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 CAPTOKS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 J' 
 

 NO. III. 
 
VINDICATION 
 
 CAPTORS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 EGBERT BENSON. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SARIN. 
 
 18G5. 
 

 200 ccpies printed. 
 50 cojnes on large paper. 
 
 RIVEBSIDE, OAMBRIDOE: 
 PBINTBD BY H. 0. UOUOnTON AND COMPANY. 
 
VINDICATION 
 
 THE CAPTORS 
 
 OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 NP:W YORK 
 
 PUBLISHED BY KIRK AND MERCKIN, 
 
 AT THE OFFICE OF THE KDINIiUROII AND QUARTERLY KEVIEWi 
 NO. 22 WALL-STKEET. 
 
 ']'. & W. Mcrcchi, rriutcrs, No. 'J3 Gold-Street. 
 1817. 
 
VINDICATION 
 
 CAPTORS OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 "congress HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 "JANUARY lo, 1817. 
 
 " Mr. Chappell made a Report unfavourable 
 to the petition of John Paulding, (one of the 
 citizens who captured the British Adjutant Gen- 
 eral Major Andre, during the late Revolutionary 
 War,) who prays for an increase of the pension 
 allowed to him by government in consequence 
 of that service. 
 
 "A debate of no little interest arose on this 
 question, the early part of which our reporter 
 did not hear. 
 
 " Mr. Wright moved to reverse the report of 
 the committee, and to declare that the prayer 
 of the petitioner ought to be granted. 
 
 " The report was opposed by Messrs. Wright, 
 Smith of Md., Gold, Forsyth, Robertson, and 
 Sharp, on the ground of the importance of the 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 services of this person and his companions, the 
 niaonitude of the virtue thev displaved, and the 
 justice of making such an addition to the pen- 
 sion allowed to them, as should keep pace with 
 the depreciation of money since the amount of 
 that pension was established. The report was 
 supported by Messrs. Chappell, Jewitt, Tall- 
 madge, and Pickering, on the injustice of legis- 
 lating on a single case of pension for services, 
 which were, in fact, though important, but the 
 connnon duty of every citizen, and in which no 
 disability was incurred ; whilst there were many 
 survivors of the Kevolution, whom the favour 
 of the government had not distinguished, and 
 who are languishing in obscurity and want, and 
 to whom no relief had been or would be ex- 
 tended. 
 
 " What gave interest principally to the debate, 
 wvas the disclosure, by Mr. Tallmadge of Con- 
 necticut, (an officer at the time, and connnand- 
 ing the advance guard when Major Andre was 
 brought in,) of his view of the merit of this 
 transaction, with which history and the records 
 of the country have made every man familiar. 
 The value of the service he did not deny, 
 but, on the authority of the declarations of 
 Major Andre, (made while in the custody of 
 Colonel Tallmadge,) he gave it as his opinion 
 that, if Major Andre could have given to these 
 
11 
 
 men the amount they demanded for hi.s release, 
 he never would have l)een hung for a spy, nor 
 in captivity on th.at occasion. Mr. T's state- 
 ment was minutely circumstantial, and given 
 with expressions of his individual confidence in 
 its correctness. Among; other circumstances, 
 he stated, that when Major Andre's boots were 
 taken off by them, it was to search for plunder, 
 and not to detect treason. These persons, in- 
 deed, he said, were of that class of people who 
 passed between both armies ; as often in one 
 camp as the other, and whom, had he met with 
 them, he should probably as soon have appre- 
 hended as Major Andre, as he had always made 
 it a rule to do with these suspicious persons. 
 The conclusion to be drawn from the whole of 
 Mr. Tallmadge's statement, of wdiich this is a 
 brief abstract, was, that these j^ersons had 
 brought in Major Andre, only because they 
 shonld probably get more for his apprehension 
 than his release. 
 
 " This statement was received with surprise 
 and incredulity, as to Major Andre's correctness, 
 by the gentlemen on the other side of the ques- 
 tion. It was very extraordinary, it was said, 
 that at a day so much nearer the transaction 
 than at the present, there had existed no doubt 
 on the subject, and Congress, as a mark of pub- 
 lic (gratitude for their honourable conduct on 
 
12 
 
 this important occasion, settled on these per- 
 sons pensions for life. Though testimony was 
 strongly stated by one of the gentlemen (Gen- 
 eral Smith) to Major Andre's high character and 
 honour, it was impossible, it was said, that the 
 character and conduct of the men should have 
 been at this day represented, yet so differently 
 depicted. The statement of Major Andre, sub- 
 ject as it must have been to be discoloured by 
 the misapprehensions of the character and mo- 
 tives of Americans, among whom patriotism 
 pervades every rank in life, it was urged, ought 
 to have no weight, indeed it ought not to have 
 been mentioned, in competition with facts on 
 record, and established by full investigation, dur- 
 ing the life-time of General Washington, who 
 certainly knew all the circumstances of the 
 transaction. 
 
 '' Though this topic made a prominent figure 
 in the debate, it is jDerhaps proper to say, that 
 the question was decided on the ground taken 
 in the report, and above stated as having been 
 urged in the debate in fivour of it. 
 
 "A motion was made by Mr, Forsyth, (and 
 lost,) to postpone the report, to give further 
 time to examine the correctness of the extraor- 
 dinary view of the subject, which had been pre- 
 sented by Mr. Tallmadge. 
 
 " It was moved to nmend the resolution, so 
 
13 
 
 as to direct the committee to report a bill for 
 increasing the compensation of the other two 
 of the captors of Major Andre yet snrviving, 
 as well as of the petitioner, which motion was 
 negatived. 
 
 "The question on the reversing the report 
 of the committee was decided in the negative ; 
 ayes 53, noes 80 or 90. 
 
 " Mr. Little having made an unsnccessful mo- 
 tion to postpone the further consideration of 
 the report, in the hope that a full examination 
 would be made of the question to-day raised as 
 to the merits of these men, whom history de- 
 scribed as pure and incorruptible patriots, and 
 whom he fully believed to have been so : — 
 
 "The rejDort was agreed to." 
 
 From the New York Courier, Februart/ IS, 1817, — Mr. 
 Barent Gardenier the Editor. 
 
 " Vindication of Van Wart^ Paulding, and Williams, 
 the three virtuous and patriotic American Yeomen, 
 ivho arrested 3Iajor Andre. 
 
 " Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, a niend)er of 
 the House of Representatives of the United 
 States, in a speech which he lately delivered 
 in that body, ventured to ascribe to the cele- 
 brated captors of Andre, a character the most 
 infamous and detestable; and to their conduct, 
 on that occasion, motives the most sordid and 
 
14 
 
 odious, lie accused these men of being as often 
 in the camp of the enemies of their country, 
 as in our own ; of being men, destitute not 
 only of patriotism, but of common honesty and 
 honour ; of belonging to that detestable gang 
 usually known by the name of coiv-boi/s. He 
 charged them, in effect, therefore, with being 
 the vilest of thieves and robbers ; and in doing 
 so, represented General Washington and the 
 Congress as bestowing the public praise and 
 the public bounty upon wretches, utterly base 
 and contemptible, from mere motives of policy. 
 There was, in this attempt, an intrepidity *vor- 
 thy of a better cause ; but at the same time a 
 rashness which he will never cease to repent. 
 Col. Tallmadge has endeavoured to tear the 
 fairest leaf from our history, and to deprive the 
 yeomenry of our country of a theme in wliicli 
 the}^ gloried, and of an example, whose influ- 
 ence is not less extensive and important, than 
 was that of the immortal William Tell. If he 
 has done so, when there was the least possibil- 
 ity that he might be in an error, he could never 
 upon reflection justify himself But if he has 
 done so upon slight, upon very slight grounds ; 
 not from his own knowledge, but from the cal- 
 innnies of the envious, and the mere suspicions 
 of an enemy, he has incurred a responsibility 
 which he must meet ; a responsibility, from 
 
15 
 
 which the personal respect with which he may 
 have been heretofore regarded, ought not to 
 protect him, nor general coincidence of polit- 
 ical opinion to release him. 
 
 " Upon what grounds did the Colonel accuse 
 these men of being coiv-bo?/s ? of being as often 
 in the enemy's camp, as in our own ? Did 
 he know the facts ? If he did, he must have 
 seen them steal ; he must have seen them in 
 the enemy's camp ! But he does not pretend 
 this. What then is the evidence of these facts ? 
 At most, hearsay — which imjht indeed be true 
 — but it might also be, as in fact it was, false. 
 This evidence was assuredly too loose for the 
 charge he advanced — against men whose ser- 
 vice had certainly been important ; and who, 
 absent, were not in a condition to justify them- 
 selves. The Colonel is a Christian. Did he 
 here observe the golden rule ? The Colonel 
 has his enemies : how would he feel, if the com- 
 munity should judge of his character, by ihetr 
 calumnies ? 
 
