he 
 had adopted, that every kind of service necessary to the 
 public good, became honourable by being necessary, were 
 the great motives that induced him to engage in an enter 
 prise, by which his connexions lost a most amiable friend, 
 and his country one of its most promising supporters. 
 
 The fate of this unfortunate young man excites the most 
 interesting reflections. 
 
 To see such a character, in the flower of youth, cheer 
 fully treading in the most hazardous paths, influenced by 
 
APPENDIX. 179 
 
 the purest intentions, and only emulous to do good to his 
 country, without the imputation of a crime, fall a victim to 
 policy, must have been wounding to the feelings even of his 
 enemies. 
 
 Should a comparison be drawn between Major Andre 
 and Captain Hale, injustice would be done to the latter, 
 should he not be placed on an equal ground with the former. 
 Whilst almost every historian of the American Revolution, 
 has celebrated the virtues and lamented the fate of Andre, 
 Hale has remained unnoticed, and it is scarcely known that 
 such a character ever existed. 
 
 To the memory of Andre, his country has erected the 
 most magnificent monuments, and bestowed on his family 
 the highest honours and most liberal rewards. To the 
 memory of Hale not a stone has been erected, nor an 
 inscription to preserve his ashes from insult." 
 
 (2) "Harvey Birch possessed the common manners of 
 the country, and was no way distinguished from the men 
 of his class, but by his acuteness and the mystery which 
 enveloped his movements. Spy, Vol. i.p. 31. 
 
 (3) "At first sight his strength seemed unequal to 
 manage the unwieldy burden of his pack; yet he threw it 
 on and off with great dexterity, and with as much apparent 
 ease as if it had been feathers." Spy, Vol. i. p. 84. 
 
 (4) When engaged in his ordinary business, the intelli 
 gence of his face appeared lively, active and flexible, 
 though uncommonly acute; if the conversation turned on 
 the ordinary transactions of life, his air became abstracted 
 and restless; but if, by chance, the revolution and the 
 country were the topic, his whole system seemed altered 
 all his faculties were concentrated he would listen for a 
 great length of time without speaking, and then would 
 break silence by some light and jocular remarks, that 
 
180 APPENDIX. 
 
 were too much at variance with his former manner, not to 
 be affectation." Spy, Vol. i. p. 84. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 (1) "This fort was tolerably situated on the western 
 bank of the Hudson, to annoy shipping going up the river; 
 the works were pretty good on that side, but were not so, 
 nor fully completed on the back side," HeatWs Memoirs, 
 page 129. 
 
 (2) See 4th note in Chapter IX, 
 
 (3) "Fifty pistols lighted the scene instantly, and the 
 bullets whistled in every direction around the head of the 
 devoted pedlar." Spy, Vol. i. p. 138. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 (I) Some time previous to the evacuation of Boston, Sir 
 Henry Clinton had been sent southward, to the assistance 
 of Governor Martin and Lord William Campbell, Gover 
 nors of the two Carolinas. As soon as this was known in 
 Cambridge, Lee was ordered to set forward and observe 
 his movements, and prepare to meet him with advantage, 
 in any part of the continent he might think proper to visit. 
 On reaching New-York, with his detachment from Cam 
 bridge, Lee put the city in a state of defence, and then 
 proceeded southward with such rapidity, that, to the aston 
 ishment of Clinton, Lee was in Virginia before him. But 
 as the object of the British armament was still further 
 south, Lee, with uncommon celerity, traversed the conti 
 nent, met Clinton in North Carolina, and was again ready 
 for the defence of Sullivan s Island, near Charleston, in 
 South Carolina, before the arrival of the British troops, 
 under thQ command of Clinton. The Americans were 
 
APPENDIX. 181 
 
 triumphant, and the discomfitted enemy was glad to retire to 
 the general rendezvous before New-York. 
 
 (2) This fort was situated on the bank of the Hudson, in 
 the vicinity of Kingsbridge. 
 
 (3) New-Rochelle is about five miles south of White 
 Plains, and is washed on one side by the waters of the 
 East river, or Long Island Sound. 
 
 (4) See Chapter VII. 2d paragraph. 
 
 (5) This name is said to have been derived from the 
 Indian word Apokeepsing, signifying < safe harbour." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 (1) See Heath s Memoirs. 
 
 (2) "The brunt of this battle," says Shallus, "was 
 sustained by the American General M Dougall, posted on 
 the right of the American army, who nobly sustained his 
 post with six hundred men, against the British army, though 
 basely deserted by four regiments of rnilitia, who fled on 
 the approach of two hundred and fifty light-horse." 
 
 (3) This is a high cobble-hill, on the west side of Hud 
 son river, opposite Breakneck Hill. These are the northern 
 hills of the Highland chain. 
 
 (4) St. Anthony^s Face is on the south side of Break- 
 neck Hill, at the north entrance of the Highlands, sixty 
 miles from the city of New- York. Its name is derived 
 from a ludicrous resemblance of a colossal human face, as 
 seen from the river. The rock which has this appearance, 
 exhibits a good profile of a face of thirty-two feet, aided 
 by a little fancy, and a relish for the marvellous. A tree 
 which grows upon the chin, just reaches the height of the 
 eyes, and kindly spreads its branches for the eye-brows of 
 the saint. There is another promontory, opposite the site 
 of Fort Montgomery, five miles below West Point, which 
 
 16 
 
182 APPEJfDIX. 
 
 is called St, Anthony s Nose, but the resemblance is less 
 remarkable. 
 
 (5) See the Spy, Vol. I. Chap. V. three concluding 
 pages. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 (1) "Most of the movements of the pedlar through the 
 country, were made at the hours which others allotted to 
 repose. His approaches to the American lines were gen 
 erally so conducted as to baffle pursuit. Many a sentinel, 
 placed in the gorges of the mountains, spoke of a strange 
 figure that had been seen gliding by them in the mists of 
 the evening." Spy, Vol. i. p. 149. 
 
 (2) "Dark and threatening hints began to throw sus 
 picion around his movements, and the civil authority 
 thought it incumbent on them to examine narrowly into his 
 mode of life. His imprisonments were not long, though 
 frequent, and his escapes from the guardians of the law 
 comparatively easy, to what he endured from the persecu 
 tion of the military." Spy. Vol. i. p. 34. 
 
 (3) " Will Washington say so, think you ?" said Birch 
 
 with a ghastly smile. "No no no Washington 
 
 would never say, lead him to a gallows. " Spy, Vol. i. 
 page 249. 
 
 (4) "Once, when, a strong body of the continental army 
 held the Four Corners, for a whole summer, orders had 
 been received from Washington himself, never to leave the 
 door of Harvey Birch unwatched; the command was 
 rigidly obeyed, and during this long period, the pedlar was 
 unseen. The detachment was withdrawn, and the next 
 night Birch re-entered his dwelling." Spy, Vol. i. p. 150. 
 
 (5) Near the site of Fort Washington, in the vicinity of 
 Kingsbridge. 
 
APPENDIX. 183 
 
 (6) This hill was bravely defended by the Americans, 
 during the attack of Fort Washington. It is supposed that 
 twelve hundred of the royal troops were killed or wounded. 
 After being twice summoned, the commandant, Colonel 
 Magaw, was compelled to surrender with 2870 Americans. 
 
 (7) See Chapter VI. 3d paragraph. 
 
 (8) Soon after the reduction of Fort Washington, Lord 
 Cornwallis, with a large force, conjectured to amount to 
 about six thousand men, crossed over the North river, to 
 attack Fort Lee, on the opposite Jersey shore. On the 
 intelligence of their approach, the first determination of 
 the Americans was to meet and fight them; but it was soon 
 discovered that the contest would be too unequal, and the 
 garrison was saved by an immediate evacuation, under the 
 able guidance of General Greene. 
 
 (9) See Heath s Memoirs. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 (1) One Daniel Strong was found lurking about our 
 army at Peekskill, and, on examination, enlisting orders 
 were found sewed in his clothes. He was immediately 
 tried as a spy from the enemy, sentenced to suffer death, 
 and was executed accordingly." Thacher s Journal. 
 
 (2) This was the name by which Crosby was known in 
 the Dutchman s family. 
 
