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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, 11 est film6 d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche & droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent ia mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5. 6 .-^.iau^sjiaatfMi-rii'i i»«-i LisuT. MOODY'S NARPATIVE [Price I J. 6 ■A> sJ- r- ( 3 ) himfelf and his family, by a contrary condudl; nor docs he wifh to deny, that, tor fome time, thefe overawed and daggered him. For himfelf he felt but little ; but he had either too much or too little of the man about him, to bear the feeing of his neareft and deareft relatives difgraced and ruined. Of the points in debate between the parent-ftate and his native country, he pretended not to be a competent judge: they were ftudioufly fo puzzled and perplexed, that he could come to no other conclufion, than that, however real or great the grievances of the Americans mi^ht be, rebellion was not the way to redrefs them. It re- quired moreover but little (kill to know, that re- bellion is the fouleft of all crimes ; and that what was begun in wickednefs muft end in ruin. With this corividlion ftrong upon his mind, he refolved, that there was no difficulty, danger, or diftrefs, which, as an honeft man, he ought not to under- go, rather than fee his country thus difgraced and undone. In fpite therefore of incapacity, in fpite of difinclination — nay, in fpite even of concern for his family — with the mod ardent love for his country, and the warmeft attachment to his coun- trymen, he refolved to do any thing, and to be any thing, not inconfiftent with integrity — to fight, to bleed, to die — rather than live to fee the venerable Conftitution of his country totally loft, and his countrymen enflaved. What the confe- quences of this refolution have been, it is the in- tention of the following pages to defcribe. B 2 The ^^1 i ( 4 ) The fadls now to be related have many of them been occafionaiiy publillied in the New York papers, but in a ftate fo mutilated and iniperfed, as rather to excite than gratify curiofity. They arc here brought together under one view, in a conneded narrative; and fetdown juft as they happened. It is not pretended that all his adventures are here relat- ed, or that all the circumftances of thofe related are fully enumerated. It would be impolitic and dan- gerous for him to recount, at large, all his various ftratagems ; it would be barbarous and bafe, to divulge all the means by which he has fometimes efFefted his almoft miraculous efcapes. But were it otherwife, nothing can be farther from his aim, than to make a pompous difplay of any fuppofed merit of his own. As to the truth of his principal fadts, he appeals to fundry certificates and affida- vits now in his pofleflion ; nay, he farther appeals to every officer of every rank, who has either lately ferved, or is ftill ferving, in America. Yet, after all, from the nature of the cafe, the credit of fome parts of this Narrative muft reft upon his own au- thority, which, he believes, will not be queftion- ed by thofe who are acquainted with his charac- ter. Of the true caufes that gave birth to this un- happy quarrel, Mr. Moody is unwilling to give any opinion. He is no politician; and, therefore, by no means qualified to reconcile the contradic- tory aflertions and arguments of the contending parties. I. I m T ■inp* ■P^ ( 5 ) parties. This only, as an individual of that de- fcription of people of whom the greateft part of every community muft confift, he thinks it incum- bent on him to declare, that it did not originate with the people of America, properly fo called. They felt no real grievances, and therefore could have no inducement to rifle fubftantial advantages in the purfuit of fuch as were only imaginary. In making this declaration, he is confident he fpeaks the fentiments of a great majority of the peafantry of America. But, in every country, there are multitudes who, with little property, and perhaps ftill lefs principle, are always difpofed, and always eager for a change. Such perfons are eafily wrought upon, and eafily perfuaded to enlift under the banners of pretended patriots and forward dema- gogues ; of whom alfo every country is fufficiently prolific. In America, thefe popular leaders had a fet of men to affift them, who inherited, from their an- ceftors, the moft rooted diflike and antipathy to the confl:itution of the parent-ftate ; and, by means of their friendly co-operation, they were able to throw the whole continent into a ferment in the year 1774, and maddened almoft every part of the country with Affociations, Committees, and Liberty- poles, and all the preliminary apparatus neceflary to a Revolt. The general cry was. Join or die! Mr. Moody relilhed neither of thefe alternatives, and therefore remained on his farm a filent, but not S£& 1 ( 6 ) not unconcerned, fpeftator of the black cloud that had been gathering, and wis now ready to burft on his devoted head. It was in vain that he took every poflible precaution, confiftent with a good confcience, not to give offence. Some infatuated affociations were very near confi[;ning him to the latter of thefe alternatives, only becaufc neither his judgment, .or his confcience, would fuffer him to adopt the former. He was perpetually harafied by thefe Committees: and a party em- ployed by them once adtually aflaulted hir. perfon, having firft flouriflied their tomahawks over his head in a mod infulting manner. Finding it im- poffible either to convince thefe aflbciators, or to be convinced by them, any longer ftay among them was ufelefs ; and an attempt made upon him foon aff^r, rendered it impoifible. On Sunday 28th March 1777, while he was walking in his grounds with his neighbour Mr. Hutche^'on, he faw a number of armed men marching towards his houfe. He could have no doubt of their inten- tion ; and endeavoured to avoid them. They fired three different fhots at him ; but happily miffed him, and he efcaped. From this time, therefore, he fought the earliefl opportunity to take fhelter behind the Britifh lines; and fet out for this purpofe in April 1777. Seventy-three of his neip^hbours, all honefl men, of the fairefl and mofl refpedable charaders, accompanied him in this retreat. The march was long and dan- gerous. They were repeatedly annoyed and af- faulted ; * f! \X ■>h ^^\ ^r * r ■.t^ ■- .,. ( 7 ) faulted ; and once they were under the neceffity of coming to an engagement with a rebel party confiderably fuperior in number. Men, circum- ftanced as he and his friends were, could want no arguments to aniirate their exertions. The attack was fliarp, but the Loyalifts were fucceff- ful ; the enemy gave way, leaving them at liberty to purfue their route unmolefted. The whole company, four only excepted, arrived fafe at Bergen, where they joined Lieutenant-colonel Barton's battalion, in General Skinner's brigade*. A few, whofe profefTions were calculated to ren- der them ufeful in that department, joined the engineers. In June following, Mr. Moody and Mr. Hutche- Jon, went privately, about 70 miles into the country, to enlift the friends of Government. They en- lifted upwards of 500 men. The Britifh army, then at Brunfwick, was expeded immediately to march through New Jerfey. Mr. Moody and his friends had their agents properly placed, to give them the earlieft information of the army's moving ; when their plan was, to difarm the difaffedted, and generally arm the Loyal. Let the Reader then judge of their mortification, when, whilft their adherents were high in fpirits, and confident of their ability, at one blow, as it were, to have cruftied the Rebellion in New Jerfey, they were informed, that General Howe had evacuated the * vide General Skinner's Certificate. 2 province, ji ' ( 8 ) province, and was gone to the fouthwardf. Not- withftanding this difcouragement, Mr. Moody and his party ftiU continued in the country agree- ably to their inftrudions, in the hope that fome opportunity would ftill prefent itfelf to annoy the rebellious, and to affift the loyal. But no fuch opportunity offering immediately, they foon re- ceived orders to join the army with the men they had enlifted, or could enlift. In confequence of thefe inftruftions, they fet forwards with about lOO Loyalifts (not more than that number, from the change of profpefts, were then to be prevailed upon to leave their own country ; or, if it had been otherwife, the time was too fcanty, being not more than 48 hours to coUedl them together, which, it muft be obvious, was to be done only with great caution and fecrecy), on a march of upwards of 70 miles, through a well inhabited part of the province. The rebels purfued them; and, after feveral Ikir- mifhcs, at length came upon them in fuch force, near Perth-Amboy, that they were obliged to give way :nd difperfe. More than fixty of the party were taken prifoners; eight only, befides Mr. Moody, got within the Britilh lines. Thefe pri- foners, after being confined in Morris town jail, were tried for what was called high treafon •,' and above one half of them were fentenced to die. Two, whofe names were //// and Mee, were •(• This was to the Chefapeak expedition. adually ( 9 ) aftually executed; the reft having been reprieved on condition of their ferving in the rebel army. The love of life prevailed. They enlifted ; but fo ftrong was their love of loyalty at the fame time, that, three or four excepted, who died under the hands of their captors, they all, very foon after, made their efcape to the Britifh army. On comparing the numbers who had firft fet out with him, with thofe who, after being taken, had returned to him, Mr. Moody found, that, on the alarm, fome had efcaped ; and fome alfo, who had been taken and releafed, being ftill miff- ing, he concluded that they had gone back to their refpediive homes. This induced him to re- turn, without delay, into the country ; and he came back with nineteen men. Convinced that there were ftill many more, on whom good advice and a good example might have their proper in- fluence, he again went out, and brought back with him forty-two young men, as fine foldiers as are in the world; fome of whom had but juft efcaped from jails, where they had been confined for their loyalty. All thefe he was happy enough to con- duct fafe to the King's army. From this time, he continued with his battalion till 1778, having juft before been made an Enfign. In the beginning of May 1778, he was again fent into the interior parts of the Rebel Country, with orders to remain there as long as he could, to render fuch fervice to Government, and its C friends, ^.