And now occurred one of the most striking events in the history of the war, that of the defeat of an invading army by stratagem without sight of soldier or musket.  It is to be told from two points of view, that of the garrison, and that of the army of relief.  As regards the garrison, its situation was becoming critical.  St. Leger’s parallels were approaching the fort.  The store of provisions was running low.  Many of the garrison began to hint at surrender, fearing massacre by the Indians should the fort be taken by assault.  Gansevoort, despairing of further successful resistance, had decided upon a desperate attempt to cut through the enemy’s lines.  Suddenly, on the 22d, there came a sudden lull in the siege.  The guns ceased their fire; quick and confused movements could be seen; there were signs of flight.  Away went the besiegers, Indians and whites alike, in panic disarray, and with such haste that their tents, artillery, and camp equipage were left behind.  The astonished garrison sallied forth to find not a foeman in the field, yet not a sign to show what mysterious influence had caused this headlong flight.  It was not from the face of an enemy, for no enemy was visible, and the mystery was too deep for the garrison to fathom.

To learn the cause of this strange event we must return to Arnold and his stratagem.  He had, on learning the peril of the fort, been about to advance despite the smallness of his force, when an opportunity occurred to send terror in advance of his march.  There were in his hands several Tory prisoners, among them an ignorant, coarse, half-idiotic fellow named Hon-Yost Schuyler, who had been condemned to death for treason.  His mother pleaded for his life, casting herself on her knees before Arnold, and imploring for her son with tears and entreaties.  She found him at first inexorable, but he changed his tone and appeared to soften as a fortunate idea came to his mind.

Her son’s life should be spared, but upon conditions.  These were, that he should go to Fort Schuyler and, by stories of the immense force upon the march, endeavor to alarm St. Leger.  Hon-Yost readily consented, leaving his brother as a hostage in Arnold’s hands.

The seemingly foolish fellow was far from being an idiot.  Before leaving the camp he had several bullet-holes shot through his coat.  He arranged also with a friendly Oneida Indian to follow and confirm his tale.  Thus prepared, he set out for St. Leger’s camp.  Reaching it, he ran breathlessly among the Indians, seemingly in a state of terror.  Many of the savages knew him, and he was eagerly questioned as to what had happened.

The Americans were coming, he replied; numbers of them, hosts of them; he had barely escaped with his life; he had been riddled with bullets.  He pointed to his coat in evidence.  How many were there? he was asked.  Hon-Yost, in reply, shook his head mysteriously, and pointed to the leaves on the trees.