 (3) This direction of the worthy Dutchman, reminds the 
 writer of the following story: "A Yankee, travelling 
 through a Dutch settlement, in the state of New-York, and 
 guessing that he was near his place of destination, thought 
 he would ascertain the fact by inquiring of a man who was 
 hard at work in a field of potatoes. He was answered in 
 the following manner: <Val den, you vil turn de potato 
 patch round, de pridge over, and de river up stream, arid de 
 
184 APPENDIX. 
 
 hel up ; and tirectly you see mine prother Haunse s parn 
 shingled mit straw; dat s his house, vare mine brother 
 Schnyven lives. He ll tell you so petter as I can. And 
 you go little further, you see two roats you must not take 
 bote of em. " 
 
 (4) Bennington is about thirty-six miles from Albany 
 in a northeast direction, and is famous for General Starke s 
 victory over the Hessians, on the 16th of August, 1777. 
 
 (5) " Washington having obtained information that the 
 advanced party of the enemy, consisting of about fifteen 
 hundred Hessians and British light-horse, under command 
 of Colonel Rahl, was stationed at the village of Trenton, 
 concerted a plan for taking them by surprise. For this 
 purpose, he made choice of Christmas night, under the 
 idea, that in consequence of the festivity, they might be 
 less vigilantly guarded. At this time, the whole force under 
 his immediate command did not exceed three thousand 
 men. At the head of about two thousand four hundred 
 men, one division being commanded by General Greene, 
 and the other by General Sullivan, he crossed the river 
 Delaware in boats, in the night of the 25th of December, 
 during a severe storm of snow and rain. The passage of 
 the boats was rendered extremely difficult and hazardous 
 by the ice, and part of the troops and cannon actually 
 failed in the attempt. Having .landed on the Jersey 
 shore, he had nine miles to march, and he reached the vil 
 lage about 7 o clock in the morning with such promptitude 
 and secrecy, so as to attack the enemy almost as soon as 
 his approach was discovered. A smart firing ensued, 
 which continued but a few moments, when the enemy, 
 :finding themselves surrounded, threw down their arms, and 
 surrendered as prisoners. Colonel Rahl, the commanding 
 officer,- was mortally wounded, and seven other officers 
 
APPENDIX. 185 
 
 were wounded, and left at Trenton on their parole. About 
 thirty-five soldiers were killed, sixty wounded, and nine 
 hundred and forty-eight, including thirty officers, were 
 taken prisoners, amounting in all to one thousand and forty- 
 eight. Of the continentals, not more than ten, it is sup 
 posed, were killed and wounded. General Washington re- 
 crossed the Delaware the same day in triumph, bringing off 
 six excellent brass cannon, about one thousand two hundred 
 small arms, and three standards, with a quantity of bag 
 gage, &c. This very brilliant achievement is highly 
 honourable to the commander-in-chief, and to all that were 
 engaged in the enterprise. We are sanguine in the hope 
 that this most auspicious event will be productive of the 
 happiest effects, by inspiriting our dejected army, and dis 
 pelling that panic of despair into which the people have 
 been plunged. General Washington allowed the Hessian 
 prisoners to retain their baggage^ and sent them into the 
 interior of Pennsylvania, ordering that they be treated with 
 favour and humanity. This conduct, so contrary to their 
 expectations, excited their gratitude and veneration for their 
 amiable conqueror, whom they styled, -a very good rebel." 1 " 
 Thacher. 
 
 (6) u After his success at Trenton, General Washington 
 received considerable reinforcements of troops from Vir 
 ginia and Maryland, and some regiments of militia, which 
 enabled him again to cross the Delaware into the Jerseys, 
 and face the enemy. While at Trenton, Lord Cornwallis 
 advanced to attack him, aad a severe cannonade com 
 menced. In the evening, General Washington ordered a 
 great number of fires to be lighted up, and, leaving a suffi 
 cient number of men to keep them burning during the 
 night, to deceive the enemy, stole a march with his maia 
 army, taking a circuitous route, and, at 9 o clock the next 
 16* 
 
186 APPENDIX. 
 
 morning, attacked three regiments of the British, who 
 were posted at Princeton, routed them, and drove them from 
 their redoubts. By this masterly manoeuvre, the enemy 
 lost about five hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners. 
 The loss on our side is very inconsiderable in point of 
 numbers, but we have to lament the death of Brigadier 
 General Mercei~, a brave officer who commanded the Vir 
 ginia militia. The fact is published, that after General 
 Mercer surrendered himself, the enemy, deaf to the voice 
 of humanity, stabbed him with their bayonets, and with the 
 butt end of a musket battered and disfigured his face in a 
 savage manner. It is to be remarked, that on this mem 
 orable occasion, Lord Cornwallis was completely out-gen- 
 eraled; while, he was expecting to find the continental army 
 at their lighted fires at Trenton, he was astonished and 
 confounded to hear the firing occasioned by this same army, 
 beating up their quarters twelve miles in his rear. His 
 lordship immediately repaired by a forced marched to 
 Princeton, but arrived too late to retaliate on his vigilant 
 antagonist, who had taken up his route to Morristown. 
 Finding that the continentals were out of his reach, his 
 lordship proceeded, without halting, to Brunswick. Strata 
 gems in war, when wisely concerted, and judiciously ex 
 ecuted, are considered as characterizing a military genius 
 of superior order, and is a quality of inestimable value in 
 every commander. It is often exultmgly remarked in our 
 camp, that Washington was born for the salvation of his 
 country, and that he is endowed with all the talents and 
 abilities necessary to qualify him for the great undertaking. 
 The militia of Jersey, immediately on their being liberated 
 from the control of the British, flew to arms, exasperated 
 and stimulated by a recollection of their sufferings,, and 
 have become their most bitter and determined enemies; 
 
APPENDIX. . ] 87 
 
 and are very active and vigilant in harassing them on all 
 occasions, keeping a continual watch, and cutting off small 
 parties whenever opportunities offer. It is gratifying to 
 the army, that Congress have conferred on their Generalis 
 simo more ample powers, and appointed him Dictator for 
 the limited term of six months ; to reform and new model 
 the military arrangements, in such manner as he may judge 
 most advantageous for the public service. Much good is 
 expected to result from this measure/ Thacher^s Journal* 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 (1) Why the rebels suffer him to escape so easily, is more 
 than I can answer," returned the Captain, "but Sir Henry 
 would not permit a hair of his head to be injured." 
 
 " Indeed !" cried Frances, with interest, "is he then known 
 to Sir H^nry Clinton?" 
 
 "At least he ought to be," said the Captain, smiling sig 
 nificantly. Spy, Vol. i.p. 62. 
 
 (2) Claverack is about thirty-five miles south of Albany, 
 on the eastern side of the Hudson. It was settled at a very 
 early period by the Dutch, and their descendants still oc 
 cupy a large proportion of the rich lands in its vicinity. 
 
 (3) Jay was afterwards sent as an envoy to the court of 
 Spain. "His capacity was equal to the business; he was 
 well received, and his public character acknowledged: yet 
 his negotiations were of little consequence to America, 
 while he resided in Spain. Perhaps, apprehensive that the 
 spirit of freedom and revolt might extend to her own colo 
 nies, Spain chose to withhold her assistance." "The high 
 est favor he could obtain was, the trivial loan of four or five- 
 thousand pounds. A short time afterwards, however, Spaia 
 declared war against England." Warren s Revolution* 
 
188 APPENDIX. 
 
 (4) On the 24th of May, Colonel Meigs made a success 
 ful attack on the British stores at Sag Harbour, destroying 
 twelve brigs and schooners, together with a great quantity 
 of hay, corn, &c. He sustained no loss, and brought off 
 with him ninety prisoners. 
 
 (5) "In the month of July, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Barton, of (he Rhode-Island militia, planned a bold exploit 
 for the purpose of surprising and taking Major-General 
 Prescott, the commanding officer of the royal army at 
 Newport. Taking with him, in the night, about forty men 
 in two boats with oars muffled, he had the address to elude 
 the vigilance of the ships of war, and guard boats, and 
 having arrived undiscovered at the quarters of General 
 Prescott, they were taken for the sentinels, and the General 
 was not alarmed till his captors were at the door of his 
 lodging chamber, which was fast closed. A negro man, 
 named Prince, instantly thrust his beetle head through the 
 pannel door, and seized his victim while in bed The Gen 
 eral s aid-de-camp leaped from a window undressed, and 
 attempted to escape, but was taken, and with the General 
 brought off in safety. In re-passing the water-guards. 
 General Prescott said to Colonel Barton, "Sir, I did not 
 think it possible you could escape the vigilance of the 
 water-guards." This is the second time that General 
 Prescott has been a prisoner in our hands within two years. 
 This adventure is extremely honourable to the enterprising 
 spirit of Colonel Barton, and is considered as ample retal 
 iation for the capture of General Lee by Colonel Harcourt. 
 The event occasions great joy and exultation, as it puts 
 in our possession an officer of equal rank with General 
 Lee, by which means an exchange may be obtained. Con 
 gress resolved that an elegant sword should be presented 
 to Colonel Barton for his brave exploit It has been ascer- 
 
APPENDIX. 189 
 
 tained that General Howe has rel ixed in his rigid treatment 
 of General Lee, and conducted towards him in a manner 
 suitable to his rank. The Hessian officers, on whom retal 
 iation had been inflicted, are also restored to their former 
 condition as prisoners of war." Thacher^s Journal. 
 