-M ^0m■.•..• v." war he was again taken, and agaiii coudjcttd to the dungeon ; and after- wards aAually executed on the fame fentence on which ( ^9 ) which he had been before convicted ; though he left the world with the nioft folcmii aflcvcrations of his innocence, as to any crime of which he had been accufed, excepting only an unfhakcn alle- giance to his Sovereign. A few other particulars refpefting this poor man, who, though but a common foldicr in a marching regiment, was, in all the efTeiitial and beft parts of the charader, an hero, the Writer cannot excufe himfelf from the relation of His fttuation and circumftances in the Rebel Country being peculiar, Mr. Moody, not thinking it proper himfelf to return thither fo foon, took the earlieft means he could to have him conveyed fafe to New York. But no arguments, no intreaties, could prevail with him to leave his deliverer. " To " you," faid he, " I owe my life: to you, and in " your fervice, let me devote it. You have found " me in circumftances of ignominy ; I wifh for an " opportunity to convince you, that you have not " been miftaken in thinking me innocent. I am, " and you fhall find me, a good foldier." It was to this fatal, but fixed determination, that he foon after owed the lofs of his life. When he was brought to the place of execution, the perfons, who had charge of him, told him, they had authority to promife him a reprieve ; and they did moft folemnly promife it to him, on condition D 2 only HimiiiiiLiii^ MiNiiiiiia mtmammamam ( ao ) only that he would tell them, who the Loyalifts in the country were, that had aflifted Moody. His reply was moft manly and noble ; and proves, that real nobility and dignity of fentiment are ap- propriated to no particular rank or condition or life. " I love life," he faid, " and there is no- " thing which a man of honour can do, that I " would not to do to fave it; but I cannot pay this " price for it. The men you wifh me to betray " muft be good men, becaufe they have afiifted a " good man in a good caufe. Innocent, as I am, " I feel this an awful moment : how far it be- " comes you to tempt me to make it ter- " rible, by overwhelming me in the bafeft guilt, " yourfelves muft judge. My life is in your *' power ; my confcience, I thank God, is ftili " my own." Another extraordinary circumftance is faid to have befallen him ; which, as well as the pre- ceding, Mr. Moody relates on the teftimony of an eye-witnefs yet living. Though he was a fmall and light man ; yet the rope, with which he was fuf- pended, broke. Even ftill this poor man's ad- mirable prefence of mind, and dignity of confcious innocence, did not forfake him. He inftantly ad- drefled himfelf to the furrounding multitude, in the following words : " Gentlemen, I cannot but hope " that this very extraordinary event will convince " you, of what I again folemnly proteft to you, " that I am innocent of the crime for which you " have ( 21 ) " have adjudged mz to die." But he ftill pro- tefted in vain. The fuppofed crime for which he fuffered was, the plundering and robbing the houfe of a certain furious and powerful Rebel. Bui it would be un- juft to his memory not to certify, as Mr. Moody does, that he has fince learned, from the volun- tary confefTion of a lefs confcientious loyalift, that this honeft man was charged wrongfully ; inaf- much as he himfelf, without the knowledge of the other, on the principles of retaliation and revenge, had committed the crime. The name of the above- mentioned honeft foldier and martyr, was Robert Maxwell, a Scotfman, who had had a good education. Not long after, obtaining information of the Britifh army's moving towards Springfield, Mr, Moody concluded, that the campaign was open. There appeared no way in which, with his fmall party of feven men, he could be more ufeful, than by fecuring as many as he could of the Rebel Militia. Accordingly, it was not long be- fore he contrived to take prifoners, a Major, a Captain, two Lieutenants, and fundry Committee Men ; in all to the amount of eighteen. Some requefted to be parolled ; and the Enfign complied with their requeft ; becaufe it was not only reafon- able and humane, bu: becaufe alfo it left him at liberty to purfue frefli objefts. Some requefted to MM MiMiM ; U I I: '. r ( " ) to take the oath of neutrality ; and it was not lefs willingly adminiftered to them. The Rebel part of the country was now again in an alarm ; and the Enfign was again purfued and fought, according to the ftrong expreflion of Scripture, " as a partridge in the mountains." But " wandering in deferts, and in mountains, " and in dens and caves of the earth," by the bleffing of God, he ftill eluded all their refearches. At length, however, being under a neceflity of returning to New York, he coUefted a few more of Burgoyne's men ; and, having now augmented his party to thirteen, he fet out for that capital. But his former good fortune now forfook him ; and he himfelf was foon doomed to feel all thofe bitter calamities, from which it had been the ob- jefl; of his exertions to extricate others. On the 21 ft of July i, J, it was his ill hap to fall in with an army, which the Rebel General Wayne was conducing to the fiege of The Block- boufe, commanded by Captain Ward. Refiftance was vain, and retreat imprafticable. Mr. Moody, and the greater part of his men, were now obliged to fubmit to captivity. He, and two of his men, were immediately fent to a place called The Slote ; where they were confined, with their hands tied behind their backs. On the lid, they were removed to Stony Point ; and, 1 i ■■ ; ( ^3 ) and, on the 23d, to Colonel Robertfon's houfe, at JVefl-Point. The Rebel General Howe, who com- manded at this poft, treated Mr. Moody with great civility ; and permitted his fervant to attend him. From thence, he was fent to Fijh-kill, to the Rebel Commiflary of prifoners, who pafTed him on to MJopus. At JFJopus, he remained till the 2d of Auguft ; when, in the night, he was put into a ftrong room, guarded by four foldiers, two within the door, and two without. The Serjeant, in the hearing of the Enfign, gave orders to the fentinels who were in the room with him, to infift on his lying down on a bed, and inftantly to fhoot him if he attempted to rife from it. On this, he requefted and infifted to fee the Commiffary. The Commiflary came; and was a{kcd, if thefe orders were from him .'' His anfwer was, "The Serjeant " had done his duty ; and he hoped the men " would obey their orders." Mr. Moody remon- ftrated, and urged, that it was no uncommon thing with him to rife from his bed in his fleep : he requefted therefore only, that, if he fliould happen now to be overtaken with fuch an in- firmity, the men might be ordered to call him by his name, and at leaft to awake him before they fired. All the anfwer he could obtain, from this tyrant-minion of tyrant-mafters, was a cool and moft cutting repetition of his former words. After having twice more changed the place of his confinement, on the loth of Auguft he was carried m I tiiinniirtiii J ■ >f.. •! ( 24 ) carried back to PVeJi-point. And here his fufferings feemed to be but beginning ; for the cruelties he experienced, under the immediate eye of General Arnold, who then commanded there, infinitely exceeded all that he has ever met with before or fince. Nothing can be further from Mr. Moody's wifhes than to become any man's accufer ; but no man (hould be afraid either to hear, or to tell the truth, which is of no party, and (hould be obferved by all. Humanity, morever, is fo lovely and neceflary a virtue, and efpecially in times of civil war, that Mr. Moody owns he is proud, and loves, to acknowledge and to praife it, even in an enemy ; of courfe, he muft lament and reprobate the want of it, though in his beft friend. Under new maffcrs, it is hoped. General Arnold has learned new maxims. Compelled by truth, however, Mr. Moody muft bear him teftimony, that he was then faithful to his employers, and abated not an iota in fulfilling both the letter and the fpirit of their general orders and inftruc- tions, Mr. Moody feels this to be an unpleafant part of his Narrative. It is with pain he purfues it. May it be permitted inm then to give the fub- fequent part of it in the words of an affidavit, taken in the Judge Advocate's Office at New York, o from ] fWUk''., ( ^5 ) from the mouth of William Buirtis, who was con- fined for his loyalty in the fame prifon with Mr. Moody. " Judge-Advocate's Offiie, " New 2''ork, May ii, 1782. THIS day perfonally appeared William " Buirtis, a Refugee from the county of Weft " Chefter, in the province of New-York, hut