 '' The utmost that can be said in palliation 
 of Col. Tallmadge's conduct, is, that he believed 
 what he said to be true. He believed them to 
 be cow-boy plunderers, because he heard so ! 
 He believed they would have permitted Andre 
 to proceed, if he had had more to give them, 
 because Andre said he was of that opinion ! 
 
16 
 
 Upon such groinuls the Colonel employed the 
 weight of his character, and the authority of 
 his place, to consign to infamy the three men 
 who had saved West Point and the army ! 
 
 " There is not a court of justice in Chris- 
 tendom which would not spurn such evidence. 
 There can, therefore, be no fear that it will be 
 received by a grateful people. And although 
 we are fidly persuaded that nothing has ap- 
 peared to put the accused iipon their defence, 
 yet we proceed, gratuitously, to lay before our 
 readers such conclusive testimony as will sat- 
 isfy the whole world. 
 
 "At first, as to these men being cow-bof/s. 
 Their neighbours would be, of all others, most 
 likely to know the fact, if it were so : and the 
 annexed certificate from men, aged and vener- 
 able, will show that they were not even sus- 
 pected. But the oath of Mr. Van Wart is 
 decisive. 
 
 "As to the second point, whether the captors 
 of Andre would have released him for a very 
 large bribe, provided he could immediately 
 have paid it, that is a circumstance which 
 could be known only h// themselves. And Mr. 
 Van Wart expressly denies the imputation in 
 the annexed affidavit. 
 
 " The only possible question that can remain 
 is, whether the witness is worthy of credit. To 
 
17 
 
 this point, we bring men who have known him 
 from his infancy ; men, whose venerable hairs 
 are silvered by age ; they speak to us from 
 the verge of the grave ; and they unite in the 
 declaration that no man is more entitled to be 
 believed, than Isaac Van Wart ! 
 
 " The nature of the case does not admit of 
 testimony more precise, perfect and conclusive. 
 The refutation is solemnly sworn to, and by a 
 man who, in moral and religious deportment 
 during a long life, has had no superior." 
 
 Isaac Van Wart's affidavit. 
 " Isaac Van Wart, of the town of Mount 
 Pleasant, in the county of Westchester, being 
 duly sworn, doth depose and say, that he is 
 one of the three persons who arrested Major 
 Andre, during the American revolutionary war, 
 and conducted him to the American camp. 
 That he, this deponent, together with David 
 Williams and John Paulding, had secreted 
 themselves at the side of the high-way, for 
 the purpose of detecting any persons coming 
 from or having unlawful intercourse with the 
 enemy, being between the two armies ; a ser- 
 vice not uncommon in those times. That this 
 deponent and his companions were armed with 
 muskets ; and upon seeing Major Andre ap- 
 proach the place where they were concealed, 
 
 3 
 
18 
 
 they rose and presented their muskets at him, 
 and required him to stop, which he did. He 
 then asked them whether they helonged to his 
 party ? and then they asked him which was his 
 party ? to which he rephed, the lower party. 
 Upon which they, deeming a Httle stratagem, 
 under such circumstances, not only justifiable, 
 but necessary, gave him to understand that 
 they were of his party : upon which he joy- 
 fully declared himself to be a British officer, 
 and told them, that he had been out upon very 
 particular business. Having ascertained thus 
 much, this deponent and his companions un- 
 deceived him as to their characters, declaring 
 themselves Americans, and that he must con- 
 sider himself their prisoner. Upon this, with 
 seeming unconcern, he said he had a pass from 
 General Arnold, which he exhibited, and then 
 insisted on their permitting him to proceed. 
 But they told him that as he had confessed 
 himself to be a British officer, they deemed it 
 to be their duty to convey him to the American 
 camp ; and then took him into a wood, a short 
 distance from the highway, in order to guard 
 against being surprised b}^ parties of the ene- 
 my, who were frequently reconnoitering in that 
 neighbourhood. That when they had him in 
 the wood, they proceeded to search him, for 
 the purpose of ascertaining who and what he 
 
19 
 
 was, and found inside of his stockings and 
 boots next to his l)are feet, papers, which sat- 
 isfied them that he was a spy. Major Andre 
 now showed them his gold watch, and re- 
 marked, that it was evidence of his being a 
 gentleman, and also promised to make them 
 any reward the}^ might name, if they would 
 but permit him to proceed, which they refused. 
 He then told them, that if they doubted the 
 fulfilment of his promise, they might conceal 
 him in some secret place, and keep him there, 
 until they could send to New-York, and receive 
 their reward. And this deponent expressly de- 
 clares, that every offer made by Major Andre 
 to them was promptly and resolutely refused. 
 And as for himself, he solemnly declares, that 
 he had not, and he does most sincerely believe 
 that Paulding and Williams had not, any in- 
 tention of plundering their prisoner ; nor did 
 they confer witli each other, or even hesitate, 
 whether they should accept his promises, but 
 on the contrary they were, in the opinion of 
 this deponent, governed, like himself, by a 
 deep interest in the cause of the country, tind 
 a strong sense of duty. And this deponent 
 further says, that he never visited the British 
 camp, nor does he believe or suspect that 
 either Paulding or Williams ever did. except 
 that Paulding was once before Andre's cap- 
 
20 
 
 tiire, and once afterwards, made a prisoner by 
 the British, as this deponent has been informed 
 and beUeves. And this deponent for himself 
 expressly denies that he ever held any unlaw- 
 ful traffic or any intercourse whatever with 
 the enemy. And — appealing solemnly to that 
 omniscient Beino-, at whose tribunal he must 
 soon appear, he doth expressly declare that all 
 accusations, charging him therewith, are utterly 
 untrue. ISAAC VAN WART." 
 
 Sworn before me this 28th day > jacOB RADCLTFF, 
 ot January, IHI i . ) 
 
 Maijor. 
 
 " We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the 
 county of Westchester, do certify, that during 
 the revolutionary war we were well acquainted 
 with Isaac Van Wart, David Williams, and John 
 Paulding, who arrested Major Andre ; and that 
 at no time during the revolutionary war, was 
 any suspicion ever entertained by their neigh- 
 bours or acquaintances that they or either of 
 them held any undue intercourse with the ene- 
 my. (3n the contrary, they were universally 
 esteemed, and taken to be ardent, and laithful 
 in the cause of the country. We further cer- 
 tify, that the said Paulding and Williams are 
 not now resident among us, but that Isaac Van 
 AVart is a resjiectable freeholder of the town of 
 Mount Pleasant; that we are well acquainted 
 with him ; and we do not hesitate to declare 
 
21 
 
 our belief, that there is not an individual in the 
 county of Westchester, acquainted with Isaac 
 Van Wart, who would not hesitate to describe 
 him as a man of a sober, moral, industrious and 
 religious life — as a man whose integrity is as 
 unimpeachable as his veracity is undoubted. 
 In these respects no man in the county of 
 Westchester is his superior. 
 
 JONATHAN G. TOMPKINS, aged 31 years. 
 JACOB PURDY, aged 77 years. 
 JOHN ODELL, aged 60 years. 
 JOHN BOYCE, aged 72 years. 
 J. REQUA, aged 57 years. 
 WILLIAM PAULDING, aged 81 years. 
 JOHN REQUA, aged 54 years. 
 ARCHER READ, aged 61 years. 
 GEORGE COMB, aged 72 years. 
 GILBERT DEAN, aged 70 years. 
 JONATHAN ODELL, aged 87 years. 
 CORNELIUS VANTASSEL, aged 71 years. 
 THOMAS BOYCE, aged 71 years. 
 TUNIS LYNT, aged 71 years. 
 JACOBUS DYCKMAN, aged 68 years. 
 WILLIAM HAMMOND, 
 JOHN ROMER." 
 
