History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

1780.] REVOLUTION—CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 433
the same committee that served in raising the six months'
men, were again empowered to act, but not with unrestricted
powers, A bounty of £10.14 in gold or silver was
offered for three months' service, and town notes for that
amount, to be paid in hard money on demand with inter-
est, were given. Northampton was called upon to furnish
thirty-one men^ in all, and they were promptly obtained.
These men arrived at West Point about the time the six
months' men started for New Jersey. The company consisted
of- forty-two soldiers from this town and Southampton,
and was commanded by Capt. Ebenezer Sheldon of the
latter place. Solomon Allen of Northampton and Jared
Smith were Lieutenants, The regiment was commanded
by Col, Murray of Hatfield, and Lieut. -Col, Whitmore of
Sunderland. They marched first to Claverack, then to
Spencertown, and thence to West Point, Seven or eight
men from Northampton were detailed as boatmen, and were
employed in carrying officers up and down and across the
river, David Strong was one of these boatmen, and his
narrative, here reproduced, was written down at an interview
with him by the late Sylvester Judd.
David strong's Nar- Soou after Amold flcd they carried an offi-
'^'^*'^^- cer to Manuel's [Robinson's] house and
farm, three miles below West Point, where
Arnold lived. He was not to be found, but there was no
suspicion of his treachery. They proceeded with the officer
to Stoney Point, sixteen miles below West Point, and could
there see the barge which carried Arnold and the British
ship in which he sought refuge. During the night, after
their return to West Point, there was great commotion in
the camp. The boatmen were informed that the Indians
were coming, but soon ascertained that the confusion was
caused by the flight of Arnold. Strong relates that a man
by the name of Coombs of Longmeadow and David Montague
of Hadley were two of the boatmen who conveyed
Arnold to the Vulture. He claimed to have heard these
men tell the story, but does not giye any particulars. In
Spark's Life of Benedict Arnold it is stated that his boat
or barge was rowed by six men who had no knowledge of
1 For names see Appendix.
28