now " refiding on York Ifland, in the province afore- " faid ; and, being duly fworn on the Holy " Evangelifts of Almighty God, depofeth and " faith; (( c< (( (( << << C( cc cc c< (( (C " That fome time in the month of Au^uft 1780, he (the deponent) was confined in a dun- geon at Weft Point Fort, under fentence of death, having been charged with giving certain intelligence and information to General Mathew, one of his Britannic Majefty's Generals ferving at that time in America; that, about the middle of je month of Auguft aforefaid. Lieutenant James Moody, of Brigadier General Skinner's firft batallion, was brought under guard, and confined in the fame dungeon with him (the de- ponent) ; that, the day following, he (Licute- tenant Moody) was put in irons and hand-cufFed; that the hand-cuffs were of a particular fort and conftrudlion, ragged on the inftde next the wrift, H " which ( ^6 ) " which raggediiefs caufed his wrifts to be much " cut and icarificd ; that foon after he (Lieute- " tenant Moody) was ironed and hand-cufFed, an " officer came and demanded his money, faying, " he was ordered to take what money he had, and " fliould obey his orders puntiually ;" that the money " was not delivered, as he (Lieutenant Moody) " was refolute in refufing, and determined not to " give it up. He (Lieutenant Moody) then peti- " tioned General Benedid: Arnold, at that time in " the Rebel fervice, and Commanding Officer at " Weft Point, to grant him relief; in which pe- " tition he fet forth the miferable fituation he was " in, as alfo the torment he fufFered, occafioned " by the hand-cuffs ; to which petition he received " no anfwer, though he was told, by two officers " in the Rebel fervice, his petition had been deli- " vered to General Arnold. / " That about a week after his firft petition had been fent, he petitioned a fecond time for relief from his fuffering, requefting moreover to be brought to a trial, obferving, that if he fliould be found guilty ol death he fliould defire to fuf- fer, as death was much preferable to torment, and being murdered by inches. Some little time after the delivery of the fecond petition, one of General Arnold's Aids de Camps, whofe name he (the deponent) cannot recoiled, came to the dungeon ; and, on feeing him (Lieutenant " Moody), ! ! I ( 27 ) Moody), afked, if that was the Moody whofe name was a terror to every good man ? On his replying that his name was Moodv, he (the Aid de Camp) replied in a fcoffing manner, Tou have got your/elf into a pretty Jitudtion\" on his (Lieutenant Moody's) faying the fituation was difagreeable, but he hoped it would not be of long continuance; he anfwered, he be- lieved not, as he would foon meet with jultice (pointing at the fame time to a gallows that was eredled in the fight and view of the dungeon) ; and alfo added, there is the gallows ready erefted, which he (meaning Moodv) had long merited. Lieutenant Moody anfwered, he made no doubt he (the Aid de Camp) wifhed to fee every Loyal Subjed hanged, but he thanked God, the power was not in him ; but if he (Lieutenant Moody) was hanged, it could be for no other reafon than being a Loyal Subje(it to one of the beft of Kings, and under one of the beft of Governments; and added, if he had ten lives to lofe, he would fooner forfeit the ten as a Loyal Subjed, than one as a Rebel; and alfo faid, he hoped to live to fee him (the Aid de Camp), and a thoufand fuch other vil- lains, hanged for being Rebels. The officer then faid he was fent to examine his irons, as he (Lieutenant Moody) had been frequently troubling General Arnold with his petitions. On examining the irons, he faid they were too bad; and afked, who put them on ? — faying, H 2 «« Iron- '. , ■■'^^s^^:Mm^iei^'^si^m Jl I * (li I .11 ( 28 ) Irons were intended for fecurity, not for torment ; but if any one merited such irons, he (Lieutenant Moody) did in bis opinion. Lieutenant Moody, however, was not relieved at that time from his irons ; but, about a week or ten days afterwards, an officer came from General Wafhington, or- dered the irons to be taken off, and Lieutenant Moody to be better treated. In confequence of General Wafhington's order, he was better ufed : that he (the deponent) knows no- thing farther that happened, as he (Lieutenant Moody), in a few days afterwards, was removed from that place. " William Buirtis. " Sworn before me at the time and place above mentioned, ** Richard Porter, " Af. D^ Judge- Advocate." The above-mentioned dungeon was dug out of a rock, and covered with a platform of planks badly jointed, without any roof to it; and all the rain which fell upon it immediately pafled through, and lodged in the bottom of this difmai manfion. It had no floor but the natural rock; and the water, with the mud and filth coUedled, was commonly ankle-deep in every part of it. Mr. Moody's bed was an old door, fupported by four ftones, ( 29 ) ftones, To as juft to raife it above the furfaco of the water. Here he continued near four weeks ; and, during jnoft of the time, while he was tormented with irons in the manner mentioned above, no food was allowed him but ftinking beef, and rotten flour, made up into balls or dumplins, which were thrown into a kettle and boiled with the meat, and then brought to him in a wooden bowl which was never waHied, and which contracted a thick cruft of dough, greafe, and dirt. It is a wonder that fuch air, and fuch food, to fay nothing of the wounds upon his legs and wriits, were not fatal to him, efpecially as the clothes on his back were feldom dry, and at one time were continually wet for more than a week together. After Mr. Wafh- ington interfered he was ferved with wholefome provifions, and he was allowed to purchafe for himfelf fome milk and vegetables. The ways of Providence are often myfterious, frequently bringing about its ends by the moft un- likely means. To this inhuman treatment in Ge- neral Arnold's camp, Mr. Moody owed his future fafety. On the ift of September he was carried to Wafhington's camp, and there confined near their Liberty-pole. Colonel Skcwmel, the Adjutant Ge- neral, came to fee him put in irons. When they had hand-cuffed him, he remonftrated with the Colonel, defiring that his legs, which were indeed in a worfe fituation than even his wrifts, might be examined ; >«*»-'!.■. •#%*■«< I ( JO ) examined; farther adding only, that death would be infinitely preferable to a repetition of the tor- ments he had jiirt; undergone. The Colonel did examine his legs ; and, on feeing them, he alfo ac- knowledged, that his treatment had indeed been too bad ; anti afked, if (icncral Arnold had been made acquaintctl with his fituation. Mr. Moody feels a fincere pleafure in thus publicly acknow- ledging his obligations and his gratitude to Colonel Skammel, who humanely gave orders to the Pro- voft Marfhal to take good care of him, and by no means to fuffer any irons to be put on his legs, till they were likely to prove lefs diftrefling. Mr. Moody attended the rebel army in iis march over the New Bridge ; and had an opportu- nity of obferving their whole line, and counting thiMr artillery. Every thing feemed fmooth and fair; and he felt himfelf much at eafe, in the pro- fpeft of being loon exchanged ; when, very unex- peftedly, he was vifited by an old acquaintance, one of their Colonels, who informed him, that he was in two days time to be brought to trial ; that Livingfton was to be his profecutor, and that the Court Martial was carefully picked for the purpofe. He fubjoined, that he would do well to prepare for eternity, fince, from the evidence which he knew would be produced, there was but one ifllie of the bufinefs to be expected. Mr. Moody re- quefted to be informed, what it was the purpofe of this evidence to prove ? it was, his wellwifher told him, J I ( 3\, ) him, that he had afTairuKitcd a Captain Shaddock and a Lieutenant I lendrickibn. Ihcll- were the two officers who had fallen fairly in battle near Black Point, as has been already related. The Enfign replied, that he felt himfelf much at eafe on that account, as it could be fufficiently cleared up by their own people, who had been in, and had furvived, the a^^ion, as well as by fome of their officers, who were at the time prifoners to him, and fpertators of the whole affair. " All " this," faid his friend, " will be of little avail : " you are fo obnoxious ; you have been, and are " likely to be, fo mifchievous to us, that, be " affured, we are refolved to get rid of you at any " rate. Befides, you cannot deny, and it can be " proved by inconteftible evidence, that you have " enlifted men, in this State, for the King's fer- " vice, and this, by our laws, is death." Enfign Moody affedled an air of unconcern at this information ; but it was too ferious and im- portant to him to be really difregarded ; he re- folved, therefore, from that moment, to effedt his efcape, or to perifli in the attempt. Every precaution had been taken to fecure the place in which he was confined. It was nearly in the centre of the rebel camp. A fentinel was placed within the door of his prifon, and another without, befides four others clofe round, and within a few yards of the place. The time now came on when « ^" ( 32 ) when he muft cither make his attempt, or lofc the opportunity for ever. On the night, therefore, of the 17th of Septemlier, bufy in ruminating on his projeft, he had, on the pretence of l)eing cold, got a watch-coat thrown acrofs his llioulders, that he might better conceal, from his unplcafant com- pa*;ion, the operations which he meditated againft his hand-cuffs. While he was racking his inven- tion, to find fome poHible means of extricating himfelf from his fetters, he providentially cart his eye on a port fartened in the ground, through which an hole had been bored with an auger ; and it occurred to him that it might be poifible, with the aid of this hole, to break the bolt of his hand- cuffs. Watching the opportunity, therefore, from time to time, of the fentinel's looking another way, he thruft the point of the bolt into the above-men- tioned hole, and by cautioufly exerting his rtrength, and gradually bending the iron backwards and forwards, he at length broke it. Let the reader imagine what his fenfations were, when he found the manacles drop from his hands ! He fprung in- ftantly part the interior fentinel, and rufhing on the next, with one hand he feized his mufquet, and with the other ftruck him to the ground. The fentinel within, and the four others who were placed by the fence furrounding the place of his confinement, immediately gave the alarm ; and, in a moment, the cry was general — '^Aloody is efcaped " from the Provoft." It is impofTible to defcribe the uproar which now took place throughout the ^ whole { 33 ) whole camp. In a few minutes every man was in a huftk-; every man was Iciokint; for Mooily, and multitudes pafTed him on all fules— little fuf- pefting, that a man whom they faw lieliherately marching along, with a mufket on his (houlder, could be the fugitive they were in queft of. 