 John Paulding's affidavit. 
 John Paulding, of the county of Westchester, 
 one of the persons who took Major Andre, be- 
 ing duly sworn, saith, that he was three times 
 
22 
 
 during the revolutionary war a prisoner with 
 the enemy : — the first time he was taken at 
 the White Plains, when under the command of 
 Captain Requa, and carried to New- York, and 
 confined in the Sugar House. The second time 
 he was taken near Tarry Town, when under 
 the command of Lieutenant Peacock, and con- 
 fined in the North Dutch Church, in New-York : 
 — that both these times he escaped, and the last 
 of them only four days before the capture of An- 
 dre : — that the last time he was taken he was 
 wounded, and lay in the hospital in New-York, 
 and was discharged on the arrival of the news 
 of peace there: — that he and his companions. 
 Van Wart and Williams, among other articles 
 which they took from Major Andre, were his 
 watch, horse, saddle, and bridle, and which they 
 retained as prize : — that they delivered over 
 Andre, with the papers found on him, to Col- 
 onel Jameson, who commanded on the lines: — 
 that shortly thereafter they were summoned to 
 appear as witnesses at the head-quarters of Gen- 
 eral Washington, at Tappan : — that they were 
 at Tappan some days, and examined as wit- 
 nesses before the court martial on the trial 
 of Smith, who brought Andre ashore from on 
 board the sloop of war: — that while there. Col- 
 onel William S. Smith redeemed the watch from 
 theui for thirty guineas ; which, and the money 
 
23 
 
 received for the horse, saddle, and bridle, they 
 divided equally among themselves and four 
 other persons, who belonged to their party, 
 but when Andre was taken, were about half 
 a mile off, keeping a lookout on a hill : — that 
 Andre had no gold or silver money with him, 
 but only some continental bills, to the amount 
 of about eighty dollars : — that the medals given 
 to him and Van Wart and Williams, by Con- 
 gress, were presented to them by General 
 Washington, when the army was encamped at 
 Verplanck's Point, and that they on the occa- 
 sion dined at his table : — that Williams removed 
 some years ago from Westchester County to 
 the northern part of the state, but where, par- 
 ticularly, the deponent does not know. And 
 the deponent, referring to the affidavit of Van 
 Wart, taken on the 28th January last, and 
 which he has read, says that the same is in 
 substance true. JOHN PAULDING. 
 
 Sworn before me this 6th | cHARLES G. VAN VVYCK, 
 day of May, 1817. ) 
 
 Master in Chancery. 
 
 The folloiving is from the Courier of March 24dh, 
 
 1817 — Mr. Dwight the Editor. 
 
 ''''From the National Intelligencer. 
 
 "CASE OF MAJOR ANDRE. 
 
 " Messrs Gales and Seaton., 
 
 " This case having been brought promi- 
 nently into public view recently, by Mr. Tall- 
 
24 
 
 madge's statement on the floor of the House of 
 Representatives ; and you having pubHshed the 
 remarks of the New-York Courier on it, I re- 
 quest the favour of you, in justice to Mr. Tall- 
 madge, since the subject has been agitated, to 
 give place to the following article from the 
 Gleanor, printed at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, 
 "lam, &c. Z." 
 
 ^'- From the Gleanor. 
 " The disclosure recently made by Col. Tall- 
 madge, in the House of Representatives, rela- 
 tive to the capture of Major Andre, seems not 
 to have been received in every instance with 
 the confidence to which it was certainly enti- 
 tled. That gentleman related what he saw and 
 knew ; and those who are attempting to dis- 
 pute him, relate only what they have been in- 
 formed of To those of our readers who may 
 not have seen the report of Col. Tallmadge's 
 remarks, it may be proper to observe, that 
 those three men who captured Major Andre, 
 applied to Congress for an increase of the pen- 
 sion settled on them by government, and that 
 when this application was under consideration, 
 Col. Tallmadge (a member from Connecticut) 
 rose and stated, that having been the officer to 
 whom the care of Andre was intrusted, he had 
 heard Andre declare that those men robbed 
 
25 
 
 him, and upon his offer to reward them for 
 taking him to the British lines, he beHeves 
 they declined only from the impossibility of 
 giving them sufficient security, &c. ; and that it 
 was not patriotism, but the hope of gain, which 
 induced them to deliver him to the Americans. 
 To this declaration of Col. Tallmadge, and in 
 support of his opinion, we are happy to have 
 it in our jDOwer to ofier the following corrobo- 
 rating testimony. 
 
 " There is now living in this town a gentle- 
 man who was an officer in the Massachusetts 
 line, and who was particularly conversant in all 
 the circumstances of that transaction. It was 
 this gentleman who, in company with captain 
 Hughes, composed the special guard of Andre 
 person — was with him during the last twenty- 
 fours of his life, and supported him to the place 
 of execution. From him we have received the 
 following particulars : — it is needless to say we 
 give them our implicit belief, since to those 
 who are acquainted with the person to whom 
 we allude, no other testimony is ever necessary 
 than his simple declaration. 
 
 "To this gentleman Andre himself related, 
 that he was passing down a hill, at the foot 
 of which, under a tree playing cards, were the 
 three men who took him. They were close 
 by the road side, and he had approached very 
 
26 
 
 near them before either party discovered the 
 other : upon seeing him, they instantly rose 
 and seized their rifles. They approached him, 
 and demanded who he was ? He immediately 
 answered, that he was a British officer ; suppos- 
 ing, from their being so near the British lines, 
 that they belonged to that party. They then 
 seized him, robbed him of the few guineas which 
 he had with him, and the two watches which he 
 then wore, one of gold and the other of sil- 
 ver. He offered to reward them if they would 
 take him to New- York ; they hesitated ; and in 
 his (Andre's) opinion, the reason why they did 
 not do so, was the impossibility on his part to 
 secure to them the performance of the promise. 
 
 " He informs also, that it was an opinion too 
 prevalent to admit of any doubt, that these men 
 were of that description of persons usually 
 called " cow-boys," or those who, without being 
 considered as belonging to either party, made 
 it a business to pillage from both. He has 
 frequently heard it expressed at that time by 
 several officers, who were personally acquainted 
 with all these men, and who could not have 
 been mistaken in their general characters. 
 
 Andre frequently spoke of the kindness of 
 the American officers, and particularly of the 
 attention of Major Tallmadge ; and on the way 
 to the place of execution, sent for that officer 
 
:^i 
 
 to come near him, that he might learn the 
 manner in which he was to die." 
 
 Extract from cm Act of the Legislature of the 24ith 
 June, 1780, " more effectually to prevetU sujjjjUes of 
 cattle to Hie enemy.'''' 
 
 "That it shall be lawful for any person to 
 take, seize, and convert to his own use, all cat- 
 tle and beef driven or removed from any place 
 to the northward, to any place to the south- 
 ward of a line in the county of Westchester, 
 assigned by the Governor for that purpose." 
 
 This extract from the law is furnished to 
 show that these persons were not only war- 
 ranted, but were, meritoriously, in the service 
 in which they were engaged, intercejDting sup- 
 plies to the enemy ; and to meet the fact, and 
 the inference insinuated from it, that not being 
 regularly called out, and under the command 
 of an officer, it must be intended they were 
 there for improper purposes. 
 
 Extracts of letters from General Washington 
 TO the president of congress. 
 
 '•'' Robinson^ s House, in the Highlands, 
 Sept. 26, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 "I have the honour to inform Congress, that 
 I arrived here yesterday, about twelve o'clock, 
 on my return from Hartford. Some hours pre- 
 
^ 28 
 
 vioiis to my arrival, Major-General Arnold went 
 from his quarters, which were at this place, and, 
 as it was supposed, over the river to the garri- 
 son at West-Point, whither I proceeded myself 
 in order to visit the post. I found General Ar- 
 nold had not been there during the day, and on 
 my return to his quarters he was still absent. 
 In the mean time, a packet had arrived from 
 Lieut. Col. Jameson, announcing the capture of 
 a John Anderson, who was endeavouring to go 
 to New- York, with several interesting and im- 
 portant papers, all in the hand-writing of Gen- 
 eral Arnold. This was also accompanied with 
 a letter from the prisoner, avowing himself to 
 be Major John Andre, Adjutant-General to the 
 British army, relating the manner of his cap- 
 ture, and endeavouring to show that he did not 
 come under the description of a spy. From 
 these several circumstances, and information 
 that the General seemed to be thrown into 
 some degree of agitation, on receiving a letter 
 a little time before he went from his quarters, 
 I was led to conclude immediately that he had 
 heard of Major Andre's captivity, and that he 
 would, if possible, escape to the enemy, and ac- 
 cordingly took such measures as appeared the 
 most probable to apprehend him. But he had 
 embarked in a barge and proceeded down the 
 river, under a flag, to the Vulture ship of war, 
 
29 
 
 which hij at some miles below Stoney and Ver- 
 plank's Points. He wrote me a letter after he 
 got on board. Major Andre is not yet arrived, 
 but I hope he is secure, and that he will be 
 here to-day. I have been and am taking pre- 
 cautions, which I trust will prove effectual to 
 prevent the important consequences which this 
 conduct, on the part of General Arnold, was in- 
 tended to produce. I do not know the party 
 that took Major Andre, but it is said that it 
 consisted only of a few militia, who acted in 
 such a manner upon the occasion as does them 
 the highest honour, and proves them to be 
 men of great virtue. As soon as I know their 
 names, I shall take pleasure in transmitting 
 them to Congress." 
 
