British Spies Are In New York!
By Amanda (4-HO)

There are British spies in New York! If it’s happening in New York, it can happen in your colony too! The commander of the West Point fort, Benedict Arnold offered to surrender West Point for 20,000 pounds to Major John Andre, a British spy. Andre had set off for the British lines, but three American scouts stopped him and found the secret coded plans in his socks. Joshua Hett Smith, a loyalist, agreed to leave his house with his wife and children so Arnold and Andre could meet in private. Smith also took Andre across the river. Beware of the British spies!

Andre and Smith were put on trial. The trial took place in 1780 in the Dutch church in Tappan, New York. Andre was found guilty and was hung. He was held prisoner in the 1776 House. Josh Smith was found innocent but put in jail anyway. He escaped by putting on women’s clothes. No one knows who gave him the clothes but he got them. Where was General George Washington? In the DeWint house which is his headquarters. We finally caught Major Andre!

Andre was caught! Everything was great! But where is Arnold? It turns out that Benedict joined the British and fought against his country. He also attacked the forts in Virginia and New York. We know that Benedict Arnold is alive, but where is he now?

The West Point fort was located on the Hudson River. It was important because the British could’ve sailed to the American grounds and captured them. If Major Andre wasn’t caught, we could’ve lost the Revolutionary war. This journey hasn’t ended.

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