'I'he darknefs of the night, which was alfo bluftering and driz/.ly, prevented any difcrimination of his perfon, and was indeed the great circumftance that rendered his efcape poflihle. But no fmall difficulty ftill remained to be fur- mounted. To prevent djfertion, which at that time, was very frequent, Wafhington had furroundcd his camp with a chain of fentinels, ported at about forty or fifty yards diftance from each other ; he was unacquainted with their ftations ; to pafs them un- difcovered was next to impoflible; and to be dif- covered would certainly be fatal. In this dilemma Providence again befriended him. He had gained their ftation without knowing it, when luckily he heard the watch-word parted from one to an- other — " Look fharp to the chain — Moody is " efcaped from the Provoft." From the found of the voices he afcertained the rcfpedive fituations of thefe fentinels; and, throwing himfelf on his hands and knees, he was happy enough to crawl through the vacant fpace between two of them, unfeen by either. Judging that their line of pur- fuit would naturally be towards the Britirti army, he made a detour into the woods on the oppofite F fide. W I ( 34 ) fide. Through thefe woods he made as much fpeed as the darknefs of the night would permit, fleering his courfe, after the Indian manner, by occafionally groping and feeling the white-oak. On the fouth fide the bark of this tree is rough and unpleafant to the touch, but on the north fide it is fmooth ; hence it ferves the fugacious traverfer of the defart, by night as well as by day, for his compafs. Through the moft difmal woods and fwamps he continued to wander till the night of the 2 1 ft, a fpace of more than fifty-fix hours du- ring which time, he had no other fuftenance than a few ieac/t leaves (which, of all that the woods afi^orded, were the leaft unpleafant to the tafte, and leaft pernicious to health), which he chewed and fwallowed, to abate the intolerable cravings of his hunger. In every inhabited diftridt he knew there were friends of Government; and he had now learned alfo where and how to find them o->.t, without en- dangering their fafety, which was always the firft objedl of his concern. From fome of thefe good men he received minute information how the pur- fuit after him was diredled, and where every guard was ported. Thus affifted, he eluded their keeneft vigilance ; and, at length, by God's blefling, to his unfpeakable joy, he arrived fafe at Pauius- Hook. On the 6th of March 1781, Colonel Delancey, the Adjutant General, requefted Mr. Moody to make '&^smi^am^»mmmmimmamm9mim'*m^mm0im^^*m ( 35 ) make an expedition into the rebel country, for the purpofe of intercepting Mr. Wafliiiigton's dif- patches. He readily confenced ; and fet out on the expedition the very next night, and travelled about twenty-five miles. The following day he and his party kept concealed in a fwamp. The next night, for it was only by night that they could venture to ftir, they had not gone far, when the man who had undertaken to be their guide, re- fufed to advance a ftep further. No arguments, no promifes, no threats, could prevail with him to proceed, though it was at his own exprefs defire that he was one of the party. Incenfed at his be- ing fo perverfe and wrong-headed, Mr. Moodv, in the firft tranfports of indignation, had ad:ually cocked his gun in order to {hoot him ; but hap- pily he inftantly recolleded, that the poor devil had a wife and family who depended on him for bread. This reftrained him ; and ordering his arms to be taken from him, he was under the painful neceflity of returning with him to New York. This man was remarkably earned and vehement in his rrfentment againft the Rebels. He had been much injured by them in his property; and they had alfo put both his father and his brother to an ignominious death, it was natural to fuppofe, therefore, that fuch a man would be true and firm. But he was loyal only through refentment and in- tereft, not from convidlion and principle. Thefe F 2 Loyalifts, ■*• ( 36 ) Loyalifts, from principle, were the men on whom he relied; and no one of thefe ever failed him. I The Adjutant General feemed to be much dif- appointed on feeing the party return, fuppofing the hope of obtaining the difpatches to be now vain. Mr. Moody informed him of what had hap- pened ; but added, that he had ever fince kept his eye on the renegado, and had not fuffered a foul to fpeak to him ; and requefted that this caution Ihould be ftill continued, and that even the fentry, who was to guard him, fhould not be permitted to have any intercourfe with him. On this condition he promifed again to make the attempt, and hoped not without fuccefs. Accordingly, he fet out a fecondtime; and, on the night of the loth, he reached Haverftraw mountains. On his march he was in- formed, that the poft had gone by that day. On the nth the weather became very inclement, and he, with his party, fuffered exceedingly from a heavy fall of fnow ; notwithftanding, they puflied forward, hoping, by rapid marches, to get a-head oi the rider. Thefe efforts, though excefTively fatiguing, were as yet all in vain ; but on the 15th they were fuccefsful, and got pofTefTion of their prize ; and, after fome equally difficult and diflrefTing marches on their return, they at length arrived fafe with it in New York. The inex- prefTible hardfhips which the party underwent in this adventure, both from hunger and cold, were fatal i\ . iimM,^mmmm^:mmmmmmm»f*' ( 37 ) fatal to the health of moft of them. Soon after Mr. Moody was made a Lieutenant, having firft ferved more than a year as a volunteer without any pay, and almoft three years as an Enfign. About the middle of May the Adjutant General again complained of the want of intelligence, and told Lieutenant Moody, that he could not render the King's caufe a more eflential piece of fervice than by bringing in, if it were poflihle, another rebel mail. There was no declining fuch a foii- citation. Therefore, on the night of the 1 5th, taking four men with I'm, Mr. Moody fet out, and travelled twenty-five miles. Hitherto he and his aflbciates met with no moleftation ; but they had not gone far the next night, when they per- ceived a confiderable party of men approaching them as fecretly as pofTible. Mr. Moody tried to get off by the left, but he found himfelf and his party inclofed on three fides. On the right was a high clifF of rocks, fo rugged and fteep that the enemy thought it impoffible for them to efcape on that fide. It was obvious, from thefe circum- ftances, that an ambufii was laid, and that this fpot, fo peculiarly convenient, was chofen for the purpofe ; in (hort, that Mr. Moody and his party had been betrayed by intelligence fent forward from New York. The only alternative left was to furrender and perifii, or to leap down from the top of thefe rocks, without knowing, with any certainty, either how high they were, or what fort of i\ Hi ^M hi I, ( 38 ) of ground was at the bottom. The Lieutenant bade his men follow him, and fprang forward. Providentially the ground at the bottom was foft, and every thing elfe juft as they could have wifhed it : they efcaped unhurt, and proceeded for fome time unmolefted. But, at no great diftance, croiT- ing a fwamp, juft beyond it they fell in with an- other party, of much the fame number as the former. Luckily they faw, and were not feen. A little hillock was at hand, to which the Lieutenant ordered his men quietly to retreat, and fall on their faces ; judging that, in cafe they were difcovered, there would be fome advantage in having to charge from higher ground, by which means, if at all, they might cut their way through the party. What he and his men felt, when they beheld fo fuperior a force marching direftly towards them, till at laft they were within fifty yards ; or when, in this awful moment, they had the happinefs to fee them, without being difcovered, take another courfe ; no perfon of fenfibility will need to be told. A little council of war was now held, and it was de- termined to return whither only the way feemed clear. To advance was imprafticable, as there now could remain not a doubt but that intelligence of the intended route had been fent from ■ ithin the Britifh