ng Arnold, in
case of being questioned, as a drunken sailor, whom they were conveying
to the guard-house. The passage across the river could be easily
accomplished.

These particulars were communicated by Lee to Washington, who directed
the former to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not be
hurt. The appointed day arrived, and Lee with a party of dragoons, left
camp late in the evening, with three led horses--one for Arnold, one for
the sergeant, and the third for his associate. From the tenor of the
last communication from Champe, no doubt was entertained of the success
of the enterprise. The party from the American camp reached Hoboken
about midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood--Lee,
with three dragoons, stationing himself near the river shore.

Hour after hour passed. No boat approached. At length the day broke, and
the major retired with his party back to the camp, much chagrined at the
failure of the project.

In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's patron and
friend, informing him, that on the day preceding the night for the
execution of the plot, Arnold had removed his quarters to another part
of the town, to superintend the embarkation of troops preparing, as was
rumored, for an expedition, to be placed under his own direction. The
American legion, consisting chiefly of American deserters, had been
transferred from the barracks to one of the transports; it being
apprehended that if left on shore till the expedition was ready, many of
them might desert.

Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson that
night, was safely deposited on board one of the transports, from which
he never departed till the troops under Arnold landed in Virginia, Nor
was he able to escape from the British army till after the junction of
Lord Cornwallis, at Petersburgh, when he deserted; and passing through
Virginia and North Carolina, safely joined the American army soon after
it had passed the Congaree, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon.

Champe's appearance excited extreme surprise among his former comrades,
which was not a little increased when they witnessed the cordial
reception, which he met with from the late Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel
Lee. His whole story soon became known to the corps, and he became an
object of increased respect and regard.

Champe was munificently rewarded, and General Washington gave him a
discharge from further service, lest, in