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Page 39
We've drawn the sword, and shrined the sheath
Upon our father's tomb;
And when the foe shall sleep in death,
We'll sheath it o'er their doom.
Firm be your step, steady your file,
Unbroken your array;
The spirits of the blest shall smile
Upon our deeds to-day.
Unfurl the banner of the free
Amidst the battle's cloud;
Its folds shall wave to Liberty,
Or be to us a shroud.
O'er those who fall, a soldier's tear
Exulting shall be shed;
We'll bear them upon honour's bier,
To sleep in honour's bed.
The maiden, with her hurried breath
And rapture-beaming eye,
Shall all forget the field of death
To bless the victory.
The child, O! he will bless his sire,
The mother bless her son,
And God, He will not frown in ire,
When such a field is won.
"Good!" exclaimed Kinnison, when the song was done. "That is a war-song
of '76, I know."
"It is," replied the singer; "and judging from what I have heard you
say, it expresses in it the feeling of the period."
"A truce to songs and music," said Davenport. "I never was fond of any
kind of music but that of the fife and drum, and I never needed that to
put me in a condition to stand fire."
"You are too gloomy," said Kinnison.
"I have had cause enough for gloominess," said Davenport.
"But I wanted to talk to you about something--and that was my reason for
checking you. You talk so much about the treason of Arnold, and say that
he never was a patriot, that I wanted to tell you of another man's
treason, not to excuse Arnold, but to show you that he wasn't alone in
preferring the British side of the question, and that there were bolder
patriots than Paulding, Williams, and Van Wert, the captors of Andr�.
"We know there were plenty of traitors and patriots in the country
without a showing," said Kinnison, "but go on with your narrative."
"But this will prove that all censure should not be heaped upon Arnold's
head, nor all the praise on the militia-men of Tarry-town," observed
Davenport.
THE TREASON OF BETTYS.
"When the Revolutionary War broke out," said Davenport, beginning his
narrative, "there was a man named Joseph Bettys, who lived in Ballston,
New York, remarkable for his courage, strength and intelligence. Colonel
Ball of the Continental forces saw that Bettys might be of great service
to our cause, and succeeded in enlisting him as a serjeant. But he was
soon afterwards reduced to the ranks, on account of his insolence to an
officer, who, he said, had abused him without cause. Colonel Ball was
not acquainted with the facts of the affair, but being unwilling to lose
so active and courageous a man, he procured him the rank of a serjeant
in the fleet commanded by General Arnold, on Lake Champlain. Bettys was
as skilful a seaman as could be found in the service, and during the
desperate fight between the fleets which occurred in the latter part of
1776, he rendered more service than any other man except Arnold himself.
He fought until every commissioned officer on board of his vessel was
either killed or wounded, then took command himself, and fought with
such reckless and desperate spirit, that General Waterbury seeing the
vessel was about to sink, ordered Bettys and the remnant of his crew to
come on board his vessel. Waterbury then stationed Bettys on his
quarter-deck, and gave orders through him until his vessel was crippled,
and the crew mostly killed or wounded, when the colours were struck to
the enemy. After that action Bettys went to Canada, and, turning
traitor, received an ensign's commission in the British army. He then
became a spy, and one of the most subtle enemies of our cause. But our
men were wide awake. Bettys was arrested, tried and condemned to be hung
at West Point. His old parents and many influential Whigs entreated that
he should be pardoned, promising that he would mend his life. General
Washington, you know, never took life where it could be spared, and so
he granted the pardon. But it was generosity thrown away; Bettys hated
the Americans the more because they had it in their power to pardon him,
and resolved to make them feel he could not be humbled and led in that
way. The Whigs regretted the mercy that had spared the traitor. Bettys
recruited soldiers for the enemy in the very heart of the country;
captured and carried of the most zealous patriots, and subjected them to
great suffering. Those against whom he had the most hatred, had their
houses burned, and often lost their lives. The British commander paid
him well, for he was one of the best spies and most faithful messenger
that could be found. His courage and determination overcame every
obstacle and encountered every danger that would have appalled weaker
men. He proclaimed himself to be a man who carried his life in his hand,
and was as reckless of it as he would be of that of any who should
attempt to catch him. It was well understood that Bettys meant precisely
what he said, and that he always had a band of refugees ready to
support him in any rascality he might conceive. Still, there were some
bold men, who had suffered from Bettys' depredations, and who determined
to catch him at every hazard. Many attempts were made, but he eluded his
pursuers by his stratagems and knowledge of the country, until early in
January, 1782, when he was seen in the neighbourhood of Ballston, armed,
and with snow-shoes on. Three men, named Cory, Fulmer, and Perkins,
armed themselves and proceeded in pursuit. They traced Bettys by a
round-about track to the house of a well-known Tory. They consulted a
few minutes, and one of them reconnoitred to see the exact position of
Bettys. The traitor was at his meal, with his pistols lying on the table
and his rifle resting on his arm, prepared for an attack though not
suspecting foes were near. The three men, by a sudden effort, burst open
the door, rushed upon Bettys, and seized him in such a manner that he
could make no resistance. He was then pinioned so firmly that to escape
was impossible; and so the desperado, in spite of all his threats, was a
tame and quiet prisoner, and no one hurt in taking him. Bettys then
asked leave to smoke, which was granted; and he took out his tobacco,
with something else which he threw into the fire. Cory saw this
movement, and snatched it out, with a handful of coals. It was a small
leaden box, about an eighth of an inch in thickness, containing a paper,
written in cypher, which the men could not read. It was afterwards found
to be a despatch to the British commander at New York, with an order
upon the Mayor of that city for thirty pounds, if the despatch was
safely delivered. Bettys knew that this paper alone would be evidence
enough to hang him, and he offered the men gold to let him burn it. But
they refused his highest offers. He had a considerable quantity of gold
about him, and he offered them not only that but much more if they would
allow him to escape; but their patriotism could stand gold as well as
the gold could stand fire. They took Bettys to Albany, where he was
tried as a spy and hung. The only reward that the three men ever
received was the rifle and pistols of Bettys. The men who captured Andr�
were patriotic enough, but their work was easy compared with that of
Cory, Fulmer and Perkins. Yet the names of these heroes are scarcely
ever mentioned, and the story of their daring exploit is not generally
known."
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