 (6) "On the third of August, 1777, Colonel St. Leger, 
 and Sir John Johnson, with a body of Britons, Canadians, 
 tories, and Indians, invested Fort Stanwix, now Fort 
 Schuyler, one hundred and ten miles from Albany. Gen 
 eral Herkimer, with about eight hundred militia, was ad 
 vancing to disperse this motley collection, and to relieve 
 the garrison; but unfortunately he fell into an ambuscade, 
 and suffered a considerable loss. Being himself wounded 
 in both legs, he was seen sitting on. a stump, and coura 
 geously encouraging his men, by which they maintained 
 their ground, and did great execution among the enemy. 
 Several of the Indian chiefs were slain by the first fire, 
 which so disheartened the remainder, that they were thrown 
 into the greatest confusion, and turning on the tories, and 
 other white people, a warm contention ensued between 
 them, and many of the whites were killed. Colonel Gan- 
 sevort, the commander of the fort, sent out Lieutenant 
 Colonel Willet, with two hundred and fifty men, who brave 
 ly routed the Indians and tories, destroyed their provisions, 
 and took their kettles, blankets, muskets, tomahawks, deer 
 skins, &c. with five colours, and returned to the fort. The 
 brave General Herkimer soon died of his wounds, and one 
 hundred and sixty of his militia men, having fought like 
 lions, were killed, besides a great number wounded. St. 
 Leger s victory over our militia was purchased at a dear 
 price, more than seventy of his Indians were slain, and 
 among them a large proportion of their most distinguished 
 and favourite warriors, and the survivors were exceedingly 
 
190 APPENDIX. 
 
 dissatisfied. The object of the expedition was far from be 
 ing accomplished ; the commander did not, however, despair 
 of getting possession of the fort; for this purpose he sent 
 in a flag, demanding a surrender. He greatly magnified 
 his own strength, asserted that Burgoyne was at Albany; 
 and threatened that, on refusal, his Indians would destroy 
 all the inhabitants in the vicinity; and so soon as they 
 could enter the fort, every man would be sacrificed. Colo 
 nel Gransevort nobly replied in the negative, being deter 
 mined to defend the fort at every hazard ; aware, however, 
 of his perilous situation, he found means of sending to 
 General Schuyler at Still water for assistance. General 
 Arnold was now despatched with a brigade of troops to 
 attack the besiegers; but, finding their force greatly supe 
 rior to his own, he sent back for a reinforcement of one 
 thousand light troops. 
 
 An object which cannot be accomplished by force is 
 often obtained by means of stratagem. Lieutenant Colonel 
 John Brook*?, an intelligent officer from Massachusetts, 
 being in advance with a small detachment, found one Ma 
 jor Butler, a noted officer among the Indians, endeavoring 
 to influence the inhabitants in their favour, and he was 
 immediately secured. A man also by the name of Cuyler, 
 who was proprietor of a handsome estate in the vicinity, 
 was taken up as a spy. Colonel Brooks proposed that he 
 should be employed as a deceptive messenger to spread 
 the alarm, and induce the enemy to retreat. General Ar 
 nold soon after arrived, and approved the scheme of Colonel 
 Brooks; it was accordingly agreed that Cuyler should be 
 liberated, and his estate secured to him on the condition ? 
 that he would return to the enemy, and make such exagge 
 rated report of General Arnold s force as to alarm and put 
 them to flight. Several friendly Indians being present, 
 
APPENDIX. 191 
 
 one of their head men advised that Cuyler s coat should be 
 shot through in two or three places, to add credibility to his 
 story. Matters being thus adjusted, the impostor proceeded 
 directly to the Indian camp, where he was well known, and 
 informed their warriors that Major Butler was taken, and 
 that himself narrowly escaped, several shot having passed 
 through his coat, and that General Arnold with a vast 
 force was advancing rapidly towards them. In aid of the 
 project, a friendly Indian followed arid arrived about an 
 hour after, with a confirmation of Cuyler s report. This 
 stratagem was successful ; the Indians instantly determined 
 to quit their ground, and make their escape, nor was it in 
 the power of St. Leger and Sir John with all their art of 
 persuasion, to prevent it. When St. Leger remonstrated 
 with them, the reply of the chiefs was, "When we marched 
 down, you told us there would be no fighting for us Indians, 
 wemight go down and smoke our pipes; but now a number 
 of our warriors have been killed, and you mean to sacrifice 
 us." The consequence was, that St. Leger, finding him 
 self deserted by his Indians, to the nubmer of seven or eight 
 hundred, deemed his situation so hazardous, that he decamp 
 ed in the greatest hurry and confusion, leaving his tents, 
 with most of his artillery and stores, in the field. General 
 Arnold, with his detachment, was now at liberty to return 
 to the main army at Still water; and thus have we clipped 
 the right wing of General Burgoyne. In the evening, while 
 on their retreat, St. Leger and Sir John got into a warm 
 altercation, criminating each other for the ill success of 
 the expedition. Two Sachems observing this, resolved to 
 have a laugh at their expense, In their front was a bog of 
 clay and mud ; they directed a young warrior to loiter in 
 the rear, and then, of a sudden, run as if alarmed, calling 
 out, they are coming, they are coming. On hearing this. 
 
192 APPENDIX. 
 
 the two commanders in a fright took to their heels, rushing 
 into the bog, frequently falling and sticking in the mud, and 
 the men threw away their packs, and hurried off. This 
 and other jokes, were several times repeated during the 
 night for many miles." Thacher s Journal. 
 
 (7) On the 16th of August, 1777, the Americans under 
 General Stark, defeated the British and Indians, under 
 Lieutenant Colonels Baum andBreyman, at Bermington, Vt. 
 Stark divided his troops into three divisions, and ordered 
 Col. Nichols, with two hundred and fifty men, to gain the 
 rear of the left wing of the enemy, who was secured by 
 entrenchments. At-the same time, Col. Hendrick made a 
 similar movement on the enemy s right wing, while Stark 
 attacked them in front. The Indians, alarmed at the ap 
 pear of ance being surrounded, endeavored to make their es 
 cape in a single file between the two parties, with their horrid 
 yells and the gingling of cow bells. The flanking parties 
 approached each other in their rear, and General Stark 
 making a bold and furious onset in front, a general and 
 close conflict ensued, and continued with more or less se 
 verity for about two hours. Though Colonel Baum had 
 nearly twice their numbers, and was defended by breast 
 works, the force opposed to them proved irresistible, for 
 cing their breastworks at the muzzles of their guns, and 
 obliging them to ground their arms and surrender at dis 
 cretion, so that the victory on our part was complete. We 
 took two pieces of brass cannon, and a number of prison, 
 ers, with baggage, &c. This was no sooner accomplished, 
 than Colonel Breyman, with one thousand German troops, 
 arrived with two field pieces, to reinforce Colonel Baum, 
 who had just been defeated. General Stark s troops were 
 now scattered, some attending the wounded, some guarding 
 the prisoners, and still more in pursuit of plunder,- and all 
 
