47
Washington vouchs afed. no answer, but the reply to Clinton was written on the
thirtieth. It will be found on page 63. The enclosure of which Clinton speaks
was a letter from Arnold1— a good specimen of effrontery and special pleading.
While the Tappan camp was thus rudely awakened, Smith, who but a day
before had been received in Washington's company, was now to meet him under
very different circumstances. On Monday at midnight, Colonel Jean Baptiste
Gouvion, Rochambeau's chief of artillery, came with a platoon of soldiers to
Colonel Hay's house at Fishkill, where Smith was asleep with his "wife. Sur-
rounding the house with his men, he burst open the bedroom door, arrested
Smith, and, refusing to allow his servant to procure his horse for him, marched
him on foot eighteen miles to the Robinson House.2 Here the weary and angry
man was confronted with one who could also be terribly angry on the rare
occasions when he did give way to indignation. The news of discovery was
thundered in his ears, and he was threatened with hanging from the same tree
with Andre,8 as soon as the latter should have arrived under guard.4
To return to South Salem, while Greene's men are hastening to West
Point, and Smith is at headquarters: About midnight of Monday, a messenger
arrived from Washington, with this order to Jameson :
8 New York, Sept. 26, 1780.
Sir,—Being informed that the King's Adjutant General in America has been stopt under Major
General Arnold's passports, and is detained a prisoner in your Excellency's army, I have the honor to
inform you, Sir, that I permitted Major Andre" to go to Major General Arnold at the particular request of
that general officer. You will perceive, Sir, by the enclosed paper, that a flag of truce was sent to receive
Major Andr6, and passports granted for his return. I therefore can have no doubt but your Excellency
will immediately direct that this officer has permission to return to my orders at New York.
I have the honor to be Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
H. CUNTON.
His Excellency
General Washington.
1 New York,
September 26, 1780.
Sir,—In answer to your Excellency's message respecting your Adjutant General, Major Andre\ and
desiring my idea of the reasons why he is detained, being under my passports, I have the honor to inform
you, Sir, that I apprehend a few hours must return Major Andre to your Excellency's orders, as that officer
is assuredly under the protection of a flag of truce sent by me to him, for the purpose of a conversation
which I requested to hold with him relating to myself, and which I wished to communicate through that
officer to your Excellency.
I commanded at the time at West Point, had an undoubted right to send my flag of truce for Major
A.ndre\ who came to me under that protection, and having held my conversation with him, I delivered to
him confidential papers in my own handwriting, to deliver to your Excellency; thinking it much properer
he should return by land, I directed him to make use of the feigned name of John Anderson, under which
he had by my direction come on shore, and gave him passports to go to the White Plains on his way to
New York. This officer cannot therefore fail of being immediately sent to New York, as he was invited to a
conversation with me, for which. I sent him a flag of truce, and finally gave him passports for his safe
return to your Excellency; all of which I had a right to do, being in the actual service of America, under
the orders of General Washington, and commanding general at West Point and its dependencies.
I have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant,
B. Arnold.
His Excellency
Sir Henry Clinton.2 Smith's Narrative. He says Colonel Hay accompaniedhim—probably not on foot8 Smith.
¦* Smith's own account—but I see no great reason for doubting its accuracy. Washington, or any one else,
under similar circumstances could not be expected to mince matters.
