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

1780] REVOLUTION—CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 435
note to Gen. Arnold, announcing the capture, and " saying
that he sent forward under Lieut. Allen, and a guard, a
certain John Anderson, who had been taken while going
towards New York.'' In a short time, while the prisoner
and guard were on their way to West Point, owing to the
earnest entreaty of Major Talmadge, who was not present
when Andr^ was sent off, the order to Allen was countermanded,
and he returned to North Castle. He was then
ordered to proceed with his dispatches. While Arnold was
awaiting the arrival of Gen. Washington, who had unexpectedly
invited himself to breakfast with the commander
at West Point, Lieut. Allen arrived with Col. Jameson's
letter. It contained the first intelligence Arnold had received
of the capture of Andr^, and he immediately made
his escape on board the Vulture.^ And here comes in the
story of the boatman as related by David Strong.
Further Reminis- Elisha Edwards and Aaron Bates, both of
eences. Southampton, members of the company,
testify that a portion, if not the whole of it,
was attached to Col. Sheldon's regiment of dragoons, then
commanded by Lieut. -Col. Jameson. Bates remembered
well the capture of Andr^. He was standing as sentinel
at the door of Jameson's tent, when the prisoner appeared.
He also said that Lieut. Solomon Allen was dispatched to
Arnold with the report of Andre's capture.
Another Call for In December there was another call for men
Continentals. Iq scrvc for three years or during the war,
and Northampton was required to furnish
twenty-one men. On the 18''^, a committee of nine persons
was appointed to determine the best method of obtaining
the men. They did not report till the following January,
and probably no more soldiers from this
the army during that year.
town went into
Sixth Year of the At the closc of the sixtli year of the war,
^^^- the outlook continued dark and gloomy.
Nothing had been lost by the enemy at the
north, and they had gained much at the south. In Georgia
1 Spark's Life of Arnold, p. 241.