Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/258

226 King's Mountain. Arnolds treason. [nso strong one against regular troops attacking with the bayonet. But Ferguson seems to have overlooked the truth impressed on our own generation by the battle of Majuba Hill, that to skilled riflemen the lower position is no disadvantage. His force amounted to about 1000, a number probably somewhat less than that of his assailants, which had been augmented by reinforcements but depleted by departures. On October 7, 1780, the Americans made their attack. The fight lasted about an hour. Ferguson was shot down in the middle of the engage- ment ; about 300 of the loyalists were killed or wounded ; the rest, save a few who contrived to slip through, were captured. It is impossible to overrate the importance of King's Mountain battle in its effect on the coming campaign. The main American army was still hopelessly dis- organised by Gates' defeat at Camden. If Ferguson could have secured the inland country, it is difficult to see what could have prevented Corn- wallis from advancing through the Carolinas and Virginia and joining hands with Clinton. Another effect of the American victory was to bring back into the field Sumpter and another guerilla leader, Marion, both of whom harassed Cornwallis' communications, exhausted his cavalry, and intimidated British sympathisers. Outside the Carolinas the most noteworthy event of the year 1780 was the almost successful treason of Arnold. He was in command of West Point on the Hudson, a place indispensable to the Americans if they were to maintain communications between New Jersey and the colonies north of the Hudson. After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, Arnold had been placed in command of the town. He had married a fashionable and extravagant wife, and had contracted expensive habits. Getting into money difficulties, he tried to extricate himself so it was alleged at the public expense. Thereupon he was tried by court-martial for jobbery, and convicted, Embittered and vindictive, he opened negotiations with Clinton for the surrender of West Point. The emissary chosen to conduct the negotiations on behalf of the British was Major Andre. Returning from a visit to Arnold, Andre was captured by three militia men. He produced a pass signed by Arnold, and also strove to bribe his captors, offering them money and promising them preferment if they would join the British. This failed, but he contrived to inform Arnold of his arrest, and thus enabled him to escape to the British lines before his treason had been reported at head-quarters. Andre himself was tried by an American court- martial, sentenced as a spy, and hanged. There has been much dis- cussion as to the legality of the procedure. The question practically turns on one point; was a pass valid if granted for a treasonable purpose by an officer engaged in treasonable negotiations? Andre was a man of attractive character, many accomplishments and some literary taste; and his fate excited deep sympathy Yet, in attempting such an enterprise, he took his life in his hands; and the