General Washington's spies on Long Island and in New York

by Morton Pennypacker

When Smith again hailed Colquhoun it was near sun down as he was going for the cows. He told him to come up to his house as the General wanted to speak with him. He found Arnold there and was asked by him to go a piece that night. Colquhoun told him he could not go as he had been up the night before, and he also told him he was afraid to go, but General Arnold urged, and told him if he was a friend to his country he should do his best. Colquhoun then asked Arnold where he wanted him to go and was told on board the ship in the river. Smith told him there was a man there the General wanted to see very much. Colquhoun then asked what was the reason he could not stay till the morning and Arnold replied that it must be done that night. Colquhoun’s next excuse was that he could not go alone, and then Smith told him to go fetch his brother. In a short time Colquhoun returned and reported that his wife objected to his going and that the guard boats were out. Arnold told him there was no danger from the guard boats and also that if he did not go he would look upon him as a disaffected man. He then went for his brother and when they returned they argued awhile before consenting to go. This brother was Joseph Colquhoun, and he has left such a concise narrative that much of it is here quoted.

“Mr. Smith, last Thursday night week, sent word to me to come over to his house, and he wanted to speak to me. I went. When I came there he met me at the door, and sat down on the bench with me, and on asking him what was his desire, he said he wanted me to go with him that night. On asking Mr. Smith where he wanted to go, he said, ‘A little way down the river.’ On asking him how far and where, he said ‘On board the man-of-war as a flag, on business of General Arnold.’ I told him I was sorry I was wanted for that purpose, and said, upon any other thing I was willing to serve him or the General. Mr. Smith asked me why, and said there was no hurt in going, as it was general business. On asking him whether he did not think we should be taken up by the water-guard, (meaning the Continental water guard,) he said, No, for he had a Pass from the General to go, and the countersign he said was ‘Congress,’ which, when he came up he must give, and so pass. Mr. Smith made answer to me and said, ‘Have you not always heard that I was a friend to the country, and did that which was always best for the country?’ I told him, Yes, and always thought he was, upon which I asked him why the flag was not sent down in the day time, as it ought to be done? He said because it was to be kept private from the inhabitants and common men. The officers, he said, knew it, and said there was a man on board, that the General wanted to speak to; and that he must be brought on shore and carried on board again. I then told him I did not chuse to go. He said there was no hurt in going, at all; and said if anything should come against me he would defend me, and clear me from all. I told him he could not clear me if there was any bad in it; and Mr. Smith afterwards got up and went into the house to General Arnold. General Arnold came out soon after Mr. Smith went in, and said, upon his coming out, I need not be afraid to go with Mr. Smith, and said it must be done for the good of the country; and said it was not done in private, for the officers at the Ferry knew it, the Captain of the water guards also, and had the countersign; and that it was not a secret to any persons but the inhabitants and common men. I thought at first it was not good, but thought otherwise upon the General’s mentioning that it was known. The General also said Major Kierce had agreed to send him up a boat to the creek at Colonel Hay’s landing place, but had not done it, and he did not know the reason; upon which Mr. Smith asked me if I would take his horse and ride down to the ferry, to see whether the boat was come. I said No, he ought send his negro: he ordered the negro to get the horse, and the negro went off. While the negro was gone myself and my brother concluded not to go; but both were afraid to tell the General of it, and afraid not to go for him, and the time passed away until the negro came. When he came I asked him what news concerning the boat; and he said he did not know, and he brought a letter from Major Kierce to the General, upon which I told my brother I would go up and tell the General. I had no mind to go and as I was going up, I met Mr. Smith in the entry, and he told me the General wanted to speak with me; and he passed out to the stoop, and I went into the room to the General, who was sitting by a table, with paper, and his speaking to me, I acquainted him I had no mind to go, as it was late; and said I would rather go in the morning. General Arnold said he must go to headquarters by ten o’clock in the morning; and if I would not assist when I was required for the good of my country and Congress, he would put me under guard immediately. Upon which Mr. Smith came in and I went out; and just after this Mr. Smith came out to the stoop; asked my brother and myself if we would have a dram, and gave us each one, and afterwards the General came out, and Mr. Smith and myself and brother were together. The General and Mr. Smith talked together, but what they said I do not know. My brother, Mr. Smith and myself went down to the landing, about a half mile below King’s Ferry, and passed off in the boat; and I think it was pretty well near midnight when we got off. Mr. Smith had on a whitish coat, a pretty large one, which I have seen him wear before.”

The boatman’s story is here interrupted to insert paragraphs in the words of Joshua H. Smith, more complete in detail than Colquhoun’s.

“After General Arnold had given the order for muffling the oars, that we might not be impeded by the boats that guarded the shores, a precaution necessary, as there was a regular water patrole, to prevent those disaffected to the American interest, or Tories, as the friends to the royal cause were called, from carrying provisions or intelligence to the British ships occasionally lying in the river. This precaution, however, staggered the confidence of the eldest of the watermen, who bluntly told General Arnold that if the business was of a fair and upright nature, as he assured them it was, he saw no necessity for any disguise, or to seize the veil of night to execute that which might be as well transacted in broad daylight. The watermen were simple, honest men, had been accustomed to their occupation, and were my tenants, in whom I could place the utmost confidence. General Arnold insisted on their pursuing the business, and assured them he had the command of the militia of the county for 60 miles round West Point by order of Congress....

