Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month September 1780
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
Though serving in different branches of American military service, there was much in common between Commodore John Paul Jones and Major General Benedict Arnold. Both were ambitious, unusually capable at leading men in battle, and flamboyant, thereby attracting much attention and praise as heroes of the Revolution. The difference was that Jones was loyal to his service and money was only a means to an end. To Arnold, money and increase of rank and power were his greatest desires and in the end these more than anything else led to his downfall.
British Major John Andre had been an admirer of pretty Peggy Shippen when Philadelphia was held by the British and this may have been an avenue for Arnold’s original contact with him. British General and Commander-in-Chief Sir Henry Clinton was looking for high ranking officers to desert the Revolution. He also wanted them to bring something of military value to the table with them. In the beginning Andre doubted that the anonymous Arnold had anything to offer. There is no way of knowing how the surrender of West Point came up, but once Arnold grasped the idea he pursued an appointment to command the fortress. With command of West Point he would have something of great value to offer in return for money and rank.
Once appointed to the post at West Point, Arnold wasted no time in assuming command. He left behind his problems from Philadelphia and established his residence with his wife Peggy at a house across the river from West Point. Here he could carry on his social life as well as giving him a private and discrete location in which to meet with anyone who might come to discuss the turnover of the fort. This was an especially convenient location because British ships frequently appeared in the river at this point as a show of force and a test of security. Anyone from the British side could easily and without observation come to make arrangements with Arnold.
Andre, traveling under the name of John Anderson, came up river on the British ship Vulture and was ferried ashore by a boatman. Meeting with Arnold, he was given detailed account and plans of the fort along with Arnold’s assurance that the deed would be done. After the meeting, Andre, following Arnold’s suggestion, proceeded back to New York City by land. Near the end of his journey he was routinely halted by two soldiers checking for passes out of the American zone. Their suspicion was aroused when they found that he was wearing a British uniform beneath his outer garments. Further search revealed that he carried documents pertaining to West Point and that Arnold was the source of those documents.
Benedict Arnold was made aware of Andre’s capture and exposure while he was at breakfast. He immediately said goodbye to Peggy and made for his barge on the Hudson. Instead of returning to West Point he ordered the crew to row him to the British ship Vulture, which then took him to New York City.
General George Washington, returning from a meeting in Hartford Connecticut with General Jean Baptise Rochambeau, deviated from his original route to pay a visit to Arnold at West Point. Washington was shocked when told that Arnold had committed treason. The whole affair exposed, Arnold safe in British hands and Andre a captive, began a new chapter in this adventure. Clinton was furious; Arnold had given him nothing except himself and the entire affair had cost him his Adjutant General, Andre. Clinton demanded that Andre be released but Washington with regret saw only one course; Andre dressed as a civilian was not a prisoner of war but a spy. The rules called for death by hanging for espionage and in this case must be observed, particularly considering that the British had hanged Nathan Hale. Regardless of any feeling that Washington had, he was required by the results of a Court Martial decision to hang Andre.
Arnold, with nothing to offer Clinton but himself, was generously rewarded with the rank of Brigadier General, 6,000 pounds sterling, and a pension for his each of his children by Peggy. Ironically, Arnold who had so desperately sought greater rank by betraying his native land had moved down one grade from Major General in the American army to Brigadier in the British army.
In October of 1779 Washington and Congress felt that the Indian problem had been resolved and for the winter of 1779-80 it was so. Springtime brought new strength and heart to the Indian tribes and in May they launched new attacks on the frontier. In May, Sir John Johnson with 400 of the British Royal Greens and Butler’s Rangers with 200 Indians, again went on the warpath burning and looting as they went.
Back in August, 1780, Johnson in the company of Joseph Brant, had attacked the Canajoharie valley. On August 2nd he repeated the lesson taught by the Americans in 1779 by burning an entire town and any and all farms around, followed by the burning of grain in the fields. Sixteen people were slain and perhaps as many as 60 taken captive; cattle and horses were either killed or driven away from the area.
In September, Johnson collected a larger force consisting of Greens, British regulars, Hessians, and Butler's Rangers then marched from the area of Montreal into the Susquehanna where he was joined by Brant and a large number of Indians. This march was accompanied by the burning and slaughter of any sign of habitation except those belonging to Tories. This marked the Tories for vengeance at a later date by Patriots. The deadly march continued into October.
Things had gone badly in August and September but in October, 1780, they would take a turn for the better.
References: Arthur Meier Schlesinger’s "Almanac of American History"; Christopher Ward's "The War of the Revolution"; Samuel Elliot Morison’s "John Paul Jones"; Colin C. Calloway's "The American Revolution in Indian Country"; Robert M. Utley's and Wilcomb E. Washburn's "Indian Wars"
Back to American Revolution Month-by-Month Articles