Young folks' history of the United States . ednames; so that Sir Henry himself did not know, for along time, with whom he was corresponding. In thecourse of this, Arnold got himself appointed to thecommand of the Hudson River, with his headquartersat West Point. This was then considered the most Thestrongly fortified point in the colonies, and was called Gibraltar,the American Gibraltar. It was called the key ofcommunication between the Eastern and the SouthernStates; so that it would have been almost ruinous tothe colonial cause if it had been transferred to theEnglish. This was what Arnold p
Young folks' history of the United States . ednames; so that Sir Henry himself did not know, for along time, with whom he was corresponding. In thecourse of this, Arnold got himself appointed to thecommand of the Hudson River, with his headquartersat West Point. This was then considered the most Thestrongly fortified point in the colonies, and was called Gibraltar,the American Gibraltar. It was called the key ofcommunication between the Eastern and the SouthernStates; so that it would have been almost ruinous tothe colonial cause if it had been transferred to theEnglish. This was what Arnold proposed to surrender ; 2IO YOUNG FOLKS UNITED STATES. and he would have succeeded, but for the capture of theBritish officer who carried on the negotiations. One day some young Americans who were out among the hills in what was called the neutral ground, between the lines of the two armies, saw a man advancing along Capture of the road, stopped him, and questioned him. Supposing them to be loyalists, of whom there were many in that ^.. CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE. region, he indiscreetly told them that he was a Britishofficer. He proved to be Major Andre, aid-de-camp tothe commander-in-chief. They then searched him, andfound papers concealed in his boots, giving full infor-mation, received from Arnold, in regard to the garrisonand defences of West Point, and the plan of its sur-render. Major Andr6 ofTered them large sums for hisrelease; but they refused to accept them, and took hiru THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR. 211 Andre. to the nearest military station. This was on the 23d of September, 1780. He was afterwards tried by court- Hanging of martial, and hanged as a spy. Much sympathy was felt for Andre; but it was remembered that a brave young American officer, Captain Nathan Hale, had been hanged as a spy by the British, four years before (Sept 22, 1776). Arnold afterwards escaped to the British lines, and finally joined the British army. He aided in fighting against his own country
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