 ''Paramus, October 7, 1780. 
 "Sir, 
 
 '• I have the honour to enclose Congress a 
 copy of the Proceedings of a Board of General 
 Officers in the case of Major Andre, Adjutant- 
 General to the British army. This officer was 
 executed, in pursuance of the opinion of the 
 Board, on Monday, the 2d instant, at twelve 
 o'clock, at our late Camp at Tappan. Besides 
 the proceedings, I transmit copies of sundry 
 letters respecting the matter, which are all that 
 passed on the subject, not included in the pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
30 
 
 "I have now the pleasure to communicate 
 the names of the three persons who captured 
 Major Andre, and who refused to release him, 
 notwithstanding the most earnest importunities, 
 and assurances of a liberal reward on his part. 
 Their names are John Paulding, David Williams, 
 and Isaac Van Wart" 
 
 rROCEEDINGS OF A BOARD OF GENERAL OFFICERS, 
 
 Held by order of his Excellency General Washin(/to7i, 
 Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States 
 of America, respecting Major Andre, Adjutant- G-eji- 
 eral of the British Army, September the 'i^th, 1780, 
 at Tappan, in the State of New - York. 
 
 PRESENT, 
 
 Major-General Greene, President, 
 Major-General Lord Stirling, 
 Major-General St. Clair, 
 Major-General The Marquis de la Fayette, 
 Major-General Howe, 
 Major-General The Baron de Steuben, 
 Brigad ier-General Parsons, 
 Brigadier-General Clinton, 
 Brigadier-General Knox, 
 Brigadier-General Glover, 
 Brigadier-General Patterson, 
 Brigadier-General Hand, 
 Brigadier-General Huntington, 
 Brigadier-General Starke, 
 
 John Lawrance, Judge Advocate Gen. 
 
31 
 
 Major John Andre, Adjutant-General to the 
 British army, was brought before the Board, 
 and the followino; letter from General Washing;- 
 ton to the Board, dated Head-Quarters, Tappan, 
 September 29th, 1780, was laid before them, 
 and read. 
 
 " Gentlemen, 
 
 " Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the Brit- 
 ish army, w^ill be brought before you for your 
 examination. He came within our lines in the 
 night, and on an interview wdth Major-General 
 Arnold, and in an assumed character -, and was 
 taken within our lines, in a disguised habit, 
 with a pass under a feigned name, and with 
 the enclosed papers concealed upon him. After 
 a careful examination, you will be pleased, as 
 speedily as possible, to report a precise state of 
 his case, together with your opinion of the light 
 in which he ought to be considered, and the 
 punishment that ought to be inflicted. The 
 Judge Advocate w^ill attend to assist in the ex- 
 amination, who has sundry other papers, rela- 
 tive to this matter, which he will lay before the 
 Board. " I have the honour to be. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 and humble servant, 
 
 G. Washington. 
 " The Board of General Officers, 
 convened at Tappan'' 
 
32 
 
 The names of the Officers composing the 
 Board were read to Major Andre, and on his 
 being asked whether he confessed the matters 
 contained in the letter from his Excellency 
 General Washington to the Board, or denied 
 them, he said, in addition to his letter to General 
 Washington, dated Salem, the 24:th September, 1780, 
 (which was read to the Board, and acknowledged 
 by Major Andre to have been written by him,) 
 which letter is as follows : 
 
 '' Salem, 2Uh Sept. 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " What I have as yet said concerning myself, 
 was in the justifiable attempt to be extricated. 
 I am too little accustomed to duplicity to have 
 succeeded. 
 
 "I beg your Excellency will be persuaded 
 that no alteration in the temper of my mind, 
 or apprehension for my safety, induces me to 
 take the step of addressing you ; but that it is 
 to secure myself from an imputation of having 
 assumed a mean character for treacherous pur- 
 poses or self-interest. A conduct incompatible 
 with the principles that actuated me, as well as 
 with my condition in life. 
 
 " It is to vindicate my fame that I speak, and 
 not to solicit security. 
 
 " The person in your possession is Major John 
 Andre, Adjutant-General to the British army. 
 
33 
 
 "The inflnenoe of one Commander in tlie 
 army of his adversary, is an advantage taken 
 in war. A correspondence for this pnrpose 1 
 held ; as confidential (in the present instance) 
 with his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. 
 
 " To favour it, I agreed to meet upon ground, 
 not within posts of either army, a person who 
 was to give me intelligence. I came up in the 
 Vulture man of war for this effect, and was 
 fetched, by a boat from the shore, to the beach. 
 Being there, I was told that the approach of 
 day would prevent my return, and that I must 
 be concealed until the next night. I was in 
 my regimentals, and had fairly risked my per- 
 son. 
 
 "Against my stipulation, my intention, and 
 without my knowledge beforehand, I was con- 
 ducted within one of your posts. Your Excel- 
 lency may conceive my sensation on this occa- 
 sion, and will imagine how much more I must 
 have been affected, by a refusal to reconduct 
 me back the next niorht as I had been brouscht. 
 Thus become a prisoner, I had to concert my 
 escape. / quitted my uniform, was passed an- 
 other way in the night without the American 
 posts to neutral ground, and informed I was 
 beyond all armed parties, and left to press for 
 New-York. I was taken at Tarry-Town by 
 some volunteers. 
 
34 
 
 "Thus, as I have had the lionour to relate, 
 was I betrayed (being Adjutant-General of the 
 British army) into the vile condition of an ene- 
 my in disguise within your posts. 
 
 " Having avowed myself a British officer, I 
 have nothing to reveal but what relates to my- 
 self, which is true on the honour of an officer 
 and a gentleman. 
 
 "The request I have to make your Excel- 
 lency, and I am conscious I address myself well, 
 is, that in any rigour policy may dictate, a de- 
 cency of conduct towards me may mark, that 
 thouo;h unfortunate, I am branded with nothino: 
 dishonourable, as no motive could be mine but 
 the service of my King, and as I was involun- 
 tarily an impostor. 
 
 "Another request is, that I may be permitted 
 to write an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton, 
 and another to a friend for clothes and linen. 
 
 "I take the liberty to mention the condition 
 of some gentlemen at Charles-Town, who be- 
 ing either on parole or under protection, were 
 engaged in a conspiracy against us. Though 
 their situation is not similar, they are objects 
 who may be set in exchange for me, or are 
 persons whom the treatment I receive might 
 affect. 
 
 "It is not less. Sir, in a confidence in the 
 generosity of your mind, than on account of 
 
35 
 
 your superior station, that I have chosen to 
 importune you with this letter. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 with great respect, Sir, 
 
 Your Excellency's most obedient 
 and most humble servant, 
 JOHN ANDRE, 
 Adjutant-General. 
 ^' His Excellency 
 General Washington, 
 ko. &c. &c." 
 
 That he came on shore from the Vulture 
 sloop of war in the night of the twenty-first of 
 September instant, somewhere under the Hav- 
 erstraw Mountain : that the boat he came on 
 shore in carried no flag, and that he had on a 
 surtout coat over his regimentals, and that he 
 wore his surtout coat when he was taken : That 
 he met General Arnold on the shore, and had 
 an interview with him there. He also said, that 
 when he left the Vulture sloop of war, it was 
 understood that he was to return that night ; 
 but it was then doubted, and if he could not re- 
 turn, he was promised to be concealed on shore in 
 a place of safety, until the next night, when he 
 was to return in the same manner he came on 
 shore ; and when the next day came, he was 
 solicitous to get back, and made inquiries in 
 
36 
 
 the course of the day, how he should return ; 
 when he was informed he could not return 
 that way, and he must take the route he did 
 afterwards. He also said, that the first notice 
 he had of his being within any of cnir posts, was, 
 being challenged by the sentry, which was the 
 first night he was on shore. He also said, that 
 the evening of the twenty-second of Septem- 
 ber instant, he passed King's Ferry between our 
 posts of Stonei/ and VerplanJc's Points, in the dress 
 he is at present in, and which he said was not his 
 regimentals, and which dress he procured after 
 he landed from the Vulture, and when he was 
 within our post, and that he was proceeding to 
 New-York, but was taken on his way, at Tarry- 
 Town, as he has mentioned in his letter, on 
 Saturday the twenty-third of September in- 
 stant, about nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The following papers were laid before the 
 Board, and shown to Major Andre, who con- 
 fessed to the Board that they were found on 
 him when he was taken, and said they were 
 concealed in his boot, except the pass. 
 
 A pass from General Arnold to John Ander- 
 son, which nanie Major Andre acknowledged he 
 assiirncd : 
 
 Artillery orders, September 5, 1780. 
 
 Estimate of the force at West Point and its 
 dependencies, Septeml)cr, 1780. 
 
37 
 
 Estimate of men to man the works at West 
 Point, &c. 
 
 Return of ordnance at West Point, Sept. 1780. 
 
 Remarks on works at West Point. 
 
 Copy of a state of matters laid before a Coun- 
 cil of War, by his Excellency General Washing- 
 ton, held the 6th of September, 1780. 
 
 The Board having interrogated Major Andre 
 about his conception of his coming on shore un- 
 der the sanction of a flag, he said, That it was 
 impossible for him to suppose he came on shore under 
 that sanction ; and added, That if he came on 
 shore under that sanction, he certainly might 
 have returned imder it. 
 
