Guide to West Point, and the U.S. Military Academy

by Edward C. Boynton

MAP OF WEST POINT

While these land defenses were planned and situated to aid in controling the passage of the Hudson, a formidable obstruction was made by stretching across the river at its narrowest point, a boom of huge short logs, united at the ends by chains so as to resemble a rope ladder, and a few yards higher up, an immense chain was buoyed up on logs, extending across from one shore to the other. This chain was made by Noble, Townsend & Company, at the Stirling Iron Works, yet in operation near the Sloatsburg Station, on the Erie Railroad, about twenty-five miles from West Point. It was carried in pieces to New Windsor on wagons, put together there, and floated down the river into its position, in April, 1778. A portion of the chain is preserved, and is to be seen lying in a grove on the north side of the Plain. The links are made of two-inch bar iron, and each weighs about 120 pounds. The entire chain weighed 186 tons.

Thus it will be seen, from its natural advantages, its defenses, and its obstructions, West Point was the key to the passage of the Hudson, and as matters stood in 1780, it was in fact an American Gibraltar. The British, then in possession of the city of New York, and thus prevented from the employment of vessels to maintain communication with the Northern Provinces, and unable to penetrate the country amid the desolate wildernesses which covered its face, found themselves restricted to surprising detached points, or raids, from which the patriots speedily recovered, and no northern campaign, save that of Burgoyne, which ended in defeat and surrender, was attempted, chiefly from their inability to control the passage of the Hudson.

The winter of 1779 and 1780 was one of unexampled severity for the patriot army in the North, while in the South the surrender of Charleston and the disaster at Camden, had inspired universal gloom. A cloud of witnesses of the best authority bear testimony that at that period the majority of the American people manifested a willingness to cease further resistance, and return to their allegiance under the British King.

In the midst of these forebodings there burst upon the nation the knowledge of a plot so comprehensive and momentous in all the circumstances attending it, and in the results designed to be accomplished, that even in its failure it struck terror and dismay to the hearts of all true lovers of American independence. This mighty plot comprehended not only the surrender of West Point, with all its garrison and armament, but had also for its object the betrayal of Washington and his staff into the hands of Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander of the King's forces in America.

Major General Benedict Arnold, an officer of the patriot army, who had risen from the grade of Captain for gallant and perilous services in the contest, sought and received an assignment to command at West Point and its dependencies in August, 1780. Embittered by a few real, and many imaginary grievances, this officer had long but secretly become disaffected towards the American cause. After evidence has established the fact, that he deliberately bargained with the British Commander to become a traitor to the land of his birth—to sell for a stipulated price the trust confided to him, and to betray his command into the hands of the enemy. To accomplish this object he entered into negotiations secretly with Sir Henry Clinton, by which it was agreed that he should make such a disposition of his forces as would enable the British Commander effectually to surprise West Point.

John Anderson and Colonel Beverly Robinson were the agents on the part of the British, and with them Arnold opened "a regular channel of communication." The correspondence becoming protracted, a personal interview was demanded by Arnold to bring the matter to a final settlement, at which he was to furnish plans of West Point, and returns of its armament and garrison. With this object in view, John Anderson left New York on horseback, and proceeded up the river with the intention of holding the proposed interview on board the British sloop-of-war "Vulture," anchored off Teller's, now called Croton Point. Difficulties having been thrown in the way of this arrangement, Anderson was induced to leave the vessel and go ashore at midnight, in a boat sent by Arnold, and meet the latter on the west bank of the Hudson, a little below the village of Haverstraw. He had been directed by Sir Henry Clinton not to enter the American lines, and not to assume any disguise, but under a pressure of circumstances, he did both, and thus became exposed to the character of a spy, violating the laws of war. The meeting between Anderson and Arnold, while discussing their infamous plans, was prolonged until the dawn of day, when the state of the tide and the risk of being discovered by the American pickets, so alarmed the boatmen, that neither the threats nor entreaties of the two principals could induce them to return to the "Vulture."

