Arnold went down the river in his barge as far as King’s Ferry on the afternoon of the 10th instant, and remained over night at the house of Joshua H. Smith, who resided near the Ferry.
Early on the morning of the 11th instant, Arnold proceeded by barge to Dobb’s Ferry for the purpose of meeting Andre. An accident prevented the interview. As Arnold was approaching the destination, his barge was fired upon by British gunboats and pursued closely enough to endanger his life and possibly result in his capture.
He landed, therefore, on the west or opposite side of the river to Dobb’s Ferry, and went down to the ferry landing, where he remained till night, hoping to see Andre. At all events, he failed to have a meeting on this journey.
The astonishing forecast of Segwuna had made Andre over-cautious and timid. He did not choose to hazard his mission by land to Colonel Sheldon. He chose the safer communication by water. He went to Dobb’s Ferry with Colonel Beverly Robinson, and looked for Arnold to come in his barge, but the firing upon the barge makes clear why Arnold did not get to the rendezvous.
The timidity of Andre now explains the ultimate failure of the plot. Arnold was obliged to explain his public journey down the Hudson, by writing to General Washington to the effect that guard boats and signal lights were necessary precautions to warn the country of the approach of the enemy up the river.
The object of Segwuna’s visit to New York had been accomplished. She had intimidated Major Andre, and foiled the treachery of Arnold. If the interview as first planned at Dobb’s Ferry had taken place the recital of subsequent events would have been unnecessary.
Now complications arose. Every fresh move that Arnold made required explanations as to the movements of John Anderson. A second attempt to have Andre meet with him by means of the overland route was not considered favorably by Andre. He would not attempt to meet Arnold, except under the pretense of an exchange of flags.
The only way for General Arnold to successfully accomplish his treachery was to meet Major Andre personally, plan the surrender of West Point and have his emoluments and rewards guaranteed. He depended upon such a meeting and was bold enough himself, but his first attempt at Dobb’s Ferry was empty of results and he was now thrown into cautious movements. He had to explain to the Commander-in-Chief about his public trip down the river; and the fact that he had been fired upon and pursued by the enemy’s gunboats gave notoriety to his whereabouts. The failure of the Dobb’s Ferry interview must rest upon Andre, for Arnold was truly bold and fearless in his approach within the enemy’s lines; Andre must have been intimidated by the warning of Segwuna.
Arnold returned to his headquarters from Dobb’s Ferry disappointed and nonplussed. He wrote from Robinson House at once to Major Andre:
“I have no confidant here. I have made one too many already who has prevented some profitable speculations.”