 Major Andre having acknowledged the pre- 
 ceding facts, and being asked whether he had 
 any thing to say respecting them, answered, He 
 left them to operate with the Board. 
 
 The examination of Major Andre being con- 
 cluded, he was remanded into custody. 
 
 The followinsTC letters were laid before the 
 Board, and read : — Benedict Arnold's letter to 
 General Washington, dated September 25, 1780. 
 Colonel Robinson's letter to General Washing- 
 ton, dated September 25, 1780, and General 
 Clinton's letter, dated 2Gth September, 1780, 
 (enclosing a letter of the same date from Bene- 
 dict Arnold) to General Washington. 
 
38 
 
 ''On hoard the Vulture, Sept. 25, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " The heart which is conscious of its own rec- 
 titude, cannot attempt to palHate a step which 
 the world may censure as wrong. I have ever 
 acted from a principle of love to my country, 
 since the commencement of the present un- 
 happy contest between Great Britain and the 
 Colonies : the same principle of love to my 
 country actuates my present conduct, however 
 it may appear inconsistent to the world, who 
 very seldom judge right of any man's actions. 
 
 " I have no favour to ask for myself I have 
 too often experienced the ingratitude of my 
 country to attempt it : but from the known 
 humanity of your Excellency, I am induced to 
 ask your protection for Mrs. Arnold, from every 
 insult and injury that the mistaken vengeance 
 of my country may expose her to. It ought to 
 fall only on me : she is as good and as innocent 
 as an angel, and is incapable of doing wrong. 
 1 beg she may be permitted to return to her 
 friends in Philadelphia, or to come to me, as 
 she may choose. From your Excellency I have 
 no fears on her account, but she may suffer 
 from the mistaken fury of the country. 
 
 "I have to request that the enclosed letter 
 may be delivered to Mrs. Arnold, and she per- 
 niitted to write to me. 
 
39 
 
 " I have also to nsk that my clothes and bag- 
 gage, which are of little consequence, may be 
 sent to me ; if required, their value shall be 
 paid for in money. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 
 with great regard and esteem, 
 Your Excellency's most obed't, 
 humble servant, 
 
 B. ARNOLD. 
 ^'^His Excellency 
 
 General WasMngtonr 
 
 " N. B. In justice to the gentlemen of my 
 family. Colonel Varrick and Major Franks, I 
 think myself in honour bound to declare, that 
 they, as well as Joshua Smith, Esq. (who I know 
 is suspected) are totally ignorant of any trans- 
 actions of mine, that they had reason to believe 
 were injurious to the public." 
 
 " Vulture, off Si7ismk, Sept. 25, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I am this moment informed that Major An- 
 dre, Adjutant-General of his Majesty's army in 
 America, is detained as a prisoner by the army 
 under your command. It is therefore incum- 
 bent on me to inform you of the manner of his 
 falling into your hands : He went up with a 
 tlag at the request of General Arnold, on pub- 
 lic business with him, and had his permit to 
 
40 
 
 return by land to New- York. Under these cir- 
 cumstances Major Andre cannot be detained 
 by you, without the greatest violation of flags, 
 and contrary to the custom and usage of all 
 nations ; and as I imagine you will see this 
 matter in the same point of view as I do, I 
 must desire you will order him to be set at 
 liberty, and allowed to return immediately. 
 Every step Major Andre took was by the ad- 
 vice and direction of General Arnold, even that 
 of taking a feigned name, and of course not 
 liable to censure for it. 
 " I am, Sir, 
 
 not forgetting former acquaintance, 
 Your very humble servant, 
 
 * BEV. ROBINSON, 
 Col. Loyl. Americ. 
 "///.§ Excellency 
 General Washington^ 
 
 ''New -York, Sept. 26, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " Being informed that the King's Adjutant- 
 General in America has been stopt, under Ma- 
 jor-General Arnold's passports, and is detained 
 a prisoner in your Excellency's army, I have 
 the honour to inform you. Sir, that I permitted 
 Major Andre to go to Major-General Arnold, at 
 the particular request of that general officer. 
 You will perceive, Sir, by the enclosed paper, 
 
41 
 
 that a flag of truce was soit to receive Major 
 Andre, and passports granted for liis return. 1 
 therefore can have no doubt but your Excel- 
 lency will immediately direct, that this officer 
 has permission to return to my orders at New- 
 York. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 
 Your Excellency's most obedient, 
 and most humble servant, 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 ^'His Excellcmij 
 General WasJdngtonr 
 
 ''New -York, Sept. 26,1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " In answer to your Excellency's message, re- 
 specting your Adjutant-General, Major Andre, 
 and desiring my idea of the reasons why he is 
 detained, being under my passports, I have the 
 honour to inform you. Sir, that I apprehend a 
 few hours must return Major Andre to your 
 Excellency's orders, as that officer is assuredly 
 under the protection of a flag of truce sent 
 by me to him, for the purpose of a conver- 
 sation which I requested to hold with him 
 relating to myself, and which I wished to 
 communicate through that officer to your 
 Excellency. 
 
 " I commanded at the time at West Point ; 
 
 6 
 
42 
 
 I)afl an undoubted right to send my ting of 
 truce for Major Andre, who came to me under 
 tliat protection, and having held my conver- 
 sation with him, 1 deUvered him confidential 
 papers in my own hand-writing, to deliver to 
 your Excellency. Thinking it much properer 
 he should return by land, I directed him to 
 make use of the feigned name of John Ander- 
 son, under which he had by my direction come 
 on shore, and gave him my passports to go 
 to the White Plains on his way to New-York. 
 This officer cannot therefore fail of being im- 
 mediately sent to New-York, as he was invited 
 to a conversation with me, for which I sent him 
 a flag of truce, and finally gave him passports 
 for his safe return to your Excellency ; all 
 which I had then a right to do, being in the 
 actual service of America, under the orders of 
 General Washington, and commanding general 
 iit West Point and its dependencies. 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 
 Your Excellency's most obedient, 
 and very humble servant, 
 
 B. ARNOLD. 
 '■'•His Eicclleneij 
 Sir Henr>/ Cliufour 
 
 The Board having considered the letter from 
 his Excellency Genera! Washington respecting 
 
43 
 
 Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the Biitisli 
 army, the confet^sion of Ma_jor Andre, and the 
 papers produced to them, Report to his Excel- 
 lency, the Commander in Chief, the following 
 facts, which appear to them relative to Major 
 Andre. 
 
 First, That he came on shore from the Vul- 
 ture sloop of war in the night of the 21st of 
 September instant, on an interview with Gen- 
 eral Arnold, in a private and secret manner. 
 
 Secondly, That he changed his dress within 
 our lines ; and under a feigned name, and in 
 a disguised habit, passed onr works at Stoney 
 and Verplank's Points, the evening of the 22d 
 of September instant, and was taken the morn- 
 ing of the 23d of September instant, at Tarry 
 Town, in a disguised habit, being then on his 
 way to New-York ; and when taken, he had in 
 his possession several papers, which contained 
 intelligence for the enemy. 
 
 The Board having maturely considered these 
 facts, Do ALSO Report to his Excellency General 
 Washington, That Major Andre, Adjutant-Gen- 
 eral to the British armv, ought to be considered 
 as a Spy from the enemy, and that, agreeable 
 to the law and usage of nations, it is their opin- 
 ion, he ought to suftei' death. 
 
 Nath. Greene, M. CenL President. 
 
44 
 
 Sterling, M. G. 
 
 Ar. St. Clair, M. G. 
 La Fayette, M. G. 
 R Howe, M. G. 
 Steuben, M. G. 
 Samuel H. Parsons, B. Genl 
 James Clinton, B. Genl. 
 H. Knox, Brig. Genl. Artil. 
 Jno. Glover, B. Genl. 
 John Patterson, B. Genl. 
 Eclwd. Hand, B. Genl. 
 J. Huntington, B. Genl. 
 John Starke, B. Genl. 
 
 John Lawrance, J. A. Genl 
 
 Copy of a letter from Major Andre, Adjutant- 
 General, to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. &c. &c. 
 
 ''Tappa7i, Sept. 29, 1780. 
 '' Sir, 
 
 " Your Excellency is doubtless already ap- 
 prized of the manner in which I was taken, 
 and possibly of the serious light in which my 
 conduct is considered, and the rigorous deter- 
 mination that is impending. 
 
 " Under these circumstances, I have obtained 
 General Washington's permission to send you 
 this letter; the object of which is, to remove 
 liom \our breast any suspicion, that 1 could 
 
45 
 
 imagine I was bound by your Excellency's or- 
 ders to expose myself to what has happened. 
 The events of coming within an enemy's posts, 
 and of changing my dress, which led me to my 
 present situation, were contrary to my own in- 
 tentions, as they were to your orders ; and the 
 circuitous route, which I took to return, was 
 imposed (perhaps unavoidably) without alter- 
 native upon me. 
 