lines, and that the enemy had trade a proper ufe of it. They began, therefore, with all poflible caution, to meafure back their fteps ; for they were ftill apprehenfive of other plots and other ambufhes. And mm iiariKiiiiiiipii' ( 39 ) And now, having gained the North River, and being within four miles of New York, they flat- tered themfelves they vvere once more out of dan- ger. But, being within a hundred yards of a cer- tain houfe, how were they alarmed when they faw feventy men come out of it, and advance dircftly towards them ' Lieutenant Moody was convinced they were Rebels ; but the guide infifted that they were Loyalifts, and that he knew feveral of them. On this, the latter, with another man, went for- ward to meet them, notwithftanding that the former ftill perfifted in his opinion. A very un- pleafant falute foon convinced this unfortunate duumvirate of their miftaken confidence. The main body made for the Lieutenant, who had no other means of efcape than to climb a fteep hill ; but, long before he had reached the fummit, they had fo gained on him as to be within fifty yards. He received one general difcharge, and thought it little fhort of a miracle that he efcaped unwound- ed. The bullets flew like a fl:orm of hail all around him ; his clothes were fhot through in feveral places ; one ball went through his hat, and an- other grazed his arm. Without at all flackening his pace he turned round, and difcharged his muf- quet, and by this fliot killed one of his purfuers : fl;ill they kept up their fire, each man difcharging his piece as fafi: as he could load ; but, gaining an opportunity of foon doubling upon them, he gave them the flip, and in due time arrived, once more, fafe in New York. One of the two men who had efcaped, \,il¥3i4''*-iar-i3((»«»S-.-i r^^^m^-^^wwn 't! t "I 1 , t' I ( 40 ) efcaped, and got in firft, miftaking the fcreams 01' the poor fellow who was fhot, for thofe of Lieute- nant Moody himfelf, had given out that the Lieu- tenant was killed, for that he had heard his cries ; but the friends of the latter were foon happy to fee fo unequivocal a proof that the man was mif- taken. The very firft night after his return to New York, as above related, viz. on the i8th of May, Lieutenant Moody fet out again on the bufinefs of this expedition. The Rebels knew that he had been driven back, and he thought it the propereft time to proceed immediately in purfuit of his ob- ject. On that night, with his fmall party of four men, he got as far as Secaucas. The next night they crofled the Hackinfack river, by means of a canoe which Lieutenant Moody always kept there for fuch purpofes, and which, after crofting, he concealed till his return. He then proceeded on, till; coming to the edge of a marfti, he fell in with a party of Rebels, who were patrolling in that quarter, with a view only, it is probable, of inter- cepting the country people who might be carrying provifions to New Yof-k. This party difcovered the Lieutenant firft, without being feen, and {af- fered him to pafs their van, not hailing him till fome of them were in his rear, as well as fome in his front. He was ordered inftantly to JiarnJ, or he and all with him were dead men. This fum- mons the Lieutenant anfwered by an immediate 5 difcharge. ( 41 ) difcharge, which they returned. He then calling on his rear to advance, as if he had a large body in referve, and giving a fecond fire, they foon dif- perfed. He was informed the next day, that this rebel party confifted of twelve men. Marching on about four miles farther, he came to Saddle River, which it was neceflary to crofs ; but apprehenfive that there might he a y;uard ftationed at the bridge, though the night was dif- mally dark and rainy, and the river had greatly overflowed its banks, he waded, for fcveral yards, through a confiderable depth of water, till he got clofe to the bridge, where he faw, as he had fear- ed, a regular guard. On this he retreated with all poflible fpeed and caution ; and was obliged to wade through the river, about half a mile farther up, not without much difficulty and danger. The country being now much alarmed with ru- mours of Moody's being out, occafioned by this little rencontre, the mail, inftead of being fent by Pompton, as it ufually had been, and where it was expeded to be met with, was now fent by the back road, with a guard to fecure it. On difcovering this, the Lieutenant difpatched a trufty Loyalift to a diftant part of the province, with letters to his friends ; and particularly diredling one of them, whofe perfon, figure, and voice moft refembled his own, to pafs for him but a fingle hour ; which he readily did. In this friend's neighbour- G hood i iMti^m^^mmsjsmMsa^sgmeSMiiM2MMMs& ( 42 ) hood lived a pompous and important Juftice of a Peace, who was a cowardly fellow, and of courfe had been cruel. At this man's houfe, early in the evening, the perfon employed raifed an alarm. The Juftice came out, and efpying, as it was intended he fhould, a tall man, his fears con- vinced him it was Moody; and he inftantly be- took himfelf to the woods. The next day the ru- mour was general, that Moody was in that part of the country : and the militia was brought down from the part where he really was, to purfue him where he was not. This facilitated the capture of the mail, which he waylaid for five days before the opportunity prefented. This mail contained all the difpatches that were fent in confequence of the interview between General Wafhington and the Count Rochambeau in Connedlicut.' Lieutenant Moody caufed two other mails to be taken by the people under his diredtion. In one of thefe little expeditions his brother com- manded, a young man, whofe fearlefs courage, in the very teeth of danger, he had repeatedly wit- nelTed. The younger Moody fucceeded in his at- tempt, fo far as to intercept the mail ; but, after feizing it, he was attacked by a fuperior party, and two of his men were taken ; yet he himfelf had the good fortune to efcape, with that part of the papers which was in his own cuftody. Pennfyl- vania was the fcene of this enterprife. A tale I «H MM* ( 43 ) A tale far more melancholy than any yet related ronies now to be told ; the recolleftion of which (and it is impotlible he fhould ever forget it) will for ever wring with anguifh the heart of the Writer of this Narrative. In the end of October 17H1, Major Beckwith, Aid de Camp to General Knip- haufen, came and informed Lieutenant Moody, that one .-Iddijon had been with him, on a projed of high moment. It was nothing lefs than to bring off the moft important books and papers of Con- grefs. This Addifon was an Englifhmun ; and had been employed in fome inferior department, under Mr. Thompfon, the Secretary to the Congrefs. He was then a prifoner ; and the plan was, that he fliould be immediately exchanged, return in the ufual manner to Philadelphia, and there refume his old employment. The Lieutenant was abun- dantly careful, and even fcrupulous, in his inqui- ries concerning the man's character ; on which head Major Beckwith exprefied the moft entire confidence ; and obferved, that xVddifon was equally cautious refpeding the characters of thofe who were to attend him. The matter was of importance; and Lieutenant Moody was confident that, though it might be dif- ficult to perform his part of the bufinefs, yet it was not impracticable. He refolved, however, as Addifon might think bim an object worth betray- ing, that he fhould not be informed of his con- fenting to be of the party. If any other perfon did G 2 inform I ( 44 ) inform him of it, he was, to fay the leafl, very imprudent. The Lieutenant pitched upon his only brother, of whom fome mention has already been made, and another faithful American foidicr, for this arduous enterprife. Their firft inftrudions were to wait on Addifon, and to bind him, as they themfelves had juft been bound, to mutual fecrecy and fidelity, by an oath, which the Lieutenant had always adminiftered to his followers in all his ex- peditions, when the importance of the objed ren- dered fuch an additional tie neceflary ; and which, as it clearly fhews the principles of honour and humanity on which it was his uniform pride and purpofe to ad, he begs leave here to fubjoin, and it as follows ; viz. \ ■ *' I, the underfigned A. B. do folemnly fwear, on the Holy Evangelifts of Almighty God, that I will ftand by and be true to the perfons joined with me in this expedition, and do every thing in my power to accompliili the purpofes of it : and I do farther fwear, that, in cafe of our tak- ing any prifoners, I will do my endeavour to treat them as well as our fituation will admit of: and I do farther fwear, that, in cafe any acci- dent Should happen to me, and that I fhould be taken, I will not, even to fave life, difcover or betray any perfon joined with me, or any Loyalift who may befriend us with any informa- tion, advice, or other afliftance; and I do far- ther fwear, that 1 will not injure nor deftroy any " property k ( 45 ) ' property even of a rel)cl, unlefs it lie arms or ' ammvinifion, but taithtuUy pay the full price of ' any thing wc take from them, if they refufe to ' fell it: and 1 do farther fwear, that I will not ' wound nor take away the life of any perfon ' whatever, unlefs they fhould attempt an ekape ' when in our cuftody, or it fhall otherwife be ab- ' folutelv necefTarv for our own defence. So help ' me God," After taking this oath, a certain number of nights was agreed on, in which Addifon was to ex- pedt them ; and a certain place alfo appointed, where he was to meet them. In fuch an adventure, it was impollible to be exaft to