“The Vulture was then lying at the extremity of Haverstraw Bay. The night was serene, the tide favorable, and the silent manner in which we passed the fort at Stony Point, at the mouth of Haverstraw Creek, precluded any obstructions; in short, although the distance was nearly 12 miles, we soon reached the ship. On our approach we were hailed by the Sentinel on deck, ordered to bring to, and questioned whither bound? I answered, with a flag of truce to the Vulture sloop of war, upon which I was heartily assailed with a volley of oaths, all in the peculiarity of sea language, by the officer commanding the watch on the quarter deck, and commanded instantly to haul alongside, or he would blow us out of the water. Upon coming alongside, I was saluted with another discharge of the same nautical eloquence; and orders were given to hoist the rebel rascal on board, which was prevented by my climbing up a rope fastened to the main chains, and so reaching the main deck. I was questioned as to my business, and how I could presume to come on board his Majesty’s ship under colour of a flag of truce at night? To which I answered, I was so authorized by my papers, which I requested he would give to captain Sutherland, the commander of the ship, and Colonel Robinson, as I knew they were on board; this request, however, seemed to have no effect; but he poured on me torrents of abuse, threatening to hang me at the yard-arm, as he said another rebel had been a few days before; being nevertheless unintimidated, and seeing Colonel Robinson and the Captain, for whom I had letters, I raised my voice and said, he must be answerable for my being delayed: whether I was heard in the cabin or not I cannot say, but soon afterwards a boy came on deck and said, ‘the captain orders the man below.’ He conducted me into the cabin, where on my entrance I saw a venerable looking gentleman, whom I recognised to be Colonel Beverly Robinson, dressed in a regimental uniform. He received me politely, desired me to be seated, and shortly introduced me to Captain Sutherland, who lay ill in his birth. Colonel Beverly Robinson having perused the letter from General Arnold, apologized for retiring a few minutes, ordering some refreshments, and left me to converse with Captain Sutherland, to whom I related my uncourtly reception on deck; and his amiable urbanity compensated me for the incivility of his officer on deck. Having conversed with Captain Sutherland for twenty minutes on indifferent subjects, Colonel Robinson returned, and introduced Mr. Anderson to me, saying he was mentioned in General Arnold’s letter, for whom he had sent a pass to come on shore, in case he Colonel Robinson should be unable to accompany me. Colonel Robinson pleaded indisposition, and said Mr. Anderson could as effectually answer all the purposes by going on shore as himself; there seemed no reluctance on the part of Anderson to supply Colonel Robinson’s place, and he appeared in a dress equipped for the purpose, wearing boots and a large blue great-coat. For my own part it made no difference to me who bore me company, so that the object of my mission was fully answered, and the great national ends obtained, which Arnold assured me would be the result of the affair.

“Mr. Anderson being ready, we left the ship, and were rowed in a short time to the western shore, to the place which General Arnold had appointed for the interview; this was at the foot of a mountain called the Long Clove, near the low water mark, whither my servant had conducted General Arnold, on horseback, he being still lame from his wounds.

“Very little conversation passed between Mr. Anderson and myself, excepting trivial remarks about the tide, the weather, and matters of no concern. Mr. Anderson, from his youthful appearance and the softness of his manners, did not seem to me to be qualified for a business of such moment....

“On my approach to the place of appointment, I found General Arnold ready to receive me; he was hid among firs. I mentioned to him Colonel Beverly Robinson’s reason for not accompanying me, and the delegation of a young gentleman, a Mr. Anderson, whom I had brought with me, and who was then with the watermen on the strand. He appeared much agitated and expressed chagrin at the disappointment of not seeing Colonel Robinson. He desired me, however, to conduct Mr. Anderson to him, which being done, he requested me to remain with the hands at the boat. I went as directed, but felt greatly mortified at not being present at the interview, to which I conceived myself entitled from my rank in life, and the trouble I had taken to effect the meeting. At length they continued such a time in conference, that I deemed it expedient to inform them of the approaching dawn of day. Shortly afterwards both came down to the boat, and General Arnold, with much earnestness, solicited me to return with Mr. Anderson to the Vulture: But I pointed out the impracticability of effecting his wish, from the great distance, and the fatigue of the hands. He then applied to the men, who declared themselves unable to gratify his wish, through want of strength to accomplish it, and the ebb tide being against them. Convinced of the apparent impracticability of the attempt to reach the ship and return before day without being discovered from either shore by the inhabitants, whose eyes were constantly watching the movements on the river, not only from the forts, but the surrounding shores, he relinquished his solicitations, and desired I would endeavour to return the boat to the place from whence we first embarked: this with much labour, and taking the circuit of the eddies, was nearly effected, (as we left the boat at Crane’s Island) when our attention was called to the cannonade from Gallows Point against the Vulture, which was compelled to fall down the river and appeared to be set on fire.”

Joseph Colquhoun continues the narrative by saying: “When we landed at Crom’s Island, I stepped out and got down under a bush, and was drowsy, and had no conversation with Mr. Smith and I declare I have not seen Mr. Smith from that time until this day. General Arnold promised me fifty weight of flour for going on board the vessel; but I never saw it.... When we came to Mr. Smith’s house it was after day-light. I saw Mr. Arnold there. He walked lame and had on a blue coat and white breeches.”

Smith says that on his return he found General Arnold and Mr. Anderson had arrived long before him. Mr. Anderson having mounted the horse his servant rode when he followed Arnold to the Long Clove. Anderson appeared vexed that the ship had been compelled to leave her position. Breakfast was soon served and during the meal one of the topics of conversation was the arrival of the fleet at New York under Arbuthnot. A recurrence of his chronic complaint, together with loss of sleep obliged Smith to retire as soon as they had finished the meal. Arnold and André were left alone the greater part of the day.