 " I am perfectly tranquil in mind, and pre- 
 pared for any fate, to which an honest zeal for 
 my King's service may have devoted me. 
 
 "In addressing myself to your Excellency 
 on this occasion, the force of all my obligations 
 to you, and of the attachment and gratitude I 
 bear you, recurs to me. With all the warmth 
 of my heart, I give you thanks for your Excel- 
 lency's profuse kindness to me ; and I send you 
 the most earnest wishes for your welfare, which 
 a faithful, affectionate, and respectful attendant 
 can frame. 
 
 " I have a mother and three sisters, to whom 
 the value of my commission would be an ob- 
 ject, as the loss of Grenada has much affected 
 their income. It is needless to be more ex- 
 plicit on this subject ; I am persuaded of your 
 Excellency's goodness. 
 
 " I receive the greatest attention from his Ex- 
 cellency Genci'ai Washington, and from evei'y 
 
46 
 
 person under whose charge I happen to l)e 
 [)]ace(1. 
 
 " I have tlie honour to be, 
 
 With the most respectful attachment, 
 Your Excellency's most obedient, 
 and most humble servant, 
 
 JOHN ANDRE, 
 Adj utant-General. 
 (Addressed) 
 His Excdlcncij 
 "•(Jcnend Sir Henry Clhiton, K B. &c. &c. &c." 
 
 Copy of a letter from his Excellency General 
 Washington, to his Excellency Sir Henry 
 
 Clinton. 
 
 ^' Head- Quarters, Sept. 30, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " In answer to your Excellency's letter of the 
 26th instant, which I had the honour to receive, 
 I am to inform you, that Major Andre was taken 
 under such circumstances as w^ould have justi- 
 fied the most summary proceedings against him. 
 I determined, however, to refer his case to the 
 examination and decision of a Board of Gen- 
 eral Oflicers, who have reported, on his free 
 and voluntary confession and letters, " That he 
 came on shore from the Vulture sloop of w^ar, 
 in the night of the twenty-first of September 
 instant," &c. &c. as in the report of the Boaid 
 of General Officers. 
 
47 
 
 " Fi'oiii tlioso proceedings, it is evident Major 
 Andre was employed in the execution of meas- 
 ures very foreign to the objects of flags of truce, 
 and such as they were never meant to author- 
 ize or countenance in the most distant degree ; 
 and this gentleman confessed, with the great- 
 est candour, in the course of his examination, 
 " That it was impossible for him to suppose he 
 came on shore under the sanction of a flag. 
 " I have the honour to be, your Excellency's 
 most obedient and most humble servant, 
 G. WASHINGTON. 
 (Addressed) 
 " Ilis Excellency Sir Henry CUnion'' 
 
 In this letter, Major Andre's of the 29th of 
 September, to Sir Henry Clinton, was trans- 
 mitted. 
 
 ''Nc?r-YorJc, 2Wi Sept. 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 "Persuaded that you are inclined rather to 
 promote than prevent the civilities and acts of 
 humanity, w4iich the rules of war permit be- 
 tween civilized nations, I find no difficulty in 
 representing to you, that several letters and 
 messages sent from hence have been disre- 
 garded, are unanswered, and the flags of truce 
 that carried them detained. As I have ever 
 treated all flags of truce with civility and re- 
 spect, I have a right to hope, that you will 
 
48 
 
 order my compLaint to be immediately re- 
 dressed. 
 
 "Major Andre, who visited an officer com- 
 manding in a district at his own desire, and 
 acted in every circumstance agreeable to his 
 direction, I find is detained a prisoner : my 
 friendship for him leads me to fear he may 
 suffer some inconvenience for want of necessa- 
 ries ; I wish to be allowed to send him a few, 
 and shall take it as a favour if you will be 
 pleased to permit his servant to deliver them. 
 In Sir Henry Clinton's absence it becomes a 
 part of my duty to make this representation 
 and request. 
 
 " I am, Sir, your Excellency's 
 Most obedient humble servant, 
 JAMES ROBERTSON, 
 Lt. General. 
 
 '^^ His Exccllcncij 
 General Washington^ 
 
 ''Tappan, Sept 30, 1780. 
 " Sir, 
 
 " I have just received your letter of the 29th. 
 Any delay which may have attended your flags 
 has proceeded from accident and the peculiar 
 circumstances of the occasion, not from inten- 
 tional neglect or violation. The letter that ad- 
 mitted of an answer, has received one as early 
 as it could be given with propriety, transmitted 
 
49 
 
 by a flag this morning. As to messages, I am 
 uninformed of any that have been sent. 
 
 " The necessaries for Major Andre will be de- 
 livered to him agreeable to your request. 
 " I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 humble servant, 
 
 G. WASHINGTON. 
 '^His Excellency 
 Lieut. General Robertson, 
 New-Yorkr 
 
 ''New-York, Sept. 30, 1780. 
 « Sir, 
 
 " From your Excellency's letter of this date, 
 I am persuaded the Board of General Officers, 
 to whom you referred the case of Major Andre, 
 cannot have been rightly informed of all the 
 circumstances on which a judgment ought to 
 be formed. I think it of the highest moment 
 to humanity, that your Excellency should be 
 perfectly apprized of the state of this matter, 
 before you proceed to put that judgment in 
 execution. 
 
 " For this reason, I send his Excellency Lieut. 
 General Robertson, and two other gentlemen, 
 to give you a true state of facts, and to declare 
 to you my sentiments and resolutions. They 
 will set out to-morrow as early as the wind and 
 
50 
 
 tide will permit, and wait near Dobb's ferry for 
 your permission and safe conduct, to meet your 
 Excellency, or such persons as you may appoint, 
 to converse with them on this subject. 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 Your Excellency's 
 Most obedient and 
 most humble servant, 
 
 H. CLINTON. 
 
 "P.S. The Hon. Andrew Elliot, Esq. Lieut. 
 Governor, and the Hon. William Smith, Chief- 
 Justice of this province, will attend his Excel- 
 lency Lieut. General Robertson. H. C. 
 
 ^^Ilis Excellencf/ 
 General Washington^ 
 
 Lieut. General Robertson, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. 
 Smith, came up in a flag vessel to Dobb's ferry, 
 agreeable to the above letter. The two last 
 were not suffered to land. General Robertson 
 was permitted to come on shore, and was met 
 by Major General Greene, who verbally report- 
 ed that General Robertson mentioned to him 
 in substance what is contained in his letter of 
 the 2d of October to General Washington. 
 
 ''New-York, Oct 1, 1780. 
 « Sir, 
 
 '' I take this opportunity to inform your Ex- 
 
51 
 
 cellency, that I consider myself no longer act- 
 ing under the commission of Congress : Their 
 last to me being among my papers at West 
 Point, you, Sir, will make such use of it as you 
 think proper. 
 
 "At the same time, I beg leave to assure 
 your Excellency, that my attachment to the 
 true interest of my country is invariable, and 
 that I am actuated by the same principle which 
 has ever been the governing rule of my con- 
 duct, in this unhappy contest. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 very respectfully, 
 
 Your Excellency most obed't 
 humble servant, 
 
 B. ARNOLD. 
 ^^His Excellency General Washington!' 
 
 Grreyliound Schooner, {Flag of Truce^ 
 
 DohUs Ferry, Oct 2, 1780, 
 " Sir, 
 
 "A note I have from General Greene, leaves 
 me in doubt if his memory had served him, to 
 relate to you with exactness the substance of 
 the conversation that had passed between 
 ^ him and myself, on the subject of Major Andre. 
 In an affair of so much consequence to my 
 friend, to the two armies, and humanity, I 
 would leave no possibility of a misunderstand- 
 
52 
 
 ing, and therefore take the liberty to put 
 in writing the substance of what I said to 
 General Greene. 
 
 " I offered to prove, by the evidence of Col- 
 onel Robinson and the officers of the Vulture, 
 that Major Andre went on shore at General 
 Arnold's desire, in a boat sent for him with a 
 flag of truce ; that he not only came ashore 
 with the knowledge and under the protection 
 of the General who commanded in the district, 
 but that he took no step while on shore but by 
 direction of General Arnold, as will appear by 
 the enclosed letter from him to your Excel- 
 lency. 
 
 " Under these circumstances I could not, and 
 hoped you would not consider Major Andre as 
 a sjDy, for any improper phrase in his letter to 
 you. 
 
 "The facts he relates correspond with the 
 evidence I offer ; but he admits a conclusion 
 that does not follow. The change of clothes 
 and name was ordered by General Arnold, un- 
 der whose direction he necessarily was, while 
 within his command. As General Greene and 
 I did not agree in opinion, I wished that dis- 
 interested gentlemen, of knowledge of the law 
 of war and nations, might be asked their opin- 
 ion on the subject ; and mentioned Monsieur 
 Knyphausen and General Rochambault. 
 
