“Robert Howe.”
In Arnold’s reply on the 16th he says:
“You lay me under infinite obligations to you, by interesting yourself so greatly in matters of such important concern to myself and my command.... You have my honor that I will not be solicitous about the real name of Mr. Williams and you may pledge my faith to him that if accident should disclose his real name to me, I will not discover it. I will take proper precautions that no gentlemen of my family open any letters addressed to me as Private.”
The most notorious spy during the War of the Revolution was unquestionably Major John André, of the British Army. So much depended upon the success or failure of his undertaking that every move he made is interesting. The part the spies of Washington played in holding him when he had almost succeeded in following the traitor Arnold to freedom, is excuse for the detail that follows:
When André’s fate was known he had a host of sympathizers but there were never many in this country whom he could call his friends. There was one notable exception. In John Graves Simcoe at Oyster Bay, Long Island, he had a faithful friend as well as an admirer. Simcoe, born in England in 1752, was sent to Eton at the age of fourteen. Thence he removed to Merton College, Oxford, where his classical education was completed. At the age of 19 he obtained a commission as ensign in the 35th Regiment, and after three years service he came to America. He landed in Boston on June 17th, 1775, the day of the Battle of Bunker Hill; soon purchased command of a company in the 40th Regiment and for distinguished service was made second in command of the Queen’s Rangers. This regiment originated in Connecticut with Colonel Rogers at its head (the same Rogers who made the Rock or Slide in Lake George famous) and was then known as Rogers’ Rangers. Under Colonel Simcoe it was composed of American Loyalists including a number of gentlemen of Virginia. To these he added a company of Highlanders and a company of Irish until it numbered 550. It was one of the most efficient and active corps in the service. Whenever possible their headquarters were at Oyster Bay. After the war he became a member of Parliament and on the division of the Canadas in 1791, he was appointed the first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, where he served with great distinction.[37] During the war, when his headquarters were in the Townsend House at Oyster Bay the New York papers and London magazines contained much favorable publicity for him and his Rangers. There is reason to believe that many of these articles were either handed to or written by Culper Junior.
Colonel Simcoe was the first, aside from General Clinton, to know of Major André’s plotting. The twenty-third of August, 1780, found him back in his old quarters at Oyster Bay, after more than a month’s absence, on the east end of Long Island. He had seen much of Major André during that month and they had become warm friends, trusting each other with their confidences. Simcoe through him was able to “communicate his wishes and hopes to the commander in chief,” and André never failed to advise Simcoe of the progress of his coveted honors. “I am Deputy Adjutant General still and without confirmation of rank. I do not, however, despair of its being granted me” he writes on July 5th. The next day, from Flushing, L. I., he found another occasion to address Colonel Simcoe. Simcoe upon his return to Oyster Bay outlined a plan he wished André to submit to General Clinton and under date of August 29th, André reported as follows:
“Dear Simcoe—I laid before the General your proposed arrangement for giving officers to the troops & which he entirely approves of.... You are to draw a pay of Lt. Colonel of Cavalry.... I will speak today about your Cavalry joining you which I forgot to mention yesterday.... John André, Adjt. Gen.”
In this way, Simcoe says, “Sir Henry Clinton had been pleased to intrust him with knowledge of the important negotiation which terminated so unfortunately in the death of Major André, and at the same time he informed him on what service he should eventually employ him if it took effect, and directed him to obtain as minute a knowledge as he could of the country, where future operations were likely to be carried on.”
It appears that Benedict Arnold’s negotiations began about the time of his marriage to Margaret Shippen,[38] which occurred in April, 1779. He confided in Beverly Robinson that he was ready to return to the king’s service if a sufficiently interesting arrangement could be made. This information was conveyed to Sir Henry Clinton who saw in it great possibilities. Arnold was encouraged to open negotiations and André was to carry them to a successful conclusion. Matters were progressing slowly when, less than a week after André had written from Flushing, there came to him a letter entirely in the secret cipher used by Sir Henry Clinton. To André at that time the use of their code by an American General may have been a mystery, but it is now easily explained. Moody, a clever British spy, managed to fall into the hands of Arnold and helped him prepare the letter. He was in duress at West Point when Arnold took command and it is recorded that his condition excited the general’s attention. This letter is addressed to John Anderson (Major André) and advises the British commander that John Moore (Benedict Arnold) has accepted the command at West Point and will betray it. In full the letter follows:
