Patriot; born in
Loudon county, Va., in 1752; sent to New York as a spy after the treason of
Arnold, at the request of
Washington.
As it was also rumored that another American officer (supposed to be
General Gates) was a traitor,
Champ was instructed to discover the second traitor, and, if possible, to take
Arnold.
He left the
[
86]
American camp at
Tappan at night, in the character of a deserter, was pursued, but reached Paulus Hook, where the British vessels were anchored.
After he had been examined by
Sir Henry Clinton, he was sent to
Arnold, who appointed him a sergeant-major in a force which he was recruiting.
He found evidence which proved that the suspected general was innocent, and forwarded the same to
Washington.
He learned also that
Arnold was accustomed to walk in his garden every night, and conceived a plan for his capture.
With a comrade he was to seize and gag him, and convey him as a drunken soldier to a boat in waiting, which would immediately cross to the
New Jersey shore, where a number of horsemen were to be in waiting.
Unfortunately, on the night set,
Arnold changed his quarters, and the command of which
Champe was a member was ordered to
Virginia.
Later he escaped and joined the army of
Greene in
North Carolina.
He died in
Kentucky, about 1798.