any time ; but it was agreed, that if they failed of being at the place in any of the fpecified nights, he fhould no longer expeft them ; and they farther promifed, by pro- per means, to apprife him, if pofTible, if any acci- dent fhould befal them, fo as either to delay, or whc'ly put an end to their projedt. Things being thus fettled, Addifon left New York in due form and manner, as was generally fuppofed, in order to return to his former friends and employment; and, at the proper time, Lieu- tenant Moody and his friends followed him. The manner and circumftances of their march, it is not material nor proper here to relate : Suffice it to fay, that, on the night of the 7th of November, the firft in the order of thofe that had been ap- pointed, I i - h I'.'' I ( 46 ) pointed, tht-y arrived in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia, hut on the oppodte fide of the river. They found Addilbn already on the fpot, waiting for them, according to appointment. Lieutenant Moody Icept a little hack, at fuch a diftance as not to have his perfon diftinguifhed, yet fo as to be within hearing of the converfation that paflcd. His brother, and Mtitr his afTociate, on going up to Addifon, found him apparently full of confidence, and in high fpirits; and every thing feemed to promife fuccefs. He told them, that their plot was perfedly ripe for execution ; that he had fecured the means of admiifion into the moft private recefTes of the Srate-houfe, 'b that he fliould be able the next evening to deliver to them the papers they were in queft of. They, on their parts, afTured him, that every neceflary precaution had been taken to iecure and expedite their retreat ; and that they had with them a Jure frieud, who would wait for them on that fide of the river, who, as well as themfelves, would die by his fide, rather than defert him, fhould any difafter befal them. He replied, that they fhould find him as true and faithful to them and their caufe, as they them- felves could pofiibly be. Soon after they crofled the river together to Philadelphia: and it is probable that, on the paflage, Addifon was for the firfl: time informed, that this friend was Lieutenant Moody. Whether it was this difcovery that put it firft into his head, or whether he had ail along intended it, and had already taken the neceflary previous fteps, the 111 ^' HMH WH ( 47 ) the Lieutenant cannot certainly Tay ; Hut he alTures hinileU", that every generous-iiiindeil hkmi will be Oiocked when he reails, that this pertiilious wretch had either fold, or was about to fell them to the Congrefs. As the precife time in which thev fliould be able to execute their plan couKl not be afcertained, it was agreed that Lieutenant Moody (liould re- main at the l''erry-houfe, oppofite to Philadelphia, till they returned. On goiny into the houfc, he told the miftrefs of it, by a conveniant equivocation, that he was an officer of the JerJ'fy Brr^itt/e, as he rea"v was, though of that Jerfey Brigade which was in the King's fervice. The woman un- derrtood him as fpeaking of a rebel corps, which was alfo called the Jerfey Brigade. To avoid no- tice, he pretended to be indifpofed; and, going up ftairs, he threw himfelf upon a bed, and here continued to keep his room, but always awake, and always on the watch. Next morning, about II o'clock, he faw a man walk haftily up to the houfe, and overheard him telling fome perfon he met at the door, that " there was the devil to pay " in Philadelphia ; that there had been a plot to " break into the State-houfe, but that one of the " party had betrayed the others; that two were " already taken ; and that a party of foldiers had " juft crofled the river with him, to feize their *' leader, who was faid to be thereabouts." The Lieutenant felt himfelf to be too nearly interefted in I 4 '%r 1 ( 48 ) in this intelligence, any longer to keep up the ap- pearance of a fick man ; and, feizing his piftols, he inftantly ran down ftairs, and made his efcape. He had not got a hundred yards from the houfe when he faw the foldiers enter it. A fmall piece of wood lay before him, in which he hoped at leaft to be out of fight ; and he had fprung the fence in order to enter it. But it was already lined by a party of horfe, with a view of cutting off his retreat. Thus furrounded, all hopes of flight were in vain ; and to feek for a hiding place, in a clear, open field, feemed equally ufelefs. Drowning per- fons are faid to catch at ftraws ; with hardly a hope of efcaping fo much as a moment longe.' undif- covered, he threw himfelf flat on his face in a ditch, which yet feemed of all places the leafl; calculated for concealment, for it was without weeds or fhrubs, and fo (hallow, that a quail might be feen in it. Once more he had reafon to moralize on the vanity of all human contrivance and confidence ; yet, as Providence ordered it, the improbability of the place proved the means of his fecurity. He had lain there but a few minutes, when fix of his purfuers pafled within ten feet of him, and very diligently examined a thickety part of the ditch that was but a few paces from him. With his piftols cocked, he kept his eye conftantly on them, determining, that, as foon as he faw himfelf to be difcovered by any one of them, he would inftantly fpring up, and fell his life as dearly as might be ; 5 and. ( 49 ) and, refufing to be taken alive, provoke, and, if poflible, force them to kill him. Once or twice he thought he faw one of the foldiers look at him, and he was on the point of fhooting the man ; but refle^ing that poflibly though the foldier did fee, yet he might have the humanity not to dijcover him, as he would fain hope was really the cafe, his heart fmote him for his rafh refolution ; and he thanks God that he was reftrained from putting it in execution. From the ditch they went all around the adja- cent field; and, as Lieutenant Moody fometimes a little raifed up his head, he faw them frequently running their bayonets into fome fmall ftacks of Indian corn-fodder. This fuggefted to him an idea, that if he could efcape till night, a place they had already explored would be the fecureft ftielter for him. When night came, he got into one of thofe ftacks. The wind was high, which prevented the ruftling of the leaves of the fodder, as he entered, from being heard by the people who were at that time pafTmg clofe by him into the country, in queft of him. His pofition in this re- treat was very uncomfortable, for he could neither fit nor lie down. In this ereft pofture, however, he remained two nights and two days, without a morfel of food, for there was no corn on the ftalks, and, which was infinitely more in- tolerable, without drink. He muft not relate, U for #- I ■ ( 50 ) for reafons which may be eafily imagined, what became of him immediately after his coming out of this uneufy prifon ; but he will venture to in- form the reader, that, on the fifth night after his elopement from the Ferry -houfe, he fearched the banks of the Delaware till he had the good fortune to meet with a fmall boat. Into this he jumped ; and having waited a little for the tide of flood, which was near, he puflied off, and rowed a con- fiderablc way up the river. During this voyage he was feveral times accofted by people on the water ; but, having often found the benefit of putting on a fearlefs air, he endeavoured to anfwer them in their own way ; and recollefting fome of the lefs polifhed phrafes of the gentlemen of the oar, he ufed them pretty liberally ; and thus was fuffcred to pafs on unfufpedted. In due time he left his boat ; and, relying on the aid of Loyalifts, fome of whom he knew were every where to be found, he went into a part of the country leaft known to him, and the leafl: likelv for him to have thought of; and at length, after many circuitous marches, all in the night, and through pathlefs courfes, in about five days, he once more arrived fafe in New York. All thefe eflforts for life were dictated, it would feem, rather by inftindt than reafon ; for, occu- pied as his mind had been with his own danger, and his own fufferings, he can truly fay, his greateft uneafinefs I ( 5' ) uneafinefs was on account of his brother. There was not a ray of hope that he could cfcape, and lefs, if poflible, that he would be pardoned. He was the Ton of his old age to a moft worthy and beloved father, who had himfelf been a foldier, and who loved and honoured the profelVion. In- deed he was a mod amiable young man, as re- markable for the fweetnefs of his difpofition as for his undaunted intrepidity. Excellent youth! Every feeling heart will forgive the tear which is now dropped to thy memory, by thy forrowing brother ! He periflied by an ignominious death, in the 23d year of his age; the news of which, as may natu- rally be fuppofed, well nigh brought the grey hairs of a venerable father with forrow to the grave. It did not indeed immediately coft him his life, but it coft hirn, what is more valuable — his rcafon ! His fellow-prifoner was alfo fentenced to death ; but, on making fome pretended difcoveries, of no confiderable moment, he was reprieved. Lieute- nant Moody is fenfible it contains no information that can intereft the reader ; yet, as he preferves it as a precious relic, he perfuades himfelf every man who is a brother will forgive his inferting an ex- trad or two from his brother's laft letter, dated November 12, 178 1, from the New Gaol Dungeon, Philadelphia. H 2 Dear I il j ( 5^ ) " Dear brother, " Let me intreat you not to grieve at my fate, and the fate of my brother-foldier. Betrayed by the map on whom we depended to execute the plan propofed by Captain