APPENDIX. 193 
 
 exhausted by extreme hunger and fatigue. At this criti 
 cal moment, Colonel Warner s regiment arrived, and the 
 other troops being rallied, the whole were ordered to ad 
 vance. A field piece had been taken from Baum in the 
 forenoon, and Stark ordered it to be drawn to the scene of 
 action ; but his men, having never seen a cannon, knew 
 not how to load it, the General dismounted, and taught 
 them by loading it himself. An action soon commenced, 
 and proved warm and desperate, in which both sides dis 
 played the most daring bravery, till night approached, 
 when the enemy yielded a second time in one day, to their 
 Yankee conquerors. The German troops being totally 
 routed, availed themselves of the darkness of night to 
 effect their retreat. The whole number of killed, woun 
 ded, and prisoners, was nine hundred and thirty-four, in 
 cluding one hundred and fifty- seven toriesj of this number, 
 six hundred and fifty-four are prisoners. Colonel Baum 
 received a mortal wound, of which he soon after died. 
 Besides the above, one thonsand stand of arms, four brass 
 field pieces, two hundred and fifty dragoon swords, eight 
 loads of baggage, and twenty horses, fell into our hands. 
 The loss on our side, is not more than one hundred in the 
 whole. The officers and men engaged in this splendid en 
 terprise merit all the praise which a grateful country can 
 bestow; they fought disciplined troops, completely accou 
 tred, while they wielded their ordinary firelocks with scarce 
 a bayonet, and at first without cannon. The consequences 
 must be most auspicious as respects our affairs in the nor 
 them department. Burgoyne must feel the clipping of 
 another wing, and it must diminish his confidence in his 
 successful career. The event will also be productive of 
 the happiest effects on the spirits of our militia, by in 
 creasing their confidence in their own prowess. The fol- 
 17 
 
194 APPENDIX. 
 
 lowing anecdote deserves to be noticed for the honour of 
 the person who is the subject of it, though his name has 
 not been ascertained. A venerable old man had five sons 
 in the field of battle near Bennington; and being told that 
 he had been unfortunate in one of his sons, replied, What, 
 has he misbehaved, did he desert his post, or shrink from 
 the charge ? No sir, says the informant, worse than that : 
 he is among the slain; he fell contending mightily in the 
 cause. Then I am satisfied, replied the good old man : 
 bring him in, and lay him before me, that I may behold 
 and survey the darling of my soul. On which, the corpse 
 was brought in, and laid before him. He then called for a 
 bowl of water and a napkin, and with his own hands wash 
 ed the gore and dirt from his son s corpse, and wiped his 
 gaping wounds, with a complacency, as he himself expres 
 sed it, which before he had never felt or experienced."- 
 Thacher s Journal. 
 
 (8) On the 18th of September, the Americans, under 
 Colonel Brown, attacked and defeated the British, on the 
 north end of Lake George, and Ticonderoga. They took 
 two hundred ninety-three prisoners, released one hundred 
 Americans, and retook the continental standard left there 
 on its evacuation, July 6, 1777. 
 
 (9) The American army under the command of General 
 Gates, in the vicinity of Stillwater, in the county of Sara 
 toga, state of New- York, attacked the enemy, under Gen 
 eral Burgoyne, on the 19th of September, 1777. At about 
 three o clock, both armies being formed in a line of battle, 
 the action became general, and the combatants on both 
 sides evinced that ardour and gallantry which shows a de 
 termination to conquer or die. The firing for about three 
 hours was incessant, with continued tremendous roar and 
 blaze, filling the field with carnage and death. Few battles 
 
APPENDIX. 195 
 
 have been more obstinate and unyielding- at one point the 
 British are overpowered ; but, being reinforced, the Ameri 
 cans are baffled ; these, being supported, and renewing their 
 efforts, regain their advantages; the same ground is occu 
 pied alternately, the dead and wounded of* both parties are 
 mingled together. The British resort repeatedly to their 
 bayonets without effect the Americans resist and foil their 
 attempts. Captain Jones, of the British artillery, had the 
 command of four pieces of cannon, which he conducted 
 with great skill and valour till he fell, and thirty-six out 
 of forty-eight of his artillery-men were killed or wounded; 
 his cannon were repeatedly taken and re-taken, but finally 
 remained with the enemy for the want of horses to bring 
 them off. During the engagement, a number of our soldiers 
 placed themselves in the boughs of high trees, in the rear 
 and flanks, and took every opportunity of destroying the 
 British officers by single shot: in one instance, General 
 Burgoyne was the object, but the aid-de-camp of General 
 Phillips received the ball through his arm, while delivering 
 a message to Burgoyne; the mistake, it is said, was occa 
 sioned by having his saddle furnished with rich lace, and 
 was supposed, by the marksman to be the British comman 
 der. In the dusk of evening the battle terminated, the 
 British in one quarter silently retreating, the Americans 
 in another give way, and quit the long-contested field. 
 Lieutenant Colonel Brooks, with the eighth Massachusetts 
 regiment, remained in the field till about eleven o clock, and 
 was the last who retired. Major Hull commanded a de 
 tachment of three hundred men, who fought with such sig 
 nal ardour, that more than half. of them were killed or 
 wounded. The whole number of Americans engaged in 
 this action, was about two thousand five hundred; the re- 
 jjiainder of the army, from its unfavourable situation, took 
 
196 APPENDIX. 
 
 little or no part in the action. The British have suffered a 
 loss, as is supposed, of more than five hundred in killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners. On the side of the Americans 
 sixty-four were killed, two hundred and seventeen wounded, 
 and thirty-eight missing. Among the killed, are Colonels 
 Adams and Colburn, two valuable officers much regretted. 
 The victory on this important occasion is claimed by the 
 enemy, but the advantages are most decidedly on the side 
 of the Americans: they were the assailants they held 
 their ground during the day and, at the close, retired to 
 their encampment without being pursued. The royal army 
 lay all the ensuing night on their arms at some distance from 
 the field of battle." Thacher^s Journal 
 
 (10) "The Americans had erected several forts and re 
 doubts on the banks of the Delaware river, and on Mud 
 Island, to guard against the passage of the British fleet up 
 this river to Philadelphia. In one of these forts at Red 
 Bank, Colonel Greene, of Rhode Island, was posted with 
 about four hundred men. General Howe, perceiving the 
 great importance of reducing these works, detached Count 
 Donop, an officer held in high estimation in the royal army, 
 with twelve or fifteen hundred Hessian troops, well supplied 
 with artillery, to take possession of it. Having arrived 
 near the redoubts, he summoned the commander to surren 
 der, to which he resolutely replied, he would defend the 
 place to the last extremity. This fort being originally con 
 structed on a large scale, it was found necessary to run a 
 line across the middle, and divide it into two, so that the 
 external part was left without defence. The Hessian com 
 mander ordered his troops to advance under cover of the 
 smoke of his cannon, and storm the redoubt; they soon 
 gained the unoccupied part with loud huzzas on their sup 
 posed victory; but on approaching the new lines within, 
 
APPENDIX. 197 
 
 where our troops were stationed, the brave garrison poured 
 on them such hot and well-directed fire for about forty 
 minutes, that they were completely overpowered, and fled 
 in every direction. Colonel Donop, their commander, was 
 mortally wounded and taken, and more than one hundred 
 were killed on the spot, and a greater number wounded 
 and prisoners. The enemy retreated with great precipita 
 tion, leaving many of their wounded on the road, and re 
 turned to Philadelphia with the loss of one half their party. 
 Colonel Greene, and his brave troops, acquired great hon 
 our for their gallant defence of the fort, which is a key to 
 other posts on the river. Congress have rewarded the 
 Colonel, \vith an elegant sword. The British army found 
 it difficult to procure the necessary supplies in Philadelphia, 
 and the continental galleys and strong chevaux de frize 
 in the Delaware, rendered a passage of their ships up to 
 the city almost impossible. Admiral Lord Howe deter 
 mined to attempt the removal of these formidable obstruc 
 tions, and he ordered six of his ships to engage in this ser 
 vice. They were so unmercifully handled by our galleys, 
 and from Fort Mifflin, at Mud Island, that two of them, one 
 of sixty -four guns, run aground, and were set on fire by 
 the crews who deserted them, and soon after they blew 
 up." Thacher s Journal. 
 
 (11) After the battle of Stillwater,the situation of Gen 
 eral Burgoyne became very precarious. J* is Indian auxil 
 iaries deserted daily; and his army, ^duced to little more 
 than five thousand men, was limited to half their usual 
 allowance of provisions. His *wck of forage was entirely 
 exhausted, and his horses w-re perishing in great numbers. 
 The American army had Become so augmented, as to ren 
 der him diffident of raking good his retreat. To aggra 
 vate his distress, no intelligence had yet been received of 
 17* 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 the approach of General Clinton, or of any diversion in 
 his favor from New- York. 
 
