Welcome back viewers
This week we will honor a team of heroes
They are:
John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams
These three men were soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. All three of them had fought very bravely in the name of independence in liberty. However, their greatest contribution would not be on any major battlefield. Instead it would be on a solitary backroad trail in Westchester County, New York. The small but important action that took place here would ultimately save the American Revolution.
Early on the morning of September 17, 1780, Paulding, Van Wart, and Williams were walking in the woods searching for some lost cattle. All three were experienced yet exhausted soldiers who had seen heavy combat. And they all were wishing they could be home with their families. Little did the three know, they were on a collision course with immortality.
At approximately 9 AM, the three soldiers noticed a rider galloping towards them. They quickly stopped the rider and told him to identify himself. The rider identified himself as, John Anderson, a businessman from New York. However, Paulding became suspicious when the rider commented on how the three must be from the "lower party" (a term for American loyalists in New York). After a bit of small talk, Paulding succeeded in getting the rider to admit that he was a British officer riding between the lines. Upon hearing this, the three patriots quickly placed the officer under arrest and searched is clothing.
After pulling off his boots, they discovered a sheath of paper. One of six sheets of paper contained a diagram of the fortifications of West Point. The patriots quickly deduced that this man was a spy in possession of sensitive information. They quickly pocketed the information and took the officer to the nearest patriot fortification. Before entering, the British officer attempted to bribe the three with money. Paulding angrily refused saying, "No, by God, even if you give us ten thousand guineas, you should not stir a step!". The three turned the prisoner and the six sheets over to LtCol John Jameson. After reading the documents, Jameson discovered something shocking.
The officer was identified as, Maj. John André. He was carrying documents that gave valuable intelligence to the structure of West Point. Most disturbing of all, was that they had been given to André by West Point's commanding officer. His name was, Benedict Arnold. He was a highly decorated soldier and personal friend of George Washington. However, due to his disfavor with the American Congress, Arnold had decided to betray the American cause and turn over West Point (while Washington was present) to the British Army.
Upon learning of the treachery, Washington was so furious that he ordered Arnold's arrest and a court martial to be prepared. Unfortunately, by the time the order went out, Arnold had already learned of André's capture and quickly fled to British lines. Washington sent an envoy to General Sir Henry Clinton of the British Army. He offered to exchange Major André for Benedict Arnold. Although Clinton had very little regard for Arnold, he declined the offer. Since André had been captured while disguised as a civilian, he was classified as a spy and sentenced to hang. On October 2, 1780, John André was executed.
As for the three patriots who had captured André, George Washington immediately ordered them to be brought to him. Washington was so grateful that he ordered Paulding, Van Wart, and Williams to each receive a lifetime pension of $200 a year, for preventing "one of the severest strokes that could have been mediated against the revolution". All three received the first ever military decoration awarded by the American Congress (the Fidelity Medallion) as well as the Thanks of Congress. Once the Revolution ended, the three were all given 200 acres of farmland by the New York legislature. John Paulding passed away on February 18, 1818, Isaac Van Wart on May 23, 1828, and David Williams on, August 2, 1831. All three were buried with full military honors.
During the American Revolution, there were numerous incidents that changed the course of history. The capture of Major John André was one of them. By performing their duties to their country, these three men had prevented a terrible betrayal and saved the revolution.
https://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/john-paulding
https://www.americanheritage.com/three-forgotten-heroes
https://www.ushistory.org/march/bio/andre.htm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-10/12/050r-101299-idx.html
https://thehudsonindependent.com/how-the-headstone-of-the-son-of-a-revolutionary-war-hero-was-returned-to-its-rightful-place/
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