Beckwith, we were taken up as Jpies \ and have been tried and con- demned, and are to die to-morrow. I pray you to forgive him, as I do, and Laurence Marr alfo, as freely as we hope to be forgiven by our Maker. — One more requeft I have to make to you is, that, taking warning by my fate, you will not hereafter fo often venture yourfelf out of the Britifh lines. I am in irons; but, thanks to the Almighty, I ftill have the liberty of thought and fpeech. O ! may I make a good ufe of them, and be prepared, as I ought to be, for eternity ! Sentence has not been parted on us above two hours, all which time I have em- ployed in prayer, as I will continue to do to the laft moment ; and, I blefs God, I feel quite cheerful." Lieutenant Moody cannot in juftice clofe this plain and artlefs narrative, already fpun out to too great a length, without bearing his public tefti- mony, feeble as it may be, in favour of, and re- turning his thanks, as he now moft cordially does, to thofe brave, loyal Americans, whom, thoug. n the ranks only, he fhall always think it the greateft honour of his life to have commanded in thefe i S3 } thefe expeditions. They were, in general, men of fome property ; and, without a Tingle exception, men of principle. They fought for what appeared to be the true intereft of their country, as well, as to regain their little plantations, and to live in peace under a conftitution, which they knew by ex- perience to be aufpicious to their happinefs. 'I'heir conduft in their new profelhon, as foldiers, verifies their charafter ; they have been brave, and they have been humane. Their honefty and honour have been uniformly confpicuous. It was a firft principle, in all their excurfions, never to make war againft private property ; and this has been religioufly obferved. Some ftriking inftances of their forbearance might be given, if neceffary, even when they have been provoked to retaliate by pri- vate wrongs and perfonal inlults. And here it ought to be mentioned, with the utmoft gratitude and pleafure, that, though Mr. Moody, in the courfe of his adventures, was often obliged to put his life into the hands of the Loyalifts, in different parts of the country, he never was difappointed or deceived by any of them. In the year 1777, he continued among thtm more than three months at a time, and near as long in 1778. He knew their charafters, an.- could fafely confide in them. They were men of *' -h inflexible attachment to Government, that no temptations could induce them to betray their truft. Though many of them were reduced to indigence and diftrefs, and they knew that almofl any price might be I 1 m ( 54 ) be obtained for giving up fo obnoxious a perfon, yet they were fo far from betraying him, that they often ran great hazards in giving him aififtance. Surely fuch merit as this is worthy of efteem and admiration ; and it is humbly hoped, that the many thoufands in the colonies who poflTefs it, will not be deferted by Government, and configned over to ruin and wrctchednefs, without an abjoltite ne- cejfity. It is with the utmoft concern Mr. Moody has heard of the doubts and debates that have been agitated in England concerning the number and the zeal of the Loyalifts in America. It might be uncharitable, and polTibly unjuft, to fay, that every man who has entertained fuch doubts, has fome finifter purpofes to ferve by them; but it would be blindnefs in the extreme not to fee, that they were firft raifed by men who had other objefts at heart than the interefts of their country. Men who have performed their own duty feebly or falfely, naturally feek to excufe themfelves by throwing the blame upon others. It would ill become an obfcure individual to obtrude his opi- nion upon others ; but any honeft man may^ and, when he thinks it would ferve his country , Jhould, relate what he has feen. The writer of this narra- tive has already difclaimed all pretenfions to any extraordinary (hare of political fagacity ; but he has common fenfe — he can fee, and he can hear. He has had more opportunities than moft men of feeing k 4 i \ 1 1 ( ^ ( 55 ) feeing and hearing the true ftate of loyalty in the middle colonies ; and he moft folcmnly declares it to be his opinion, that a very great majority ot the people there are at this time loyal, and would ftill do and fuffcr almoft any thing, rather than remain under the tyranny of their prelent rulers. Let but the war be undertaken and conducted on fome plan, and with fome fpirit ; let but commanders be employed who will encourage their fervices, and leave them under no apprehenfions of being de- ferted and betrayed ; and then, if they do not exert themfelves, and very effedually, let every advocate they have had, or may have, be repro- bated as a fool or a knave, or both together — and let the Americans continue to feel the word punifli- ment their word enemies can wifli them — nominal independency, but real flavery. Perhaps the honeft indignation of the Writer may have carried him too far ; but, on fuch a fubjed:, who, in his circumftances, could fpeak coolly, and with any temper ? That he fpeaks only what he really thinks, no man, who is ac- quainted with him, will doubt ; and if, after all, he is miftaken, he errs with more and better op- portunities of being right, than almoft any other perfon has ever had. He has given the ftrongeft proofs of his fincerity: he has facrificed his all; and, little as it may be thought by others, it was enough for him, and he was contented with it. He made this facrifice, becaufe he fincerely believed what he declares and profefles. If the fame were (j to I i ( 56 ) to do over again, he would again as cheerfully make the fame facrifice. He trufts, therefore, it will not be deemed prefumptuous in him to fay, that he can- not decently be contradicted in thefe matters by any man, who has neither had fuch opportunities of in- forming his judgment, nor given fuch unequi- vocal proofs of his fincerity. The Writer has cer- tainly no bye-ends to ferve; he is not an ambitious man, nor avaricious. The profeffion of arms is foreig.T from the habits of one who has lived, and wifhes only to live, in quiet, under his own vine and hiy own fig-tree ; and he can truly fay, that, if his Sovereign fhould be gracioufly pleafed to confer on him the higheft military honours, he would moft gladly forego them all to be once more re-inftated in his own farm, with his wife and children around him, as he was feven years ago. He has hitherto received but a very trifling compenfation * for his fervices and fufl^erings; and he looks for no more than will free him from indi- ♦ During the firft year he I'erved for nothing, not having the leaft thought of becoming a foldier, or the leaft doubt of General Howe's fuppreffing the rebellion long before the end of it. In the fecond, third and fourth, he received pay as Enfign ; and in the fifth, as Lieutenant. Befide his pay, upon his taking the firft mail, he re- ceived one hundred guineas, which he divided equally with his three alfociates. Upon his taking the i<;cond mail, he received two hun- dred guineas, one hundred of which was for himfelf. And this was the whole of what he ever received— except thirty guineas advanced to him by General Robertfon, in order to fit him out for the expe- dition for the taking of Governor Livingfton. He does not mention twenty-two guineas he has received here in England, becaufe that was merely to pay a bill of charges incurred in one of his expeditions. gence, n mm ^k ( 57 ) gence, and enable him more effcrtually ro terve his country. In enlifting and paying njen for public fervices, he has expended what was faved tVom the wreck of his own fortune to a confiderable amount, and he was reduced to the necellUy of borrowing from thofe, whofe better circumftances enabled them, and whole generous fpirits difpofed them, to hazard fomething in the caufc of their country. This may be called enthujiajm ; be it fo. — Mr. Moody will not conceal his wilTi, that the world abounded with fuch enthufiafts. Not his fortune only, but his conftitution, has been greatly impaired by the exertions he has made. His phyficians re commended a fea-voyage, a change of air, and a refpite of his fatigues and anxiety of mind, as the only remedies left him ; and the late Commander in Chief, Sir Henry Clinton, was pleafed to fe- cond their recommendation, by politely invitmg him to England. He acknowledges, with grati- tude, that their kmd intentions with regard to his health have not been 'vholly fruftrated. He trufts he ftiall foon be able, and he would rejoice to be called by the Jer vice, to return to America. He would go with recruited fpirits, and unabated ardour; for, rather than outlive the freedom of his country, it is his refolution, with King William of glorious memory, even to die in the lajl ditch. IVardour-Jlreet, N° 97. Nov. 1782. JAMES MOODY. I *w. -w^ APPENDIX. f The following Certificates, feleded from a great number of others in the Author's I'ofleflion, are prefumed to be fufficient to eftablifh the truth of his Narrative. N° I. THK events related in the following Narrative are fo very (extraordinary, that many Gentle- men, who are unacquainted with the country, and with the feveral circumftances, might doubt of the truth of them. I think it therefore a piece of juf- tice due to the merit of Mr. Moody's fervices, to declare, that I believe this Narrative to be a true account of his proceedings. W" Franklin, late Governor of New Jerfey. N° II. T DO hereby certify, that Mr. James Moody -*■ came within the Britifh lines in April 1777, and brought in with him upwards of feventy men, all of