53 
 
 " I related that a Captain Robinson had been 
 delivered to Sir Henry Clinton as a spy, and 
 undoubtedly was such : but that it being sig- 
 nified to him that you were desirous that this 
 man should be exchanged, he had ordered him 
 to be exchano;ed. 
 
 "I wished that an intercourse of such civil- 
 ities, as the rules of war admit of, might take 
 off many of its horrors. I admitted that Major 
 Andre had a great share of Sir Henry Clinton's 
 esteem, and that he would be infinitely obliged 
 by his liberation ; and that if he was permitted 
 to return with me, I would engage to have any 
 person you would be pleased to name set at 
 liberty. 
 
 " I added, that Sir Henry Clinton had never 
 put to death any person for a breach of the 
 rules of war, though he had, and now has, many 
 in his power. Under the present circumstances 
 much good may arise from humanity, much ill 
 from the want of it. If that could give any 
 weight, I beg leave to add, that your favour- 
 able treatment of Major Andre, will be a favour 
 I should ever be intent to return to any you 
 hold dear. 
 
 " My memory does not retain, with the exact- 
 ness I could wish, the words of the letter which 
 General Greene showed me from Major Andre 
 to your Excellency. For Sir Henry Clinton's 
 
64 
 
 satisfaction, I beg you will order a copy of it 
 to be sent to me at New-York. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 Your Excellency's 
 Most obedient, and 
 most humble servant, 
 JAMES ROBERTSON. 
 ^^Tlis Excellency 
 General Washington^ 
 
 ''Neio-York, October 1, 1780. 
 "Sir, 
 
 " The polite attention shown by your Excel- 
 lency and the gentlemen of your family to Mrs. 
 Arnold, when in distress, demand my grateful 
 acknowledgment and thanks, which I beg leave 
 to present. 
 
 " From your Excellency's letter to Sir Henry 
 Clinton, I find a Board of General Officers have 
 given it as their opinion, that Major Andre 
 comes under the description of a spy : My good 
 opinion of the candour and justice of those gen- 
 tlemen leads me to believe, that if they had been 
 made fully acquainted with every circumstance 
 respecting Major Andre, that they would by no 
 means have considered him in the light of a spy, 
 or even of a prisoner. In justice to him, I think 
 it my duty to declare, that he came from on 
 board the Vulture at my particular request, by 
 a flag sent on purpose for him by Joshua Smith, 
 
55 
 
 Esq. who had permission to go to Dobb's ferry 
 to carry letters, and for other purposes not 
 mentioned, and to return. This was done as a 
 bhnd to the spy-boats : Mr. Smith, at the same 
 time, had my private instructions to go on 
 board the Vulture, and bring on shore Colonel 
 Robinson, or Mr. John Anderson, which was 
 the name I had requested Major Andre to as- 
 sume : At the same time I desired Mr. Smith to 
 inform him, that he should have my protection, 
 and a safe passport to return in the same boat, 
 as soon as our business was completed. As 
 several accidents intervened to prevent his be- 
 ing sent on board, I gave him my passport to 
 return by land. Major Andre came on shore 
 in his uniform (without disguise) which, with 
 much reluctance, at my particular and pressing 
 instance, he exchanged for another coat. I fur- 
 nished him with a horse and saddle, and pointed 
 out the route by which he was to return. And 
 as commanding officer in the department, I had 
 an undoubted rig-ht to transact all these mat- 
 ters ; which, if wrong. Major Andre ought by 
 no means to suffer for them. 
 
 "But if, after this just and candid representa- 
 tion of Major Andre's case, the Board of Gen- 
 eral Officers adhere to their former opinion, I 
 shall suppose it dictated by passion and resent- 
 ment ; and if that gentleman should suffer the 
 
56 
 
 severity of their sentence, I shall think myself 
 bound, by every tie of duty and honour, to re- 
 taliate on such unhappy persons of your army, 
 as may fall within my power, that the respect 
 due to flags and to the law of nations may be 
 better understood and observed. 
 
 " I have further to observe, that forty of the 
 principal inhabitants of South-Carolina have 
 justly forfeited their lives, which have hitherto 
 been spared by the clemency of his Excellency 
 Sir Henry Clinton, who cannot in justice ex- 
 tend his mercy to them any longer, if Major 
 Andre suffers ; which in all probability will open 
 a scene of blood at which humanity will revolt. 
 
 "Suffer me to entreat your Excellency for 
 your own and the honour of humanity, and the 
 love you have of justice, that you suffer not an 
 unjust sentence to touch the life of Major Andre. 
 
 " But if this warning should be disregarded, 
 and he suffer, I call Heaven and earth to wit- 
 ness, that your Excellency will be justly an- 
 swerable for the torrent of blood that may be 
 spilt in consequence. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 with due respect. 
 
 Your Excellency's most obed't 
 and very humble servant, 
 13. ARNOLD. 
 
 '^Tlis Excdlcncji 
 General Washington^ 
 
57 
 
 Tappan, October 1, 1780. 
 
 " Buoyed above the terror of death, by the 
 consciousness of a hfe devoted to honourable 
 pursuits, and stained with no action that can 
 give me remorse, I trust that the request I 
 make to your Excellency at this serious period, 
 and which is to soften my last moments, will 
 not be rejected. 
 
 " Sympathy towards a soldier will surely in- 
 duce your Excellency and a military tribunal 
 to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings 
 of a man of honour. 
 
 " Let me hope, sir, that if ought in my char- 
 acter impresses you with esteem towards me, 
 if ought in my misfortunes marks me as the 
 victim of policy and not of resentment, I shall 
 experience the operation of these feelings in 
 your breast by being informed that I am not 
 to die on a gibbet. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, 
 
 Your Excellency's most obedient 
 and most humble servant, 
 JOHN ANDRE, 
 Adjutant-General, 
 British Army. 
 ^'■Hh Excellency 
 
 General Washiufftony 
 
58 
 
 The time which elapsed between the capture 
 of Major Andre, which was on the morning of 
 the 23d of September, and his execution, which 
 did not take place till twelve o'clock on the 2d 
 of October ; — the mode of trying him ; — his 
 letter to Sir Henry Clinton, K. B. on the 29th 
 of September, in which he said, " I receive the 
 greatest attention from his Excellency Gen- 
 eral Washington, and from every person under 
 whose charge I happened to be placed;" — not 
 to mention many other acknowledgments which 
 he made of the good treatment he received ; — 
 must evince that the proceedings against him 
 were not guided by passion or resentment. The 
 practice and usage of war were against his re- 
 quest, and made the indulgence he solicited, 
 circumstanced as he was, inadmissible. 
 Puhlishcd hjj Order of Congress, 
 
 CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'ri/. 
 
 IN CONGRESS. 
 
 Novemher Sis/, 1780. 
 " Whereas Congress has received information, 
 that John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
 Van Wart, three young volunteer militia of the 
 State of New- York, did, on the 23d day of 
 September last, intercept Major John Andre, 
 
59 
 
 Adjutant-General of the British army, on his 
 return from the American lines, in the character 
 of a spy ; and notwithstanding the large bribes 
 offered them for his release, nobly disdaining 
 to sacrifice their country for the sake of gold, 
 secured and conveyed him to the commanding 
 officer of the district, whereby the dangerous 
 and traitorous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold 
 was brought to light, the insidious designs of 
 the enemy baffled, and the United States res- 
 cued from impending danger. 
 
 ''^Resolved, That Congress have a high sense 
 of the virtuous and patriotic conduct of the 
 said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
 Van Wart : In testimony whereof — 
 
 ^'Ordered, That each of them receive annually, 
 out of the public treasury, two hundred dol- 
 lars in specie, or an equivalent in the current 
 money of these states, during life ; and that the 
 Board of War procure for each of them a silver 
 medal, on one side of which shall be a shield 
 with this inscription, " fidelity ; " and on the 
 other the following motto, " vincit amor patri^," 
 and forward them to the commander in chief, 
 who is requested to present the same, with a 
 copy of this resolution, and the thanks of Con- 
 gress for their fidelity, and the eminent service 
 they have rendered their country." 
 
60 
 
 Extract from the recital to the act of the 
 Legislature of the State, at the time granting 
 to the captors of Andre each a farm. — The act 
 recites, as a consideration, '■'tJieir virtue in refus- 
 ing a large sum offered to them hy Major Andre, as 
 a hrihe to permit him to escape" 
 
 From the Evening Post, July 24th, 1802, in 
 the lifetime of General Hamilton — Mr. Coleman 
 the Editor ; — the letter was to the late Colonel 
 Sears, then residing in Boston. 
 
