Two hours after the flight of Arnold, General Washington,
accompanied by Knox and La Fayette, on their return from a
visit to Count Rochambeau at Hartford, arrived at Beverly House,

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as previously arranged, to repose themselves and dine. Here
learning from his aids that General Arnold had been suddenly
called over to West Point on urgent business, he remained only
long enough to take a late and hasty breakfast, and hastened to
the garrison to ascertain if anything important had transpired.
Accompanied by all his suite except Colonel Hamilton, who was
detained in writing letters, he rode to the cove by the usual carriage
road. This is a firm gravelled avenue, running northwardly
with an easy descent, through a line of old trees for a hundred
yards, to the bottom of a dell, through which the brook before
mentioned runs brawling over stones. Here, at a gate, the road
makes a sharp angle to the left, and follows the course of the rivulet.
A roof of densest foliage shields it from the noon-day sun,
and seats placed at intervals along its borders, invite the rambler
to repose; while the ceaseless gurgle of the flowing water, the
singing of countless birds, the silence of the forest trees, save
when their tops are moved whisperingly by the winds, tempt him
to linger in its delightful seclusion. Such was the pleasant woodland
path through which the party rode, such, save that time has
made it lovelier, is it now. Just before they arrived at the cove
they discovered the horse deserted by Arnold grazing by the path,
his bridle beneath his feet, and his saddle and coat bearing traces
of the red soil in which he had taken that equine luxury, a roll.

A passing remark was made by Knox on General Arnold's
carelessness; the animal was led back to the house by a servant;
and in a few seconds afterward the gentlemen dismounted on the
little pier. Here a small penant hoisted by an attendant sent in
advance, was fluttering from a staff placed on a projecting point
of rock, in answer to which a barge of eight oars was putting out
from the fort of Buttermilk Falls, then a military station. In a
few minutes the party embarked, and the boat moved swiftly
through the water. The harmony of motion and action in a well
manned barge, produces, like all harmony, silence and musing.
The simultaneous sway of the bodies of the oarsmen—the regular
rattle in the rowlocks—the liquid dip of the falling sweeps—
the answering leaps of the boat, all are harmonious, soothing, and
conducive to meditation. After the first hundred yards conversation
ceased, and each gentleman seemed to be occupied with his

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own thoughts. The scenery through which they moved, added
also, its influence. On the right, stretched the eastern shore
rising a rocky precipice from the water, and crowned with woods.
On the left, the Buttermilk Falls came tumbling and foaming in
snowy sheets from the top of a cliff, and further on the shores
were walled with lofty rural precipices. As they proceeded, the
Highlands of Crow Nest and Bull Hill frowned down upon them,
and from a promontory the fortress of West Point bristled with
its iron battery. As they approached the landing, now disused,
south of Kosciusco's garden, Washington observed with enthusiasm:

“Well gentlemen, it is fortunate for us that General Arnold
has gone over to the garrison in advance of us, for we shall now
have a salute, and the roaring of the cannon will have a fine
effect among these mountains.”

The barge continued to approach the shore without any notice
from the fortress, when, surprised at the silence, and absence of
all preparations to receive them, he exclaimed,—

“What! do they not intend to salute us?”

An officer now made his appearance descending the ravine, and
reached the shore just as the boat touched it.

“How is this, sir?” said Washington, with some severity.

“Pardon me, General,” said the officer in confusion, “I did not
anticipate the honor of such a visit, or I should have been prepared
to receive you in a proper manner.”

“What! is not General Arnold here?” demanded the chief
with surprise.

“No your excellency. He has not been here for these two
days, nor have I heard from him, within that time.”

“This is extraordinary, indeed,” said Washington, “we were
told he had crossed the river and that we should find him here.”

He, nevertheless, remained and inspected the garrison and
works, and then, reentered the barge with his suite, and was pulled
back to Beverly House.

As he approached the mansion Colonel Hamilton met him with
a troubled countenance and whispered in his ear;

“Alight, sir! I have a matter of the most vital importance to
acquaint you with.”

[figure description] Page 038.[end figure description]

Washington accompanied him into the sitting-room and when
the door was closed, Hamilton placed in his hands several papers,
saying, “as the messenger who arrived with these shortly after
you left, said they were of the utmost importance, I opened them.”

Washington read the letters which contained from an authentic
source, the account of the capture of Andre and a copy of
the papers in Arnold's hand-writing with the passport in the same
hand, found on his person. The guilt of Arnold was made clear
as light, and the cause of his absence from West Point accounted
for. It was plain that he had escaped to the enemy.

“He has descended the river, ride Hamilton for your life,”
said Washington, “it may be possible to intercept him at Verplanck's
Point.”

Colonel Hamilton left the room and spurred away on what
proved to be a fruitless errand. Washington now sent for Generals
LaFayette and Knox to whom he communicated Arnold's
treason, and placed in their hands the papers which confirmed it.
His manner was composed and dignified. “Whom can we trust
now!” he said calmly, after they had finished the perusal of the
letters.

“Mon dien! is it possible?” exclaimed LaFayette, crumbling
the paper in his clenched hand as he swiftly paced the apartment.

“I always knew him to be a disaffected man, but by — I
did not expect the devil to turn out so black from hoof to horn!”
said Knox, violently striking his fist on the table.

“It is useless to show feeling about it now, gentlemen,” said
Washington, without betraying emotion or anxiety of any kind,
“it remains for us to repair what injury he has done us, and prevent
him from doing more.”

The American General now directed all his energies to counteract
the plans laid by the traitor. Orders were forwarded to
all the posts, the position of the garrison changed and the whole
order of things as laid down by Arnold reversed. Sir Henry
Clinton however, through the capture of Andre, was kept in ignorance
and uncertainty until the arrival of the Vulture in New
York with Arnold on board, the morning after his flight. The
project therefore, was abandoned and the troops disembarked.

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