whom, except four, entered into my briride : That in June following he was fent into the »bel country for the purpofe of enlifting men for his Majefty's fervice, with orders to continue there until a favourable opportunity offered for him to difarm the rebels, and arm the loyalifts, and, with what men he could coUedl, to join the Royal ar- my ; but he was prevented from putting that plan into «k ■ A «^ «k APPENDIX. into execution, by our army's taking a different route from what was expcded : That Mr. Mooily, being thus difappointed, alVilted by two of his neighbours, ibon after embodied about an hundred men, with whom he attemptcii to join the IJritifli army, but was unfuccersful : That attcrviards he made two fuccefsful exeurfions into the rebel country, and brought with him from Suffcx County about fixty able-bodied recruits, nearly all of whom entered into my brigade: 'IMku, after this time, he made many trips into New Jcrfey and I'enniylva- nia, and brought in with him many good men, and gained many articles of important intelligence, concerning the movements of Colonel BuMer, the real ftate of the rebel country, the fituation and condition of the rebel armies under the command of their Cienerals Wafhington, Sullivan, iS:c : And, that while Mr. Moody was under my immediate diredlion, he alfo deflroyed a (onfiderablc maga- zine of ftores near Black Point, taking prifoners two Colonels, one Major, and feveral other officers, and broke open the Suffcx County jail, refcuing a number of loyalifts that were imprifoned in it, one of whom was under fentence of death ; befides performing many other important fervices. I do alfo certify, that, in the month of Oftober 1777, the faid Mr. Moody was muftered as an Enfign, but received no pay as fuch till April 1778 : That he continued his exertions under my diredlion till 1780, about which time he was taken from the regiment, which prevented his being ap- jvointed to a company in it, as it was in general be- lieved the Commander in Chief intended doing fomething better for him : That I have every reafon to believe Mr. Moody received nothing from government to reward him for his extraor- dinary ■ I -fe^, B s f I A P P E N I) I X. dinary fervices, or to indemnify him for his -xtra- ordinary expcnces, till 1780: That from the time of his joining the army in April 1777, till his .de- parture for kurope in May ijHi, he did, upon every occafion, exert himfelf with the utmoll zeal in fupport of his Majefty's caufe in America: And, on the whole, that I believe all that is re- lated in his printed Narrative to be true, without exaggeration. London, January }oth, 17S5. Cortland Skinnlr, Brig' General, 6cc. N^ III. T DO hereby certify, that during the time I was -'• Commandant of New York, Mr. James Moody went fundry times into the rebel country, to gain intelligence of fhe (ituation imd circumftances of the rebels : That at one time he was abfent five weeks in different parts of Pennfylva'nia and New Jerfey; an.; brought authentic and full inform- ation of the Situation and refourccs of the feveral detachments of the rebel army under the command of the CJenerals VVafhington and Gates, in the year 1779 ; and the profped the rebels had at that time of procuring a loan from France. That in each of his excurfions he obtained, and regularly reported to me, very accurate inform- ation of the rebel country, and appeared to be very zealous and attentive in promoting his Majef- ty's fervice ; and from the knowledge 1 have of his fervices and fufFerings, I cannot but recom- mend him as a perfon who merits encouragement and fupport from the Britifh Government. J a' Pattison, Major General. H' <; ^r t>' i I' <; APPENDIX. N° IV. New York, May nth, 1782. T leutenant James Moody, of" the firll hurallion ■^ ' of Brigadier (ieneral Skinner's Brigade of Provincial troops, having applied to me for a Cer- tificate of fome particular ferviccs which he has rendered in America; and which, from their hav- ing l»een attempted and in a great meafure ex- ecuted during General Knyphaufen's having the command within this diftrirt, 1 feel much fatis- fadlion in complying with the rcqueft of this (icn- tleman, and in expreiling that Lieutenant Moody, in two inftances in particular, conduced two fniall parties, one to Jerfey and the other to Philadel- phia, with much pcrfonal rifk, great fpirit, and good condudit ; and I ever found him defirous of manifefting his zeal for the yood of the King's fervice. (JLO. Bec'kwhh, Major in the Army, Aid-de-Camp to his Kxcellency General Knyphaufen. ' N" V. New York, May loth, 1782. TjY ferving in different public departments in the ■*-' army in North America, under the command of his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton, I have had opportunities of knowing of feveral military ex- ploits, very effential and contributory to his Majef- ty's fervice, being performed by Lieutenant James Moody, of the Provincial corps, called the Firft Batallion of New Jerfey Volunteers, in the exe- cution %' I i APPENDIX. cution of which, he not only underwent the moft fevere hardOiips, but encountered almoft every portible rifque of his life, as well from thefe hard- fliips (which naturally affefted his conftitution), as from the enemy. He however perfevered, in de- fiance of every obftacle, with fuch an ardour and refolution, as plainly evinced an uncommon zeal and attachment to his King and Country. Step. P. Adve, D. Judge Advocate. N° VI. New York, nth May 1782. I THE Subfcriber, do hereby certify, That fhort- ly after Major General Pattifon was appointed Commandant of New York, and I was employed as his fecretary, Lieutenant James Moody, of the Firft Batallionj New Jerfey Volunteers, having re- turnetl from the country, where he had been en- gaged in colledting intelligence, &c. appeared at the Commandant's Office, and communicated to me, for the information of General Pattifon, a va- riety of accounts relative to the fituation of the rebel army, &c. which I laid before the (leneral. Krom this time an intimacy commenced betweer us ; and Mr. Moody afterwards, previoufiy anr.^ confidentially confulted me on the pradicability of feveral excurfions, he intended to make in the rebel country ; and particularly with refpedl to his intention to make Governor Livingfton a prifoner. Mentioninr his want of cafh to carry into execu- tion fo e(^.;ntial a fervice. I offered to fupply him with tweniy-five guineas for this purpofe, and to be his fecurity, or to borrow at intereft a larger fum, it being out of my power to advance more ; but being fupplied with money by his Excellency Lieutenant General Robertfon, '>' was enabled to go A P P E N D I X. go out without my affiftance. Mr. Moody's failing in this attempt, was owing to one of his party being taken ; by which means Mr. Livingfton difcovered Mr. Moody's being out, tooic the alarm, and raifed the country; and with difficulty Mr. Moody ef- caped falling into his hands : but was afterwards unfortunately taken by a party of rebels, and carried to the provoft-guard at Mr. Wafhington's Head- Quarters, where he was confined, and from whence he made nis efcape, and returned to New York. Mr. Moody afterwards made various excurfions into the country, and many miles without the Britifh lines ; took feveral rebel mails, containing intelligence of great importance, and brought them fafe to New York. In theie excurfions he run great rifques of falling into the hands of the rebels, and his health was much expofcd from lying many nights and days in woods and fwamps to avoid a difcovery. In thefe excurfions, Mr. Moody difre- garded either the feafons, the fatigue, or the rifques he run. And on the whole of his conduct, 1 have every reafon to believe him intirely difinterefted, and ac- tuated only by that zeal for his Majefty's fervice which he has on every occafion exhibited. — From Mr. Moody's declaration, and other evidence, I have every reafon to believe, that the compenfa- tions he has from time to time received, were by no means adequate to the expenfes incurred on thefe occafions. And I know that Mr. Moody has, at his own expcnce and credit, fupported thofe, whofe health from a participation of toil and fa- tigue with him, on thefe excurfions, have been impaired. John L. C. Roome, Secretary to Major General Pattifon, late Commandant of New York, &c. 7 i 1 i / APPENDIX. N° VII. Extrad of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Brown (a very refpedable Clergyman of New Jerfey, now in New York), to the Rev. Dr. Chandler, dated May loth, 1782. " xrOU will receive Mr. Moody as my particu- * lar friend, and as one moft firmly attached to his Majefty, and the conftitution both in church and ftate. He has both done and fufFered great things from a principle of loyalty. You may give full credit to all he fays, and if he tells you fome things feemingly incredible, ftill you are to believe him. He is honeft, fober, and firm — never intimidated by danger, and of undeviating probity and honour." Extrad of a Letter from the Rev. Dr. Ingiis, Reftor of New York, to the fame perfon, dated May nth, 1782. " TVyfR- Moody is one of the moft aftive partizans ^^ we have, and perhaps has run more rifque than any other man during the war. He has 'bi >ught in three rebel mails, and has often been in the greateft perils among falfe brethren. The hiftory of his adventures will entertain and aftonifti you. He goes home at Sir Henry Clinton's de- fire, who has promifed to do fomething for him ade- quate to his fervices." In juftice to Mr. Moody, I think it my duty to furnifh him with the above extracts. Auguft 23d, 1782. T. B. Chandler. I FINIS.