But while the Americans were doomed to suffer by the power of their enemies, their misfortunes were near ly completed by the treachery' of their friends. Arnold, a leading man in Philadelphia, governor of that city in the name of the United States, and a general of conspi cuous abilities, was induced to quit the service of his country, and attach himself to the royal cause. Different motives have been assigned for this inglorious conduct. It has been said, that he was unfriendly to the declara tion of independence, and disgusted at the alliance with France ; and it has been urged, with greater plau sibility, that the origin of his treachery is to be looked for in the fickleness of his temper, and the unfortunate issue of the speculations in which he engaged. He had been accused by the government of Philadelphia for the appropriation of goods, belonging to the public, to his own use ; and had been tried for certain actions; though not declared to be highly blamable, or injurious to the state, were, nevertheless, of a very sus picious nature. Those, who have written of the Ame rican war, have not informed us whether any attempts were made to corrupt his fidelity, or whether, by a pro posal originating with himself, he betrayed the cause of freedom, and the interests of his country. It is certain, however, that he had frequent interviews with major Andri:., on board the Vulture, in North River ; and when that officer was taken in the disguise of a peasant, seve ral documents of a public nature, in the hand-writing of Arnold, as well as a plan of the fortifications at West Point, where the traitor commanded, were found in his possession. From the documents alluded to, it is pro bable, that the designs of the American general were of an extensive nature, and that he meditated the scheme of re-annexing the colonies to the British empire. But whether his designs were limited or extensive, they were all frustrated by the apprehension of major Andre. This unfortunate gentleman, equally remarkable for the amiableness of his dispositions, and his attainments in classical learning, was accidentally prevented from reach ing the king's troops, by means of the vessel which had conveyed him to the shore ; and was discovered and seized on his way to New York. His case was referred by the commander in chief to a board of officers, con sisting of general Greene, lord Sterling, the marquis de la Fayette, baron Steuben, two major-generals, and eight brigadiers. Before these distinguished persons, it was ascertained, that he had often come on shore during the night, and conversed, in a secret manner, with general Arnold ; that he changed his dress within the American lines, and, under a fictitious name, and a disguised ha bit, had passed the American works at Stony and Ver plank's Points ; that he was taken on the 23d of Sep tember by three American soldiers*, when hastening to join the British ; and that certain papers, containing intelligence for the enemy, were found in his boots. It was therefore determined by the court, that lie should be considered as a spy from the royal army ; and that, in conformity with the law of nations, and the practice of European countries, he ought to suffer death. lo vain did sir Henry Clinton, and Arnold himself, write to general Washington, and petition that his life might be spared: the provincials, galled by their late dis tresses, were inexorable, and Andre was hanged, on the 2d of October, at Tappan, in the division of New York. He met his fate with courage and composure ; but re gretted, that the usages of war would not permit him to terminate his days in a more honourable manner, and to die, not as a criminal, but as a soldier.
But, as his example was imitated by few of his coun trymen, the defection of Arnold was of no great and permanent advantage to the royal cause. The affairs of the British in the southern provinces at length began to decline. The king's troops had made an ineffectual attempt to possess themselves of North Carolina; Tarte ton was defeated with considerable loss ; and though Greene, the American general, at the head of a power ful division, was twice constrained to yield to the abilities of Cornwallis, and the valour of Rawdon, the provin cials quickly recovered their ground, repulsed the ene my in their turn, and seemed every day to increase in numbers, and to improve in discipline. The royalists
were often in great distress from the want of provisions, and, on many occasions, were totally destitute of bread. No succours had arrived from sir Henry Clinton, the commander in chief. That general, opposed by Wash ington, and deceived by the artifices of the American leader, was in daily apprehension of an attack upon New York, and unable to the least assistance to the army in Carolina. In consequence of an action, which took place between the French and British fleets, the allies became masters of the Chesapeak. Washing ton, informed of the condition to which the English were reduced, took every method in his power in order to compel them to surrender. With this view, he quit ted his station in the vicinity of New York, and, accom pawed by the marquis de la Fayette and the count de Rocharnbeau, proceeded to Williamsburg, in Virginia; where, putting himself at the head of the French and American troops, he advanced to Yo•k-town ; and, after the disembarkation of the stores, laid siege to that place. The utmost alacrity prevailing among the allied forces, and the whole army exerting itself with unusual vigour, the lines were completed in a short time. The situation of lord Cornwallis, and the British under his oommand, now became desperate. The works which they had raised had fallen before the artillery of Wash ington; their attempts to repel the besiegers, to stop their progress, and even to escape through the Ameri can lines, had all proved ineffectual ; every day brought the provincials nearer to their object ; and nothing at length remained, but to capitulate on the most honour able terms. Accordingly, on the 19th of October 1781, the English general yielded to the necessity which pressed upon hint, acid surrendered himself and his whole army prisoners of war. The artillery, arms, and accoutrements belonging to the royalists, together with their military chest and stores of every description, were given up to the Americans; and 7u00 men, the flower of the British troops, remained under the guard or escort of the continental battalions.
The success of the allies in the capture of York-town, is chiefly to be ascribed to the skill and prudence of Washington. No little artifice was employed to im press sir Henry Clinton with the belief that New York was in danger, and to keep that general in perpetual alarm ; while, in these very circumstances, the Ameri can commander was forming his plans, and collecting his supplies, in order to march against Cornwallis in the south. The artifice alluded to was maintained such ability, that Clinton did not once suspect the in tentions of the provincial leader, and was effectually prevented from supporting the falling fortunes of his countrymen. The British general was not deficient in those qualities which lead to bold and adventurous ex ertions ; but he was deceived by appearances, which induced him to think rather of defending the capital in his possession, than of diminishing Ids strength in order to secure more distant acquisitions. When the design of the Americans, however, was known, he made an effort; and, though it was late and inefficient, it showed his inclination, at least, to aid the operations in the south ern countries. To the skill of the French engineers, likewise, the success of the allies should, in a great degree, be imputed : but, above all, it ought to be as cribed to the persevering patriotism of the colonists themselves, and that invincible hatred of oppression. which animated them in every struggle, mid prompted them, after every defeat, to renewed endeavours in the cause of liberty.