. The works of Washington Irving. of the fleet, a man-of-war should cannonade the battery at Red Hook ;while that was doing, a detachment of thearmy should land below with cannon, and bya circuitous march surprise and storm theworks on lyong Island. The shipping then,with the remainder of the army, were to divide,one part to run up the Hudson, the other upthe East River; troops were to land aboveNew York, secure the pass at Kings Bridge,and cut off all commtmication between city andcountry.* Much of the evidence given was of a dubiouskind. It was certain that persons had secretlybeen enlisted,
. The works of Washington Irving. of the fleet, a man-of-war should cannonade the battery at Red Hook ;while that was doing, a detachment of thearmy should land below with cannon, and bya circuitous march surprise and storm theworks on lyong Island. The shipping then,with the remainder of the army, were to divide,one part to run up the Hudson, the other upthe East River; troops were to land aboveNew York, secure the pass at Kings Bridge,and cut off all commtmication between city andcountry.* Much of the evidence given was of a dubiouskind. It was certain that persons had secretlybeen enlisted, and sworn to hostile operations,but Washington did not think that any regularplan had been digested by the conspirators. The matter, writes he, I am in hopes, by atimely discovery, will be suppressed. f According to the mayors own admissionbefore the committee, he had been cognizantof attempts to enlist tories and corrupt Wash- * Am. Archives, 5th Series, vi., 1177. f Washingfton to the President of Congress, June 28. V^ 3i^^v^. ?><^t^- Ube Q^ots Conspttacs 107 ingtons guards, though he-declared he haddiscountenanced them. He had on one occa-sion, also, at the request of Governor Tryon,paid money for him to Gilbert Forbes, thegunsmith, for rifles and round-bored gunswhich he had already furnished, and for otherswhich he was to make. He had done so, how-ever (according to his account), with greatreluctance, and after much hesitation and delay,warning the gunsmith that he would be hangedif found out. The mayor, with a number ofothers, were detained in prison to await a trial. Thomas Hickey, the individual of Washing-tons guard, was tried before a was an Irishman, and had been a deserterfrom the British army. The court-martialfound him guilty of mutiny and sedition, andtreacherous correspondence with the enemy,and sentenced him to be hanged. The sentence was approved by Washington,and was carried promptly into effect, in themost solemn and impressive manner
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