From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 186
The treason of Arnold in 1780 contributed, on the whole, to the fidelity of the army in 1781. The poorest
soldier in the ranks scorned "to become an Arnold."
Washington placed Arnold in command at West Point in 1780. Arnold had long been interceding for the
position, and it was found subsequently that he had been in treasonable correspondence with the British
commander fifteen months when he assumed command of that post. The correspondence was commenced
voluntarily by Arnold, and was conducted on the part of Sir Henry Clinton by his aid, Major John André,
under the signature of John Anderson.
General Arnold was harassed by burdensome debts. He was a gambler, too, and, of course, devoid of moral
principle. His object was to pay his debts with British gold.
His correspondence ripened into a plan by Arnold to deliver West Point into the hands of the British, for
which purpose a midnight meeting was arranged between him and Major André. The meeting occurred at
Dobb's Ferry, when Arnold delivered to André a plan of the works at West Point, together with a plan of
attack by the British, when the post would be surrendered on the ground that the American troops were too
few to hold it. The papers were concealed in André's stockings.
On his return, even after he had passed the American lines, three patriotic representatives of the New York
yeomanry, John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams, stopped him, the first aiming his musket at
his head.
"Gentlemen, I hope you belong to our party," said André with as much composure as he could command.
"What party?" responded Paulding.
"The lower party," replied André.
"We do," they said.
"I am a British officer, and have been up the country on particular business," continued André, now feeling
that he was among friends. He was deceived by the dress which Paulding wore,--that of a refugee. Paulding
had been a prisoner in the hands of the British, confined in that terrible prison known as the "Sugar House."
He was released only four days before. In that place his citizen's suit was taken from him, and replaced by the
refugee garb, so that the barbarity of André's countrymen became the cause of his detection.
"I must not be detained for a moment," continued André, taking out his gold watch, the sight of which showed
to his captors that he was a man of consequence.
"We are Americans, and you are our prisoner!" exclaimed Paulding.
André was astounded by this revelation, and he was ready to pay any amount of money to his captors if they
would let him go.
"Dismount!" shouted Paulding, seizing his horse's bridle.
"Beware, gentlemen, or you will get yourselves into trouble," replied André.
"We will take care of that," retorted Paulding. "Any letters about you?"
"No."