 In this exigency, General Burgoyne resolved to examine 
 the possibility of dislodging the Americans from their posts 
 on the left, by which means he would be enabled to retreat 
 to the lakes. For this purpose he drew out fifteen hundred 
 men, which he headed himself, attended by Generals Phil 
 lips, Reidesel, and Frazer* This detachment had scarcely 
 formed, within less than half a mile of the American in- 
 trenchments, when a furious attack was made on its left; 
 but Major Ackland, at the head of the British grenadiers, 
 sustained it with great firmness. The Americans soon ex 
 tended their attack along the whole front of the German 
 troops, which were posted on the right of the grenadiers ; 
 and inarched a body around their flank to prevent their re 
 treat. On this movement, the British light infantry, with 
 a part of the twenty-fourth regiment, instantly formed, to 
 cover the retreat of the troops into the camp. Their left 
 wing, in the mean time, overpowered with numbers, was 
 obliged to retreat, and would inevitably have been cut to 
 pieces, but for the intervention of the same troops, which 
 had just been covering the retreat on the right. The 
 whole detachment was now under the necessity of retiring,- 
 but scarcely had the British troops entered the lines, when 
 the Americans, led by General Arnold, pressed forward, 
 and, under a tremendous fire of grape shot and musketry, 
 assaulted the works shroughout their whole extent from 
 right to left. Toward tlu close of the day, a part of the 
 left of the Americans force* the intrenchments, and Ar 
 nold with a few men actually entered the works; but his 
 horse being killed, and he himseK badly wounded in the 
 leg, they were forced out of them, and it being now nearly 
 dark, they desisted from the attack. On the left of Arnold s 
 
APPENDIX. 199 
 
 detachment, Jackson s regiment of Massachusetts, then led 
 by Lieutenant Colonel Brooks, was still more successful. 
 It turned the right of the encampment, and carried by storm 
 the works, occupied by the German reserve. Lieutenant 
 Colonel Breyman was killed; and Brooks maintained the 
 ground he had gained. Darkness put an end to the action. 
 The advantage of the Americans was decisive. They 
 killed a great number of the enemy; made upward of two 
 hundrad prisoners, among whom were several officers of 
 distinction; toon: nine pieces of brass artillery, and the 
 encampment of a German brigade, with all their equipage. 
 Among the slain of the enemy was General Frazer, an offi 
 cer of distinguished merit, whose loss was particularly 
 regretted. The loss of the Americans was inconsiderable. 
 
 Gates posted fourteen hundred men on the heights oppo 
 site the ford of Saratoga; two thousand in the rear, to 
 prevent a retreat to Fort Edward ; and fifteeen hundred at 
 a ford higher up. Burgoyne, apprehensive of being hemmed 
 in, retired immediately to Saratoga. 
 
 An attempt was now made to retreat to Fort George. 
 Artificers were accordingly despatched, under a strong 
 escort, to repair the bridges, and open the road to Fort 
 Edward ; but they were compelled to make a precipitate 
 retreat. The situation of General Burgoyne becoming 
 every hour more hazardous, he resolved to attempt a retreat 
 by night to Fort Edward ; but even this retrograde movement 
 was rendered impracticable. While the army was pre 
 paring to march, intelligence was received, that the Amer 
 icans had already possessed themselves of Fort Edward, 
 and that they were well provided with artillery. No avenue 
 to escape now appeared. Incessant toil had worn down 
 the whole British army, which did not now contain more 
 than three thousand five hundred fighting men. Provisions 
 
200 APPENDIX . 
 
 were almost exhausted, and there was no possible means of 
 procuring a supply. The American army, which was 
 daily increasing, was already much greater than the 
 British in point of numbers, and almost encircled them. 
 In this extremity, the British General called a council of 
 war; and it was unanimously resolved to enter into a con 
 vention with General Gates. Preliminaries were soon 
 settled, and the royal army surrendered prisoners of war. 
 
 The capture of an entire army was justly viewed as an 
 event that must essentially affect the contest between Great 
 Britain and America; and while it excited the highest joy 
 among the people, it could not but have a most auspicious 
 influence in the cabinet and in the field. The thanks of 
 Congress were voted to General Gates and his army; and 
 a medal of gold, in commemoration of this splendid achieve 
 ment, was ordered to be struck, to be presented to him by 
 the president, in the name of the United States." Holmes 
 American Annals. 
 
 (12) a General Washington having ascertained that it 
 was the great object of Sir William Howe to possess him 
 self of the city of Philadelphia, put in requisition every 
 effort in his power to counteract his measures for this pur 
 pose. His force during the whole campaign was consid 
 erably inferior to that of the enemy. Battles and skir 
 mishing of more or less importance were frequent, but not 
 decisive, though attended with no inconsiderable loss of 
 human lives. On the llth of September, the two armies 
 approached each other in the order of battle, and a general 
 action took place at Brandywine, in which the officers and 
 soldiers of both armies displayed a spirit of intrepidity and 
 heroism, scarcely ever exceeded. The British claim the 
 victory; but it was only a partial one, and besides a pro 
 digious sacrifice of lives, they failed in their main object, 
 
APPENDIX, 201 
 
 that of forcing their way to Philadelphia. It is stated 
 that, from particular circumstances, little more than one 
 half of General Washington s force was opposed to nearly 
 the whole strength of the enemy. Our loss is mentioned 
 in round "numbers atone thousand. The Marquis de La 
 fayette, and General Woodford were slightly wounded. 
 The loss of the royalists, according to accounts published, 
 greatly exceeds that of the Americans." Thacher s Jour. 
 
 (13) On the 21st of September, the British, under Gen. 
 Gray, surprised the American General Wayne, about one 
 o clock in the morning, at Paoli. Of the Americans, about 
 three hundred were killed or wounded with the bayonet, 
 and about seventy or eighty prisoners taken, including 
 several officers. 
 
 (14) Colonel Warner commanded the rear guard of 
 General St. Clair, consisting of twelve hundred men, on 
 their march from Ticonderoga to Hubbardstown, in Ver 
 mont. They were pursued by a detachment from Bur- 
 goyne s army, under General Frazer, who overtook them 
 near Hubbardstown, where a close and severe engagement 
 took place, in which the brave Colonel Francis fell, with 
 other valuable American officers. American loss, 324 
 killed, wounded, and prisoners. British loss, 133 killed 
 and wounded. 
 
 (15) Fort Stanwix, since called Fort Schuyler, was, 
 early in August, invested by a body of Britons, Canadians, 
 tories, and Indians, and Herkimer was on his march to 
 disperse them. See Note (6) Chapter XII. 
 
 (16) On the 26th of April, 1777, the notorious Tryon, 
 at the head of two thousand tories and refugees, marched 
 to Danbury in the state of Connecticut, where they burnt 
 eighteen houses with their contents, and a very valuable 
 quantity of stores, provisions, and 1790 tents. This wa.o- 
 
202 APPENDIX. 
 
 ton devastation alarmed the country, and the militiajcol- 
 lected under Major General Wooster, assisted by Arnold 
 and Silliman. A smart action soon ensued, and continued 
 about one hour, in which our militia and a small number 
 of continentals conducted with distinguished bravery, but 
 being overpowered by a superior force, they were obliged 
 to retreat. The amount of stores destroyed by the enemy 
 was very considerable, but the loss of valuable officers and 
 men is infinitely more important. General Wooster was 
 mortally wounded, and died soon after. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Gould and four or five other officers were killed, 
 and about sixty men were killed or wounded. Among 
 the slain is Dr. Atwater, a respectable character, whose 
 death is greatly lamented. General Arnold had his 
 horse shot under him when within ten yards of the enemy, 
 and a soldier was advancing with fixed bayonet towards 
 him, when, with great presence of mind, he drew his pistol 
 from his holsters, and instantly shot him through the body. 
 On the side of the royalists, the loss, as stated by General 
 Howe, is one hundred and seventy-two in killed, wounded, 
 and missing, but by other accounts it is much more con 
 siderable. Among their wounded is Brigadier General 
 Agnew, and two other field officers." Thacher e Journal. 
 (17) "On the 6th of October, 1777, the British, under 
 Sir Henry Clinton and General Vaughan, succeeded in an 
 assault on Forts Montgomery and Clinton, on the western 
 bank of the Hudson, a few miles below West Point. 
 These fortresses were defended by Governor George Clin 
 ton, and his brother, General James Clinton, of New-York, 
 having about six hundred militia-men, a force greatly inad 
 equate to the defence of the works. The enemy came up 
 the river, landed, and appeared unexpectedly, arid deman 
 ded a surrender of the forts, which being resolutely refused, 
 were taken by assault, though not without a firm and brave 
 
