Benedict Arnold betrays America! Arnold traded the plans of West Point with Major Andre, a British spy, for 10,000 pounds sterling. Joshua Smith, a loyalist, let Andre and Arnold have meetings in his house. Andre set off for the British lines. Luckily, three American scouts stopped him and searched him. They found the coded plans of West Point in his boots. We are very lucky to have gotten back our plans. We captured Andre but unfortunately Arnold escaped. We have also learned that Arnold betrayed America and has joined the British forces. He is now helping the British attack forts in New York and Virginia.

Andre was later put on trial. The trial took place in 1780 at the Dutch Church in Tappan, New York. When George Washington came to attend the trial, he stayed in the DeWint House from September 28^th to October 2^nd. Andre was held at the 1776 house, a jail. While being in jail, he was put on trial, and found guilty. He was executed by hanging. Joshua Smith was also put on trial. Smith went to jail, although he escaped jail disguised as a woman!

The fort at West Point is very important because it protects the Hudson River. It was good that we caught Andre because if we didn’t he would have given the plans to the British. Although the British did find out that under the waters of the Hudson River there was a huge chain that would break any boats that went through it. Although the British captured some places, they did not capture all of the forts and rivers. We have been winning this battle for so long and we intend to win it altogether.

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