Want to Get Away?

...on the morning of September 25th,1780 Benedict Arnold sure did.  He'd just received word that his co-conspirator, British Major John Andre, had been captured by American forces.  Found in Andre's socks were  plans of West Point's fortifications drawn by Arnold.  Even worse, General George Washington was due to arrive at Arnold's residence within the hour and might be aware of Arnold's treason.  For Arnold the gig was up!  It was "giddy-up time", quite literally!

On this past Monday morning it was my intention to paddle another stretch of the Hudson River mentioned in Nathaniel Philbrick's book, Valiant Ambition.

I launched from Annsville Creek Preserve (opening photo) in Peekskill, NY and headed upriver towards West Point.  Across from me on the river's west side a long northbound freight train was dwarfed by Dunderberg Mountain...

Before reaching Bear Mountain Bridge a passenger train headed south along the river's east side...

...and then to my left a tug pushed a barge upriver...

...where it too was dwarfed by the scenery...

I was impressed by the scale of things here.  Much grander than the rivers I usually ply.

The incoming tide was providing a nice ride upriver and I glided by the village of Manitou on the east side...

...and Highland Falls on the west side...

...with its classic looking railroad station...

West Point loomed a little further upriver...

As I got closer to West Point...

...a US Coast Guard Cutter was heading upriver and caused me to briefly wonder if I'd entered a restricted area...

Fortunately, the vessel continued upriver and left me to my thoughts regarding General Benedict Arnold's hasty departure from this vicinity on September 25, 1780.  His residence/headquarters was located not far from the white water tank which can be seen in the photo of the Coast Guard Cutter.  In Valiant Ambition Philbrick describes its location as follows: "...on the east bank of the Hudson River, more than a mile down the river from West Point in present-day Garrison, NY."

Because his role as West Point's commander involved visiting numerous fortifications on both sides of the Hudson as far downriver as Dobbs Ferry, Arnold had a boat (referred to as a barge) and a crew of rowers at his disposal.
 
According to Philbrick's account in Valiant Ambition Arnold informed his wife of his need to escape, mounted a horse, and made a frantic trip down a steep slope to the dock where the boat and crew were stationed.  He told the men he needed to personally deliver a message to the British sloop of war Vulture located some dozen or so miles downriver by Teller's Point, and it needed to be done quickly so he could return in time for Washington's inspection of West Point.  As an incentive the coxswain and six rowers were promised two gallons of rum.

I imagine there was little consideration of tide or wind conditions, at least not on Arnold's part.  It's said that he repeatedly looked behind during the trip.

My journey back downriver to Peekskill was done in a considerably more relaxed fashion and allowed for an encounter with some white-tailed deer...

    

Near Jones Point I was passed by a sea-going vessel...

...moving perhaps at a speed similar to what Arnold's barge might have achieved.

Benedict Arnold did ultimately reach the Vulture and elude capture.  He left his wife and six-month old son behind.  He would finish out the war in service to the British and spend the remainder of his lifetime in England.  His name lives in infamy and is synonymous with treason.  When George Washington realized the full extent of Arnold's betrayal he is said to have asked "Whom can we trust now?"

Due to the rocky and steep banks of the Hudson in this area there aren't a lot of places to land.  At some of the few spots I was able to do so, I recovered trash that had earlier found similar landfall...

Being a railfan I greatly enjoyed the many freight and passenger trains seen moving along both sides of the Hudson.  At one point I could see an entire 125-car freight train waiting for a signal on the west side.
The east side seemed to have a passenger train racing past every 10 minutes or so...

The Hudson Highlands area impressed this paddler.