APPENDIX, 203 
 
 resistance. General James Clinton received a bayonet 
 Wound in his thigh, but he and the Governor, with a part of 
 the garrison, made their escape, leaving about two hundred 
 and fifty men killed, wounded, and prisoners. The enemy 
 suffered a severe loss of three field officers killed, and their 
 dead and wounded is estimated at about three hundred. 
 General Putnam, who commanded at Peekskill, in the 
 vicinity, having a small force only to guard the deposit of 
 stores, was obliged to retire, and the barracks, stores and 
 provisions, to a very considerable amount, fell into the 
 hands of the enemy, and were destroyed. With wanton 
 pruelty they set fire to the houses and buildings of every 
 description, and spread ruin and devastation to the extent 
 of their power. To consummate their destructive scheme, 
 General Vaughan destoyed by conflagration, the beautiful 
 town of Esopus, with the church, and every other building 
 it contained. Thus we experience the horrid effects of 
 malice and revenge; where they cannot conquer, they 
 wantonly exterminate ad destroy. They are well ap 
 prised of the disastrous and desperate situation of their 
 boastful General Burgoyne, and if they dare not march to 
 his relief, they can cowardly retaliate by conflagration with 
 impunity. It is the prevalent opinion here, that by taking 
 advantage of wind and tide, it is in the power of Sir Henry 
 Clinton to convey his forces to this city within the space of 
 five or six hours, arid having arrived here, a march of 
 about twenty miles will carry him without opposition to 
 Stillwater, which must involve General Gates in inexpres 
 sible embarrassment arid difficulty, by placing him between 
 two armies, and thereby extricating Burgoyne from his 
 perilous situation. We have been tremblingly alive to this 
 menacing prospect, but our fears are in a measure allayed 
 by the following singular incident. After the capture of 
 
204 APPENDIX. 
 
 Fort Montgomery, Sir Henry Clinton despatched a mes 
 senger by the name of Daniel Taylor, to Burgoyne with 
 the intelligence; fortunately he was taken on his way as a 
 spy, and, finding himself in danger, he was seen to turn 
 aside and take something from his pocket and swallow it. 
 General George Clinton, into whose hands he had fallen, 
 ordered a severe dose of emetic tartar to be administered: 
 this produced the happiest effect as respects the prescriber; 
 but it proved fatal to the patient. He discharged a small 
 silver bullet, which being unscrewed, was found to enclose 
 a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Burgoyne. Out of 
 thine own mouth thou shalt be condemned. The spy was 
 tried, convicted, and executed. The following is an exact 
 copy of the letter enclosed. 
 
 Fort Montgomery, October Qth, 1777. 
 
 Nous voici and nothing between us but Gates. 1 sin 
 cerely hope this little success of ours may facilitate your 
 operations. In answer to your letter of the 28th of Sep 
 tember, by C. C., I shall only say, I cannot presume to 
 order, or even advise, for reasons obvious. I heartily wish 
 you success. Faithfully yonrs, 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 
 To General Burgoyne" \Thacher 1 s Journal.] 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 (1) The robbery of Harvey Birch by the Skinners, 
 bears some resemblance to this affair. See Spy, Vol. i. 
 page 156. 
 
 (2) In this affair, the enemy left four officers and 245 
 men dead on the field of battle, who were buried by the 
 Americans; they also left four officers and forty men 
 wounded. Several died on both sides from the excessive 
 heat of the weather, it being the 28th of June, and the 
 thermometer at 96. 
 
APPENDIX. 205 
 
 (3) General Wayne took Stony Point, by assault, on the 
 26th July, 1779. Lieutenant-colonel Johnson, comman 
 dant, and five hundred and forty-three men were taken pris 
 oners. The enemy lost sixty-three killed, and the Amer 
 icans fifteen, with eighty-three wounded, thirty of them 
 very badly. Wayne was wounded in the head with a 
 musket ball. 
 
 (4) In this affair the enemy lost 38 killed, and 210 
 wounded; 12 missing; total loss, 260. The American loss 
 was much less. 
 
 (5) On the 19th of July, 1779, Major Lee of the Vir 
 ginia cavalry, surprised the enemy s post at Powles Hook. 
 Major Sutherland, who commanded the fort, with a number 
 of Hessians, escaped; thirty of the garrison were killed, 
 and seven officers and 150 men taken. The American 
 loss was only six killed and wounded. Lee, according to 
 his orders, retreated immediately. A large British force 
 being in the vicinity prevented his destroying the barracks 
 and artillery. Lee was a man of chivalric spirit and en 
 terprise, and commanded the finest corps of cavalry that 
 Washington could boast of. This active officer and amiable 
 gentleman distinguished himself on many occasions during 
 the war, and is, no doubt, the "Major Dunwoody" of 
 Cooper s Spy. 
 
 (6) In Cooper s description of the preparations for hang 
 ing a Skinner, by a leader of the Refugees, he says, the 
 Skinner " had so often resorted to a similar expedinet to 
 extort information or plunder, that he by no means felt 
 the terror an unpractised man would have suffered, at these 
 ominous movements." See Spy, Vol. ii. p. 254. 
 
 (7) The present debtor s jail. 
 
 (8) This bitter satire, the reader will doubtless recollect, 
 was directed against the American Brigadier General 
 
 18 
 
S06 APPENDIX. 
 
 Wayne, the hero of Stony Point: whom the poet accuses 
 of stealing cattle for the use of the American army. The 
 poem concludes with the following prophetic stanza: 
 
 44 And now I close my epic strain, 
 
 I tremble as I show it, 
 Lest this same warrior-drover Wayne 
 
 Should ever catch the poet." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 (1) The treason of Arnold, and the consequent capture 
 and execution of Major Andre, are events that have been 
 widely circulated in all parts of the world; but the following 
 extracts from the " Life and Correspondence of General 
 Greene," contain several additional facts which cannot fail 
 of being read with interest. 
 
 " It was when Washington was on his march to Kings- 
 bridge, with a view to the attempt on New-York, and when 
 he had mustered every man who could carry a musket, that 
 he placed Arnold in command of a corps of invalids at 
 West Point. The commander-in-chief had offered him a 
 command suitable to his rank and reputation in the army ; 
 but he made the unhealed state of his wounds, and some 
 other causes, the pretext for declining it ; for his negotia 
 tions for the surrender of West Point had already com 
 menced, or been consummated ; and he made interest to 
 obtain that appointment. 
 
 Greene was in command of the American army, at the 
 time Arnold s treachery was detected. Soon after the re- 
 lihquishment of the enterprise against New-York, a meet 
 ing was concerted to take place between the American 
 commander-in-chief, and the French military and naval 
 commanders. Hartford, on the Connecticut river, was the 
 place assigned for their meeting, and its object was to con 
 sult on their future joint operations. 
 
APPENDIX. 207 
 
 Upon the departure of Washington, Greene was placed 
 in command of the main army. This was on the 17th of 
 September. On the 18th, Admiral Rodney arrived with 
 such an overwhelming reinforcement to the British navy, 
 as must have set the consultations at Hartford all at nought. 
 From that time, Greene s communications to the president 
 of Congress are full of the hurried preparations going on 
 at New- York for some important enterprise. Little did he 
 or any other suspect to what point that enterprise was 
 directed. It appears that he had established a regular 
 communication for obtaining- intelligence from the city by 
 spies ; and his correspondents in that place were at a loss 
 whether the expedition was intended against Rhode Island 
 or Virginia. To one or the other of those places the enemy 
 had been careful to throw out hints, or exhibit appearances 
 that the expedition was directed. Yet Greene was not 
 deceived ; for in a letter of the 21st to General Washington, 
 
 he writes, " Colonel communicated the last 
 
 intelligence we have from New- York; .si nee that I have not 
 been able to obtain the least information of what is going 
 on there, though we have people in from three different 
 quarters. None of them returning, makes me suspect 
 some secret expedition is in contemplation, the success of 
 which depends altogether on its being kept a secret. 
 
 This letter is dated at Tappan, for to that place he had 
 been directed by General Washington, on his departure for 
 Hartford, to remove a division of the army. 
 
 On the 23d, the whole mystery was developed by the 
 capture of Major Andre. He had ascended the river in 
 the Vulture sloop-of-war, to hold a personal conference 
 with General Arnold. The British commander had be 
 come sensible that no time was to be lost; as most proba 
 bly, on the return of Washington from Hartford, he would 
 
208 APPENDIX. 
 
 assumo tin command in person at West Point, or confide it 
 to Greene. The present, therefore, was the most favourable 
 time that would ever present itself; the recent movement 
 of the army nearer that place, excited to despatch; and the 
 arrival of Rodney gave the enemy the command of such 
 abundant means of water transportation, without exposing 
 the city to a coup de main from the French and American 
 forces, that the British commander would have been cul 
 pably negligent, not to have embraced it. Andre was 
 accordingly despatched to make the final arrangements for 
 consummating the treachery of Arnold. 
 