In the hope of making a successful return to the vessel on the next night, both parties sought refuge in the house of a noted Tory, living in Haverstraw, named Joshua Hett Smith. They had scarcely found themselves safe within the house, when an event occurred which seriously threatened the whole object of the interview. The proximity of the "Vulture" to the American lines was such, that a fire was opened upon her by a battery on shore, and she was compelled to drop down the river, thus preventing Anderson from returning to New York by that opportunity. In the afternoon Arnold returned in his barge to his headquarters, while Anderson, filled with thoughts of the great advantage the arrangement must confer upon his King and country, and with the glory and promotion awaiting himself, could not avoid reflecting upon the great personal danger to which he was exposed, surrounded by enemies, and having concealed about his person the proofs of his character as a spy. He had been furnished by Arnold with two passports, one to return by water in case that method again became practicable, and the other by a land route on the east side of the river, authorized him "to go to the lines at White Plains, or lower if he thought proper, being on public business." Choosing the latter mode, in the evening Anderson, accompanied by Smith, crossed the Hudson at Stony Point, and commenced his hazardous journey.

The party proceeded with little or no interruption, and once beyond the sight of patroling parties, Anderson's naturally buoyant spirit resumed its wonted cheerfulness, and he astonished his companion by the sudden change from taciturn despondency to unusual hilarity. Poetry, art and literature, formed alternate themes of discourse, and already he seemed to behold the reduction of the Colonies and the end of the war—a consummation to which his own sagacity and personal daring would so largely have contributed. Near Pine's Bridge, a few miles above Tarrytown, Smith parted from him to return to Fishkill, while Anderson pursued his way onward, until three armed militia-men, lying in wait for suspicious men and cattle going to New York, brought him to a stand. Under the impression that they were adherents of the British from their replies to his inquiries, he announced himself a British officer, and exhibited his passport, but it was too late, the fatal admission was made. The men took him into the bushes and searched him, when six papers, mostly in Arnold's handwriting, were found inside of his stockings and beneath his feet, filled with details of the state of the forces, ordnance, and defenses at West Point. Patriotically disdaining the proffered bribe of a purse of gold and permanent support and promotion on condition of suffering him to proceed, the captors conveyed him to Colonel Jameson, who commanded the nearest American outpost at North Castle. This officer, unaccountably bewildered, resolved to dispatch the captive to Arnold, to whose command he belonged, in spite of the damning proof of the former's treachery. Major Tallmadge, the second officer in command at the post, was absent when Anderson was brought in, and did not return until evening. When Jameson told him what had occurred, he was filled with amazement, and openly declared that Arnold was a traitor, offering to take upon himself the responsibility of acting on that conviction. To this Jameson would not listen, but he finally yielded to the entreaties of Tallmadge to recall Anderson, while he persisted in sending a note to Arnold, informing him of the suspicious arrest of the prisoner. The six papers he had already dispatched to be delivered to Washington. The messenger sent to recall Anderson overtook the party and returned with them to North Castle. Conscious that his fate was sealed, exposure inevitable, and proofs of his own and Arnold's crime more than ample, Anderson paced up and down the apartment with measured step, pondering on the gloomy prospect which awaited him, while Tallmadge sat watching him, more and more convinced that the indifferently dressed prisoner before him had been bred to the profession of arms. On the next morning the captive wrote a letter to Washington, describing the manner in which he came within the American lines, and announced himself to be Major John Andre, the Adjutant-General of the British army.

The state of inactivity of the patriot forces had impelled Count Rochambeau, the Commander of the Allied French army, to request an interview with Washington at Hartford, Conn. Two days before the conference between Arnold and Andre, Washington wrote Arnold to meet him at Peekskill with a guard of fifty men, and forage for forty horses. Arnold came down from West Point in his barge, and crossed over with Washington at King's Ferry, plying between Verplank's and Stony Point. The "Vulture" was then anchored off in full view, and Washington observed her through a telescope for a long time, conversing with his staff in a low tone. Arnold witnessed the scene with more than ordinary feelings of alarm, and was startled by a playful remark of Lafayette, who said, "General, as you have secret correspondence with the enemy, you must tell us what has become of Guichen." Thrown off his guard, Arnold sharply demanded what the Marquis alluded to, but almost immediately the boat arrived at the landing, and the retort passed unnoticed. The night was passed at Peekskill, and when next morning Washington proceeded on his way, Arnold returned to his headquarters at the Robinson House, opposite West Point. In returning, after the meeting with Rochambeau, Washington pursued the upper route to the Hudson, arriving at Fishkill, so as to enable him to visit West Point before returning to his camp in New Jersey. This change in his route caused him to miss the papers sent after him by Jameson, which had been found on the person of Andre, and during his brief visit the plot had matured, ripened, and Andre had been captured.