Benedict Arnold, British Major John André and Redding Ridge's William Heron, what do they have in common?

Over the years My Brother Sam is Dead has continued to fascinate me. I learn something new each and every time I read it. 

This morning I was reviewing the chapters that involved Mr. Heron. I paused at Chapter 5 after reading this...

Tim: "He'd (Mr. Heron) been elected to the General Assembly in Hartford, but he'd been pushed out of it by the Patriots for being a Tory."

And decided to re-read Sir Henry Clinton's Secret Service Record of Private Daily Intelligence, which surfaced in 1882, revealing the truth about William Heron's role in the Revolutionary War…he was a double-agent. 

That led me to this pretty amazing tie-in to William Heron, Benedict Arnold, Samuel Parsons, Spies and the Revolution. All are connected to Redding Ridge where much of the novel takes place.

The Tie-ins

On the evening of April 26, 1777, Benedict Arnold arrives in Redding in pursuit of the British, who are burning the military supply depots in Danbury. There is a chance Arnold met with Heron briefly before heading to Bethel.

In November of 1778, General Samuel Parsons takes up residence across the street from William Heron and would remain in Redding until 1781.

Proof of their friendship and Heron's spy activities are shown in a letter General Samuel H. Parsons wrote to George Washington, dated April 6, 1782: 
 
"I forgot to mention the name of Mr. William Heron of Redding, who has for several years had opportunities of informing himself of the state of the enemy, their designs and intentions, with more certainty and precision than most men who have been employed. He is a native of Ireland, a man of very large knowledge and a great share of natural sagacity, united with a sound judgment, but of as unmeaning a countenance as any person in my acquaintance... 

He has frequently brought me the most accurate descriptions of the posts occupied by the enemy, and more rational accounts of their numbers, strength and design than I have been able to obtain in any other way. As to his character, I know him to be a consistent national Whig; he is always in the field in any alarm and has in every trial proved himself a man of bravery..."

How William Heron helped expose Benedict Arnold & British Major John André 

In July of 1780, Benedict Arnold was promoted to Major General in command of West Point, New York. Soon after, Arnold initiated secret correspondence with British General Sir Henry Clinton in New York City through British Major John André. 

Arnold offered to surrender the West Point Fort and the Hudson River over to Clinton & the British for £20,000 and a brigadier's commission in the British Army.

On August 30, Arnold sent a letter via William Heron accepting British General Sir Henry Clinton's terms and proposing a meeting to André. Heron was a member of the Connecticut Assembly Arnold thought he could trust. 

Heron, in a comic twist, went into New York unaware of the significance of the letter, and offered his own services to the British as a spy. He then took Arnold's letter back to Connecticut, where, suspicious of Arnold's actions, he delivered it to General Samuel H. Parsons, the head of the Connecticut militia. Parsons, misinterpreted the letter as a coded business discussion, and laid it aside. Randall (1990), pp. 524–526

Luckily for the Americans, Major André was intercepted on September 23, 1780 with dispatches from Benedict Arnold that exposed their plans and was detained for trial.

Arnold promptly fled to the British when he learned of André's capture for he was scheduled to meet with George Washington that day. 

It wasn't until after Andre's trial that General Parsons realized the significance of the letter William Heron had delivered to him weeks earlier and immediately forwarded the letter to George Washington. As a result, André was denied his request of a soldier's death by a firing squad and instead was convicted of being a spy and hanged. 

An Example of the Spy Letter's mentioned above-
 
July 12, 1780 -- Benedict Arnold to John André (Coded) 

I 293.9.7 to C_t. B. 103.8.2. the 7th 152.9.17. that , a F__ 112.9.17. and 22.8.29 were 105.9.50 to / 4 9.71 in 62.8.20 with , 163.8.19 A 22.8.19 at with 230.8.13. 263.8.17 I gave Mr. S---y a 164.8.16 / 147.8.261 to be 209.9.216 in C----a and have from 163.8.17 to .163.8.17 .58.8.27 to him. / Such 147.8.21 as I 164.9.5 147.9.16 s which he 24.9.125 me has 169.9.23'd to you / I 129.8.7 .46.9.22'd no 19.8.29 to 175.9.17 . 158.8.8 - or any 177.8.13 . 168.9.13 . ------- / I 105.9.5. soon to 57.9.7 .at 288.9.8 , 198.9.26, and most . 230.8.12. by --- / 291.8.27 an 149.8.27 with ---255.9.11 . 148.8.22, 182.4.28 in whom a 175.9.12 / 67.8.28 could be .196.9.16 --- the 177.8.8 is .103.8.19 to 22.9.3, and / to 66.8.15 -- are 182.8.28, 169.8.25 be . 260.8.5 , 205.9.3 near / that 209.9.18. --- and 192.9.9'd to 224.9.9 on ,188.8.13 or some ---- / 182.8.28 on 188.8.13 sent 185.6.24 to 95.9.124 an .104.8.1