 The well known object of Arnold s negotiation was to 
 put Clinton in possession of the post at West Point. This 
 is a beautiful little plain, lying on the west bank of the 
 Hudson, a little below where it breaks through the chain of 
 mountains called the Highlands. Its form is nearly cir 
 cular; in one half of its circumference defended by a preci 
 pice of great height, rising abruptly from the river; and 
 on the other, by a chain of rugged impassable mountains. 
 It is accessible by one pass only from the river, and that is 
 narrow and easily defended; while, on the land side, it 
 can be approached only at two points, by roads that wind 
 through the mountains, and enter it at the river bank, on the 
 north and south. 
 
 Great importance had always been attached to this post 
 by. the Americans, and great labour and expense bestowed 
 upon fortifying it; whether judiciously or to good effect, 
 has never been tested, But the place is naturally, scarcely 
 assailable, very healthy, and commands the river, through 
 out a long circuit that it stretches round the point, and where 
 it is deep and very narrow. 
 
 The North river had long been the great vein that sup 
 plied life to the American army; and had the enemy 
 
APPENDIX. 209 
 
 obtained possession of this post, besides the actual loss in 
 men and stores, the American army would have been cut 
 off from their principal resources in the ensuing winter, or 
 been obliged to fall back above the Highlands, and leave 
 all the country below open to conquest; while the commu 
 nication between the eastern and western states would 
 have been seriously interrupted, if not wholly excluded. 
 
 Arnold well knew the bearing of this post upon all the 
 operations of the American army, and afterwards avowed 
 his confident expectation, that had the enemy got possession 
 of it, the contest must have ceased, and America been sub 
 dued. Clinton, it appears, also well understood the value 
 of this place; and it is probable, that the purchase of it 
 had been arranged with Arnold some months prior to the 
 detection of the plot, [t was well remembered, afterwards, 
 that he had intrigued for some time to get appointed to the 
 command, not only in person, but through the agency of his 
 friends in congress and the army; and the activity which he 
 displayed in making his escape, and afterwards, as a com 
 mander under Clinton, support the belief that the pain and 
 weakness from his wounded legs, on which he founded his 
 claims to a command suited to an invalid, were in a great 
 degree affected. fndeed, in one of his publications he 
 acknowledges, that he had long retained his commission 
 only to find some opportunity to inflict such a blow. 
 
 The development of Arnold s plot was communicated to 
 Greene by a letter from Colonel Hamilton, dated Verplank s 
 Point. It was received the evening of the 25th. The 
 object of the preparations in New- York immediately be 
 came palpable; arid, without delay y he made every dispo- 
 position for marching to the defence of West Point; so that 
 when General Washington s order reached him, at quarter 
 past three, on the morning of the 26th, the whole army had 
 already been put under marching orders. The first Penn- 
 18* 
 
210 APPENDIX. 
 
 sylvania brigade under Wayne, had been first put in motion ; 
 so that it actually fell to the. lot of Andre to find the 
 4 warrior-drover Wayne in command, when he was deliv 
 ered a prisoner at the village of Tappan. But Wayne did 
 not sit in the board of officers who tried him; perhaps from 
 considerations of delicacy ; there may have remained some 
 thing of personal irritation; the wounds of the pen last 
 longer than those of the sword. 
 
 Jt is very well known that Major Andre was taken near 
 a place called Tarry Town, on the east side of the Hudson, 
 where it forms Haverstraw Bay. Ten years afterwards, 
 the large sycamore near which ho was taken, was shown to 
 the traveller; and the incidents at his capture were famil 
 iarly known to, and related by, every inhabitant in the 
 village. Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, who captured 
 him, were poor, but reputable men, and exhibited a striking 
 instance of disinterestedness and fidelity. Andre offered 
 them large bribes, but they weie not to be corrupted, and 
 conducted him a prisoner to Colonel Jamieson, who com 
 manded a scouting party on that side of the river. 
 
 The circumstances attending the capture of Andre are 
 differently related by the different authors who have written 
 on the American war. They are all corract as far as they 
 go; but being deficient in a few particulars, excited sur 
 prise at the supposed want of self-po?session in so brave a 
 man as Andre. The British army in New- York was, at 
 that time, supplied with beef, principally through the aid of 
 a class of men, who obtained the appellation of Cowboys. 
 They were a species of suttlers, or dealers in live stock, 
 who being well acquainted with the roads and passes, pen 
 etrated into the country, and either stole or purchased 
 cattle, which they secretly drove into the enemy s lines. 
 Besides watching the movements of the enemy, one prin- 
 
APPENDIX. 211 
 
 cipal object for detaching Jamieson to that quarter was, to 
 check the prosecution of this trade or practice. For this 
 purpose, small scouting parties were occasionally pushed 
 beyond the American posts, to reconnoitre the interjacent 
 country between their posts and those of the enemy. And 
 as the cattle taken from the Cowboys, unless stolen, were 
 held to be the prize of war; and it was an object with the 
 well-affected to suppress a practice w r hich exposed their 
 stock to depredations, small volunteer parties occasionally 
 waylaid the roads for that purpose. Of this description 
 were the captors of Andre; who, after the fatigue of pros 
 ecuting their enterprise, had seated themselves under this 
 tree, in a situation retired from the view of travellers ap 
 proaching along the road. It is said that they were 
 engaged in a game at cards, when the tread of Andre s 
 horse attracted their notice. 
 
 The station they had taken was in view of a point where 
 severaX roads unite near the village, and Andre, who was 
 visiblelllto the party before they were visible to him, was 
 engaged in examining a sketch of the route, no doubt to 
 determine which of the roads in his view he ought to follow, 
 At the first rustling of the leaves made by the motion of the 
 party in ambush, he precipitately thrust the paper he was 
 examining into his boot, on the opposite side of his horse 
 from that on which the party appeared. This was noticed 
 by one of the party, and led to the examination which pro 
 duced the detection. On being stopped, he resumed his 
 composure, and exhibited the pass from Arnold, on which 
 he had thus far succeeded in clearing the American posts 
 and patrols; and the party had already released his bridle, 
 when one of them inquired what he had done with the pa 
 per he was reading? An indistinct view of the dangerous 
 dilemma in which the question involved him, produced in 
 Andre a momentary hesitation; his embarrassment was 
 noticed by the pariy,and made them resolve again to detain 
 him. Knowing that the pass from Arnold would not avail 
 him after the discovery of the contents of his boot, Andre 
 then desired them to tell him truly, whether they were 
 from above or below? 1 and on their answering Hhe latter, 
 which was consistent with the truth in fact, though not in 
 
212 APPENDIX. 
 
 the sense he meant it, which was, whether they were whigs 
 or tories; he acknowledged himself to be a British officer 
 on urgent business, and begged them not to detain him. 
 On their persisting to detain him, the whole extent of his 
 danger burst upon him, and he liberally tried the persua 
 sive voice of gold. But though he had just witnessed, that 
 one in a much more elevated rank had lent a propitious 
 ear to similar arguments, he found these honest yeoman 
 were not to be corrupted. Until then, he had learned, that 
 it is at last in the integrity of the well-informed yeomanry 
 of a country that the strength and security of every free 
 government is to be found. Wo to that government which 
 ever suffers this class of men to remain in ignorance, or be 
 exposed to corruption ! 
 
 Upon searching the boot into which the paper had been 
 thrust, a plan of West Point, the strength and dispostion of 
 the garrison, and other suspicious papers were discovered ; 
 and Andre was immediately conveyed to the head quarters 
 of Col. Jamieson. By this time, it appears, that Andre 
 had completely recovered his self-possession, if, indeed, he 
 had ever lost it; and he had the ingenuity to play off on 
 Jamieson a ruse de guerre, to which the partiality of his 
 friends, and the feelings of his admirers, have managed to 
 give a character which it by no means merits. 
 
