Tracing a Traitor’s Track

A plaque commemorates the escape route taken by Benedict Arnold after he committed his act of treason. MATT MeLLON Along Philipstown’s Hudson River shoreline, just south of the Garrison Metro North station, lies the narrow woodland path that served as the escape route for America’s most notorious traitor, Benedict Arnold. August 3 was the 230th anniversary of Arnold taking command at West Point—a position he accepted to facilitate his anticipated treason.

Arnold claimed he was unable to serve in the battlefield due to leg injuries he suffered at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, and so George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, accepted Arnold’s request to serve as commander of West Point. Arnold’s goal was to help the British take the strategic fort at the narrowest point of the Hudson south of Albany.

Before his act of treason, Arnold had proven himself a selfless supporter of the Revolution.“The worst part about Arnold’s story is the fact that prior to his betrayal he was the most heroic of any commander in the Continental Army,” said Cadet Philip Mercadante, a yearling at West Point. Cadet Mercadante studies International Law at the Academy.

Arnold thought he did not receive enough recognition for his heroic deeds. With mounting debt, a family, and the war with Britain in a stalemate, Arnold decided it was in his best interest to abandon his comrades and the American cause. He decided to obtain and then sell the garrison plans for West Point to the British. Arnold began secretly negotiating with his former enemy.

“Whoever controlled the river controlled the fate of the war,” said Rob May, a Manhattan high school history teacher and a Garrison resident. “The river was the major thoroughfare … because it divided the New England colonies with the Middle colonies.”

Having control of West Point would ensure that access to New England from the other rebellious colonies was halted.

With the great chain assembled and stretched across the bottleneck portion of the Hudson River, like a giant trip wire for British battleships, Arnold took command of the pivotal fortress in the Highlands. At first Arnold played the role of commander well, but he soon received harsh criticism for his dwindling authority over his men.

Inspections conducted by General Washington himself showed that the unkempt barracks had begun to deteriorate under Arnold’s authority. Loose pigs ran wild on the base and portions of the great chain had started to sink beneath the river. West Point appeared to have weakened under the unfaithful general.

While in command of West Point, Arnold resided at the Robinson House, directly across the river in what is now Garrison. He was advised not to stay there, as it was not within the safe confines of West Point. Arnold, however, knew that the Robinson House would allow for a perfect getaway when the British made their assault on West Point.

Using Major John Andre, the British spy chief, as an intermediary, Arnold communicated with Sir Henry Clinton, the British Commander-in-Chief. Arnold gave away the locations of Continental soldiers and supply depots. As he negotiated a price for West Point with the British, Arnold began to divide up large numbers of troops in West Point to guarantee its vulnerability against an attack.

On September 21, Arnold and Andre met for the first time, after having communicated through letters sent in code and invisible ink. The HMS Vulture, a British warship, brought Andre up the Hudson. The next morning, Colonel James Livingston of the Continental Army ordered his troops to fire upon the ship. The attack forced the Vulture downriver, leaving Andre behind. Arnold supplied the British spy with plainclothes and a passport to help him return safely to the warship without being captured. Arnold also gave Andre his plans detailing how to capture West Point.

After a day of riding undetected, Andre was stopped in Tarrytown on September 23 by three armed militiamen. Andre said he was an American and tried to prove it with the passport given to him by Arnold. The men were suspect of Andre and took him into custody where they found his poorly hidden plans from Arnold in his boot.

On September 24, hearing of Andre’s capture, Arnold was forced to retreat in haste. Fully aware of the consequences of high treason, death by hanging, Arnold hurried down the small path, leaving his young wife, Margaret, and newborn child behind. He fled to the overlook, where he commanded bargemen to row him promptly downriver to the HMS Vulture. He then surrendered the men who helped him flee to the British and sailed south to safety.

Major Andre was hanged for his role as a British spy, in Tappan, New York, on October 22. Of his execution, Alexander Hamilton wrote, “Never perhaps did any man suffer death with more justice, or deserve it less.”

Arnold avoided being hanged as he made it into British held territory.

Today the path is mostly unchanged. But the Robinson House, which became known as the “treason house,” burned down in 1892.

Now there is a gazebo, a kiosk describing the historic events, and many benches along Arnold’s escape route. In addition there are exceptional views of West Point.

To retrace Benedict Arnold’s infamous steps, there are two entrances that lead to the trail off of Route 9D in Garrison. Turn down Glenclyffe Road, at the sign for the Garrison Institute. There is a small parking lot above the entrance to the trail that will lead directly to the exact overlook where Arnold departed. Also, down Lower Station Road, just outside the entrance to the Metro-North station parking lot are two stone pillars that lead into the Arden Point trail, which also leads to the gazebo and overlook. The trail is easy to access and makes for a picturesque walk.