120.9.7, W------- 105.9.5's on the .22.9.14.---- / of 163.8.19 F----- 172.8.7s to 56.9.8 |30.000| 172.8.70 to 11.94. in / 62.8.20. If 179.8.25, 84.8.9'd, 177.9.28. N---- is 111.9.27.'d on / 23.8.10. the 111.9.13, 180.9.19 if his 180.8.21 an .179.8.25., 255.8.17. for / that, 180.9.19, 44.8.9 --a-- is the 234.8.14 of 189.8.17. I --- / 44.8.9, 145.8.17, 294.9.12, in 266.8.17 as well as, 103.8.11, 184.9.15.---- / 80.4.20. ---- I149.8.7, 10.8.22'd the 57.9.71 at 288.9.9, 198.9.26, as, a / 100.4.18 in 189.8.19-- I can 221.8.6 the 173.8.19, 102.8.26, 236.8.21's--- / and 289.8.17 will be in 175.9.7, 87.8.7--- the 166.8.11, of the .191.9.16 / are .129.19.21 'of --- 266.9.14 of the .286.8.20, and 291.8.27 to be an ---163.9.4 / 115.8.16 -'a .114.8.25ing --- 263.9.14. are 207.8.17ed, 125.8.15, 103.8.60--- / from this 294.8.50, 104.9.26 -- If 84.8.9ed -- 294.9.12, 129.8.7. only / to 193.8.3 and the 64.9.5, 290.9.20, 245.8.3 be at an, 99.8.14 . / the .204.8.2, 253.8.7s are 159.8.10 the 187.8.11 of a 94.9.9ing / 164.8.24, 279.8.16, but of a .238.8.25, 93.9.28.

July 12, 1780 -- Benedict Arnold to John André (Decoded) 

I wrote to Captn B[eckwith]-on the 7th of June, that a F[rench]--- fleet and army / were expected to act in conjunction with the A[merican]--- army. At the same time / I gave Mr. S[tansbury]-a manifesto intended to be published in C[anad]---a, and have / from time to time communicated to him such intelligence as I thought / interesting, which he assures me he has transmitted to you. I have / received no answer from my Letter, or any verbal Message - I expect soon / to command W[est] P[oin]t and most seriously wish an interview with some / intelligent officer in whom a mutual confidence could be placed. The / necessity is evident to arrange and to cooperate - An officer might / be taken Prisoner near that Post and permitted to return on parole, / or some officer on Parole sent out to effect an exchange.

General W[ashington]--- expects on the arrival of the F[rench]--- Troops to collect / 30,000 Troops to act in conjunction; if not disappointed, N[ew]. York is fixed / on as the first Object, if his numbers are not sufficient for that Object, / Can-a- is the second; of which I can inform you in time, as well as of / every other design. I have accepted the command at W[est]. P[oint]. As a Post in which / I can render the most essential Services, and which will be in my disposal. / The mass of the People are heartily tired of the War, and wish to be on / their former footing - They are promised great events from this / year's exertion -- If - disappointed - you have only to persevere / and the contest will soon be at an end. The present Struggles are / like the pangs of a dying man, violent but of a short duration---

As Life and fortune are risked by serving His Majesty, it is / Necessary that the latter shall be secured as well as the emoluments / I give up, and a compensation for Services agreed on and a Sum / advanced for that purpose - which I have mentioned in a letter / which accompanies this, which Sir Henry will not, I believe, think / unreasonable. I am Sir, your humble Servant. / July 12, 1780 J. Moore / Mr. Jn Anderson / P.S. I have great confidence in the Bearer, but beg Sir Henry / will threaten him with his resentment in case he abuses the con- / fidence placed in him, which will bring ruin on me. / The Bearer will bring me 200 Guineas, and pay the remainder to / Captn A----- who us requested to receive the deposit for Mr. Moore.