History of the Loyalists: Lieut. James Moody's Narrative

Year
1893
Month
10
Day
27
Article Title
History of the Loyalists: Lieut. James Moody's Narrative
Author
James Hannay
Page Number
1
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
HISTORY OF THE LOYALISTS LIEUT. JAMES MOODY'S NARRATIVE Of His Exertions and Sufferings in the Cause of the Government Since the Year 1776. [Continued.] (A few days after this General Clinton told Lieut. Moody that the letters were of great consequence, that the taking of them was a most important service, But that he had now done enough; that he would not suffer him to venture himself in any more of such hazardous enterprises; and that he would take care to provide for him. Mr. Moody does not doubt but that he intended it; but these and his other intentions seldom lasted longer than the day.) Lieut. Moody caused two other mails to be taken by the people under his direction. In one of these little expeditions his brother commanded, a young man, whose fearless courage in the very teeth of danger, he had repeatedly witnessed. The younger Moody succeeded in his attempt, so far as to intercept the mail, but after seizing it, he was attacked by a superior party, and two of his men were taken; yet he himself had the good fortune to escape with that part of the papers which was in his own custody. Pennsylvania was the scene of this enterprise. A tale far more melancholy than any yet related comes now to be told; the recollection of which (and it is impossible he should ever forget it) will forever wring with anguish the heart of the writer of this narrative. In the end of October 1781, Major Beckwith, aid-de-camp to Gen. Kniphausen, came and informed Lieut. Moody that one Addison had been with him on a project of high moment. It was nothing less than to bring off the most important books and papers of Congress. This Addison was an Englishman; and had been employed in some inferior department under Mr. Thompson, the secretary to the congress. He was then a prisoner, and the plan was that he should be immediately exchanged, return in the usual manner to Philadelphia, and there resume his old employment. The lieutenant was abundantly careful and even scrupulous in his enquiries concerning the man’s character; on which head Major Beckwith expressed the most entire confidence; and observed, that Addison was equally cautious respecting the character of those who were to attend him. The matter was of importance; and Lieut. Moody was confident that, though it might be difficult to perform his part of the business, yet it was not impracticable. He resolved, however, as Addison might think him an object worth betraying, that he should not be informed of his consenting to be of the party. If any other person did inform him of it, he was to say the least, very imprudent. The lieutenant pitched upon his only brother, of whom some mention has already been made, and another faithful American soldier, for this arduous enterprise. Their first instructions were to wait on Addison and to bind him as they themselves had just been bound to mutual secrecy and fidelity by an oath, which the lieutenant had always administered to his followers in all his expeditions, when the importance of the object rendered such an additional tie necessary; and which as it clearly shows the principles of honor and humanity on which it was his uniform pride and purpose to act, he begs leave here to subjoin, and it is as fallows, viz:- "I, the undersigned A. B. do solemnly swear on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that I will stand by and be true to the persons joined with me in this expedition, and do everything in my power to accomplish the purposes of it; and I do further swear, that in case any accident should happen to me, and that I should be taken, I will not, even to save life, discover or betray any person joined with me, or any loyalist who may befriend us with any information, advice or other assistance; and I do further swear that I will not injure nor destroy any property even of a rebel, unless it be arms or ammunition, but faithfully pay the full price of anything we take from them, if they refuse to sell it; and I do further swear, that I will not wound nor take away the life of any person whatever, unless they should attempt an escape when in our custody, or it shall otherwise be absolutely necessary for our own defense. So help me God." After taking this oath, a certain number of nights was agreed on, in which Addison was to expect them. In such an adventure, it was impossible to be exact to any time; but it was agreed that if they failed of being at the place in any of the specified nights, he should no longer expect them; and they further promised, by proper means to apprise him if possible, if any accident should befall them, so as either to delay or wholly put an end to their project. Things being thus settled, Addison left New York in due form and manner, as was generally supposed in order to return to his former friends and employment; and at the proper time Lieut. Moody and his friends followed him. The manner and circumstances of their march, it is not material nor proper here to relate; suffice it to say, that on the night of the 7th of November, the first in the order of those that had been appointed, they arrived in the neighborhood of Philadelphia, but on the opposite side of the river. They found Addison already on the spot, waiting for them according to appointment. Lieutenant Moody kept a little back, at such a distance as not to have his person distinguished, yet so as to be within hearing of the conversation that passed. His brother and Marr his associate, on going up to Addison, found him apparently full of confidence and in high spirits; and everything seemed to promise success. He told them that their plot was perfectly ripe for execution; that he had scoured the means of admission into the most private recesses of the State-house, so that he should next evening be able to deliver to them the papers they were in quest of. They on their parts assured him that every necessary precaution had been taken to secure and expedite their retreat; and that they had with them a sure friend, who would wait for them on that side of the river, who as well as themselves would die by his side, rather than desert him, should any disaster befall them. He replied that they should find him as true and faithful to them and their cause as they themselves could possibly be. Soon after they crossed the river together to Philadelphia; and it is probable that on the passage Addison was for the first time informed that this friend was Lieut. Moody. Whether it was this discovery that put it first into his head, or whether he had all along intended it, and had already taken the necessary previous steps the lieutenant cannot certainly say; but he assures himself that every generous minded man will be shocked when he reads, that this perfidious wretch had either sold, or was about to sell them to the congress. As the precise time in which they should be able to execute their plan could not be ascertained, it was agreed that Lieut. Moody should remain at the ferry house opposite to Philadelphia till they returned. Ongoing into the house, he told the mistress of it by a convenient equivocation, that he was an officer of the Jersey Brigade, as he really was, though of that Jersey Brigade which was in the king’s service. The woman understood him as speaking of a rebel corps, which was also called the Jersey Brigade. To avoid notion he pretended indisposition; and going up stairs, he threw himself upon a bed, and here continued to keep his room, but always awake, and always on the watch. Next morning about 11 o’clock, he saw a man walk hastily up to the house, and overheard him telling some person 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-house, but that one of the party had betrayed the others; that two were already taken; and that a party of soldiers had just crossed the river with him to seize their leader, who was said to be thereabouts." The lieutenant felt himself to be too nearly interested in this intelligence any longer to keep up the appearance of a sick man; and seizing his pistols, he instantly ran down stairs, and made his escape. He had not got a hundred yards from the house when he saw the soldiers enter it. A small piece of wood lay before him, in which he hoped at least to be out of sight; and he had sprung the fence in order to enter it. But it was already lined by a party of horse, with a view of cutting off his retreat. Thus surrounded, all hopes of flight were in vain; and to seek a hiding place in a clear open field, seemed equally useless. Drowning parsons are said to catch at straws; with hardly a hope of escaping so much as a moment longer undiscovered, he threw himself flat on his face in a ditch, which seemed of all places the least calculated for concealment, for it was without weeds or shrubs and so shallow that a quail might be seen in it. Once more he had reason to moralize on the vanity of all human contrivance and confidence; for as Providence ordered it, the improbability of the place proved the means of his security. He had lain there but a few minutes, when six of his pursuers passed within 10 feet of him, and very diligently examined a thickety part of the ditch that was a few paces from him. With his pistols cocked he kept his eye constantly on them, determining that as soon as he saw himself to be discovered by any one of them, he would instantly spring up, and sell his life as dearly as might be; and refusing to be taken alive, provoke, and if possible force them to kill him. Once or twice he thought he saw one of the soldiers look at him, and he was on the point of shooting the man; but reflecting that possibly though the soldier did see, yet he might have the humanity not to discover him, (as he would fain hope was really the case) his heart smote him for his rash resolution, and he thanks God that he was restrained from putting it in execution. [To be continued.]