 He prevailed on Jamieson to despatch a note to Arnold, 
 informing him that John Anderson (this was Andre s as 
 sumed name) was taken. This has been construed into a 
 magnanimous effort to save Arnold; whereas it was ob 
 viously an ingenious artifice to save himself. And it must 
 have succeeded, had not the former, instead of taking the 
 hint as it was intended, verified by his conduct the trite 
 adage, there is no faith among the dishonest, by imme 
 diately transferring all his attention to his own escape. 
 Arnold could easily have despatched an order to Jamieson 
 to release Andre, or have adopted some fiction or plan for 
 getting him into his own hands, for the purpose of giving 
 him his liberty, and thus have escaped with him. Jamie- 
 son obviously entertained no suspicion of Arnold, by send 
 ing him this message: arid by the time that elapsed before 
 he forwarded to General Washington the papers found upon 
 Andre, it is clear that he waited-for some communication. 
 
APPENDIX. 213 
 
 from Arnold with regard to the future fate of John An 
 derson. 
 
 It is curious to contemplate the good fortune of this in 
 teresting young man, in the favourable views which writers 
 of both nations, indeed all who have ever noticed him, have 
 taken of his conduct. But such is the effect of excited 
 feeling upon the judgment of mankind, or perhaps, such 
 the proclivity of man to follow a popular leader, and to 
 avoid the perplexity of reflection. The breathing pen of 
 Colonel Hamilton was generously employed in describing 
 the magnanimity with which Andre met death; the direc 
 tion once given to public opinion has been followed, nothing- 
 loth, and every subsequent writer has vied with his prede 
 cessor in representing Andre s conduct in the most favora 
 ble colours. The stern moralist, who, knowing that first 
 to pity, then to palliate, then to imitate, is too often the 
 course through which vice and error steal on society, pre 
 sumes, in such a case as this, to exclaim, Pause and re 
 flect; will be more apt to incur the frowns, than the plau 
 dits of his contemporaries. But there is a time of life when 
 a writer may no longer feel the undue influence of popular 
 applause. 
 
 Andre has also been greatly extolled for his magnanimity 
 in communicating to General Washington his real name 
 and character, by the express which conveyed to the com- 
 mander-in-chief the papers found upon him. But what 
 else remained for him to do? His life was clearly forfeited; 
 and in the character of John Anderson, he must have suf 
 fered, unpitied and unwept, the summary and ignominious 
 death of a spy, or been detected as Major Andre, with a 
 falsehold on his lips. His only chance of escape was to 
 declare his real character, and place himself under the pro 
 tection of the circumstances under which he alleges that 
 he came within the American posts; or perhaps to interest 
 the feelings or the fears of the American commander in 
 his behalf. His letter contains one passage which serves 
 as a plain development of his motives in writing it. It 
 was to save his own life by exciting /ear for that of others. 
 The passage alluded to is the following: ! take the liberty 
 to mention the condition of some gentlemen at Charleston, 
 
214 APPENDIX. 
 
 who, being either on parole or under protection, were enga 
 ged in a conspiracy against us: though their situation is 
 not similar, they are objects who may be sent in exchange 
 for me, or persons whom the treatment I receive might 
 effect, 
 
 It is truly astonishing, that the ungenerous character of 
 this paragraph has never been properly animadverted upon. 
 Who these gentlemen at Charleston were, is afterwards 
 more explicitly declared, in Arnold s letter to General 
 Washington, of the 1st October: C I have farther to observe, 
 that forty of the principal inhabitants of South Carolina 
 have justly forfeited their lives, which have hitherto been 
 spared by the clemency of his excellency Sir Henry Clin 
 ton, who cannot in justice extend his mercy to them any 
 longer, if Major Andre suffers, which, in all probability, 
 will open a scene of blood at which humanity will revolt. 
 
 Thus it appears that Andre s hint was greedily caught at 
 by Arnold ; and Sir Henry Clinton himself, in his commu 
 nications, very plainly hints at the same thing. 
 
 Yet nothing could have been more base and dishonoura 
 ble than the atttempt to save his forfeited life, by drawing 
 down ruin upon a number of innocent men, who, after 
 bravely resisting the enemy, had surrendered on terms that 
 had been most dishonourably evaded. The assertion also 
 contained in Andre s letter, that the prisoners alluded to 
 had engaged in a conspiracy, was absolutely destitute of 
 truth; as it was well known, that every individual of those 
 prisoners had, from the first, courted and defied investigation ; 
 and their existed no cause for their confinement at St. Au 
 gustine, to which place they had been removed, but the 
 prevalence of an opinion that their influence kept others 
 from accepting of the King s protection, the illiberal sug 
 gestions of some of the loyalists who could not bear the 
 reproachful looks of those whom they had deserted, and 
 above all, the convenience of retaining such respectable 
 hostages to cover such men as Arnold and Andre. 
 
 The introductory paragraph also to Andre s letter, can 
 not be dismissed without a remark. It is in these words: 
 
 "What I have as yet said concerning myself, was in the 
 justifiable attempt to be extricated. I am too litttle accus- 
 
APPENDIX. 215 
 
 tomed to duplicity to have succeeded. [That is to say, I 
 have hitherto been doing what no man who sufficiently 
 values the obligation of truth would do, or at least, expose 
 himself to the danger of being obliged to do, even for the 
 justifiable attempt to be extricated. ] I have hitherto -dealt 
 out nothing but falsehoods,- but for want of practice, my 
 firmness fails me." 
 
 In the first place, this paragraph is uncandid ; for if his 
 disguise could any longer have availed him, he would have 
 retained it; in the next place, there is no small cause to 
 believe, that this was not the first time in which Major An 
 dre had played offthe practical falsehood of assuming a dis 
 guise, and acting the spy. 
 
 It is believed by many, that in the character of a spy, he 
 had been greatly instrumental in involving in captivity, the 
 very men whom he now wished to involve in the horrors of 
 retaliation. 
 
 Let political expediency disguise it as it may, still the 
 character of a soldier cannot be blended with that of a spy, 
 without soiling the pure ermine of the former. And, how 
 ever his sovereign may applaud and reward the officer who 
 tempts his enemy to treachery, there is something so foul in 
 the constitution of the crime, that we cannot look upon him 
 who seduces another to the commission of it, but as the in 
 stigator or propagator of crime. The breath of treachery 
 gives a taint to the reputation of the man who but holds 
 converse with it. 
 
 Indeed, there appears to have been a combined attack 
 upon morals made by all the particepes criminis in this 
 black transaction. One can hardly read with patience the 
 letters of Clinton, Robertson, and Arnold, boldly insisting 
 that Andre was not punishable as a spy, because he came 
 within the garrison under the sanction of a flag, or under 
 the protection of the commander; although in fact, with 
 that commander he was concerting measures to get pos 
 session of the post where that officer commanded ; that he 
 was himself innocent, because he had prostituted the usual 
 protection of innocent and honourable purposes to the per 
 petration of the basest treachery. And to complete the 
 ridicule of the scene, the chief justice of the state is 
 brought upon the carpet to support this holy doctrine. 
 
216 APPEISHDIX. 
 
 This was at a conference which was held by appoint 
 ment at King s Ferry, between General Robertson and 
 General Greene, on the subject of Andre s treatment. 
 Robertson brought with him from New- York, Chief Jus 
 tice Smith and the Lieutenant Governor to support him in 
 the argument; but whether it was that the man of the 
 sword was afraid to encounter the man of the gown in ar 
 gument, Greene would not suffer Smith to land, and the 
 conference resulted in nothing but mutual confirmation in 
 pre-existing opinions. On the 2d of October, Andre was 
 executed as a spy on a gibbet, at the village of Tappan, 
 where the principal part of the army was then encamped. 
 
 As his case was one of many novel features, and threats 
 of retaliation had loudly resounded, General Washington 
 did not order his execution summarily, as by the laws of 
 war he would have been justified to do, but commanded 
 a beard of general officers to be convened, and submitted 
 the case to their consideration. 
 
 Greene was appointed to preside, and Colonel John Lau- 
 rens was present in the capacity of judge advocate general, 
 which station he held in the army. Lafayette and Steuben 
 were members of the court; and, if dignity, worth, and 
 service can give weight to the decision of a ceurt, never 
 was one constituted more worthy to be respected. There 
 .were in it six Major Generals and eight Brigadiers. They 
 were unanimously of opinion, that Andre must suffer as 
 a spy." 
 
 (2) See the Memoirs of Major Henry Lee. 
 
 (3) See Thacher s Journal, p. 271. " 
 
 (4) In the Autumn of 1821, the remains of Major An 
 dre were disinterred, and transported to England. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 (1) "Never ."said Birch, speaking out; "was it for money 
 1 did all this." Spy, vol. ii. p. 274. 
 
 (2) See the concluding paragraph of the "Spy." 
 
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