The hero of Saratoga becomes a mad traitor! Benedict Arnold offered the British the defense plans of West Point for 10,000 pounds sterling. On September 22, 1780, Arnold betrayed the plans of West Point to the British spy, Major Andre.  Joshua Smith knew of the plan and agreed to vacate the house so major Andre and Arnold could meet in private. When Andre set off for the British lines, three Americans capture André and found the plans in his socks. When Arnold heard about the capture of André, he commandeered a barge crew, leaving his wife and children behind. He rowed out of range of the West Point artillery to the Vulture. He attacked forts in New York and Virginia.

On October 2, 1780, Andre’s trial was held in the Dutch Church in Tappan, New York. The British spy, Andre, was found guilty.  Andre was held in old ’76 house and was hung in Tappan, New York. Smith was also put on trial. He was arrested and held at the jail in Fishkill. Smith escaped in women’s clothes. General George Washington was at the De Wint house during the trial. West Point stopped the British from getting up the Hudson River. If we did not capture Andre we might have lost the war because the British would control the Hudson River.

BACK