Chapter 13

Betrayal at West Point

American General Benedict Arnold was considered a hero at the start of the war, but by 1780 he had begun a secret correspondence with the British spy master, John André. Arnold offered to give up the American fort at West Point for a large sum of money. When André held a meeting about the plan in East Hampton with his friend Col. Simcoe, two enslaved Black women tried to get news of the traitorous plot to the Americans, but they were ignored. One of the women seemed to have an affectionate relationship with Simcoe, and could possibly have been Liss. The plot was foiled when André was caught accidently, but Benedict Arnold escaped to New York City and switched sides. In fear, Robert closed his shop at Hanover Square and went into hiding for several months before reopening in a new location.