 [The following letter respecting the fate of Major 
 Andre was written in the year 1780, by General 
 Hamilton, then a colonel and aid-de-camp to Gen. 
 Washino;ton. No doubt it has long been treasured 
 up not only as a specimen of fine writing, but as 
 the best Monument of the Facts relating to that 
 affecting transaction. Gen. Hamilton has been ever 
 considered an elegant writer, as well as a patriot and 
 brave soldier, and we do presume that this produc- 
 tion of his pen, although of ancient date, will be ac- 
 ceptable and amusing to our readers. — Anti. Dcmo.~\ 
 
 " Since my return from Hartford, my dear 
 friend, my mind has been too little at ease to 
 permit me to write to you sooner. It has been 
 wholly occupied by the incidents, and the tragic 
 consequences, of Arnold's treason. My feelings 
 never were put to so severe a trial. You will 
 have heard the principal facts before this reaches 
 
61 
 
 you ; but there are particulars, to which my sit- 
 uation gave me access, that cannot have come 
 to your knowledge from public report, which 
 I am persuaded you will find interesting. 
 
 "From several circumstances, the project 
 seems to have originated with Arnold himself, 
 and to have been long ^premeditated. The first 
 overture is traced to some time in June last 
 It was conveyed in a letter to Col. Robinson, 
 the subject of which was, that the ingratitude 
 he had experienced from his country, concur- 
 ring with other causes, had entirely changed 
 his principles : that he now only sought to re- 
 store himself to the favour of his prince by 
 some signal proof of his repentance : and that 
 he wished to open a correspondence with Sir 
 Henry Clinton for this purpose. About that 
 period he made a journey to Connecticut, on 
 his return from which to Philadelphia, he solic- 
 ited the command of West-Point ; alleging that 
 the effects of his wound disqualified him for 
 active duties of the field. The sacrifice of this 
 important post was the atonement he intended 
 to make. General Washington hesitated the 
 less to gratify an officer who had frequently 
 rendered eminent services, as he was convinced 
 the post might be safely trusted to one w^ho 
 had given so many distinguished proofs of his 
 patriotism. The beginning of August he joined 
 
62 
 
 the army, and renewed his application. The 
 enemy, at this juncture, had embarked the 
 greatest part of their force on an expedition 
 to lihode Island, and our army was in motion, 
 to compel them to relinquish the enterprise, 
 or to attack New- York in its weakened state. 
 The General offered Arnold the left wing of 
 the army, which he declinedj on the pretext 
 already mentioned ; but not without visible 
 embarrassment He certainly might have exe- 
 cuted the duties of such a temporary command, 
 and it w^as expected from his enterprising tem- 
 per that he would gladly have embraced so 
 splendidly inviting an opportunity ; but he did 
 not choose to be diverted a moment from his 
 favourite object, probably from an apprehension 
 that some different disposition might take place, 
 wdiich would exclude him. The extreme solici- 
 tude he discovered to get possession of the post, 
 would have led to a suspicion of treachery, had 
 it been possible from his past conduct to have 
 supposed him capable of it. 
 
 " The correspondence thus begun, was carried 
 on between Arnold and Major Andre, adjutant- 
 general to the British army, in behalf of Sir 
 Henry Clinton, under feigned signatures, and a 
 mercantile disguise. In an intercepted letter 
 of Arnold's which lately fell into our hands, he 
 proposes an interview, ' to settle the risks and 
 
63 
 
 profit of co-partnership:' and in the same style 
 of metaphor, intimates an expected augmen- 
 tation of the garrison, and spealvs of it as the 
 means of extending their traffic. It appears, 
 by another letter, that Andre was to have met 
 him on the lines, under the sanction of a flag, 
 in the character of Mr. John Anderson. But 
 some cause or other, not known, prevented this 
 interview. 
 
 "General Washington crossed the river in 
 his w\ay to Hartford the day these despatches 
 arrived. Arnold, conceiving he must have 
 heard of the flag, thought it necessary, for the 
 sake of appearances, to submit the letters to 
 him, and ask his opinion of the propriety of 
 complying with his request. The General, 
 without his usual caution, though without the 
 least sm^mise of the design, dissuaded him from 
 it, and advised him to reply to Robertson, that 
 whatever related to his private affairs must be 
 of a civil nature, and could only properly be 
 addressed to the civil authority. This refer- 
 ence fortunately deranged the whole plan, and 
 was the first link in the chain of events that 
 led to the detection. The interview could no 
 longer take place in the form of a flag, but was 
 oblisi;ed to be manai^-ed in a secret manner. 
 
 "Arnold employed one Smith to go on board 
 the Vulture, and bring Andre ashore, with a pass 
 
64 
 
 for Mr. John Anderson : Andre came ashore ac- 
 cordingly, and was conducted within a picket of 
 ours, to the house of Mr. Smith, where Arnold 
 and he remained together in close conference 
 all that night and the day following. At day- 
 light in the morning, the commanding officer 
 at King's-ferry, without the privity of Arnold, 
 moved a couple of cannon to a point opposite 
 where the Vulture lay, and obliged her to take 
 a more remote station. This event, or some 
 lurking distrust, made the boatmen refuse to 
 convey the two passengers back, and discon- 
 certed Arnold so much, that by one of those 
 strokes of infatuation, which often confound the 
 schemes of men conscious of guilt, he insisted 
 on Andre's changing his uniform for a disguise, 
 and returning in a mode different from that in 
 which he came. Andre, who had been unde- 
 signedly brought within our posts in the first 
 instance, remonstrated warmly against this new 
 and dangerous expedient. But Arnold persist- 
 ing in declaring it impossible for him to return 
 as he came, he at length reluctantly yielded 
 to his persuasion, and consented to change his 
 dress, and take the route he recommended. 
 Smith furnished the disguise, and in the even- 
 ing arriving at King's-ferry together, they pro- 
 ceeded to Crompond, where they stopped the 
 remainder of the night, at the instance of a 
 
65 
 
 militia officer, to avoid being suspected by 
 him. The next morning they resumed their 
 journey, Smith accompanying Andre a Httle 
 beyond Pine's-bridge, where he left him. He 
 had reached Tarrytown, where he was taken 
 by three militia men, who rushed out of the 
 woods and surrounded him. 
 
 "At this critical period, his presence of mind 
 forsook him — instead of producing his pass, 
 which would have extricated him from our 
 parties, and could have done him no harm 
 with his own, he asked the militia men if they 
 were of the upper or lower party — distinctive 
 appellations known among the enemy's refugee 
 corps. The militia replied, they were of the 
 lower party ; upon which he assured them he 
 was a British officer, and pressed them not to 
 detain him, as he was upon urgent business. 
 This confession removed all doubt, and it was 
 in vain he afterwards produced his pass. He 
 was instantly forced off to a place of greater 
 security, where he was carefully searched, and 
 m his stocking feet were found several papers 
 of importance, delivered to him by Arnold. 
 Amongst these were a plan of the fortifica- 
 tions of West-Point, a memorial from the en- 
 gineer on the attack and defence of the place, 
 returns of the place, returns of the garrison, 
 cannon and stores, copy of a council of war, 
 
66 
 
 held by General Washington a few weeks be- 
 fore. 
 
 "The prisoner was at first inadvertently or- 
 dered to Arnold, but upon recollection, while 
 he was still on the way, he was countermanded, 
 and sent to Old Salem. The papers were en- 
 closed in a letter to General Washington, which 
 having taken a route different from that by 
 which he returned, made a circuit, that afforded 
 leisure for another letter, through an ill-judged 
 delicacy written to Arnold, with an informa- 
 tion of Anderson's capture, to get to him an 
 hour before General Washington arrived at his 
 quarters ; time enough to elude the fate that 
 awaited him. He went down the river in his 
 barge to the Vulture, with such precipitate con- 
 fusion, that he did not take with him a single 
 paper useful to the enemy. On the first notice 
 of the affair, he was pursued, but much too late 
 to overtake him. 
 
 "A moment before his setting out he went 
 into Mrs. Arnold's apartments, and informed her, 
 that certain transactions had just come to light, 
 which must for ever banish him from his coun- 
 try. She fell into a swoon at this declaration, 
 and he left her in it to consult his own safety, 
 till the servants, alarmed by her cries, came 
 to her relief She remained frantical all day, 
 accusing every one who approached her, with 
 
67 
 
 an intention of murdering her child, (an in- 
 fant in her arms) exhibiting every other mark 
 of the most genuine and agonizing affection. 
 Exhausted by the fatigue and tumults of her 
 spirits, her phrenzy subsided towards evening, 
 and she sunk into all the sadness of distress. 
 It was impossible not to have been touched 
 with her situation ; every thing affecting in 
 female tears, or in the misfortunes of beauty; 
 every thing pathetic in the wounded tender- 
 ness of a wife, or in the apprehensive fondness 
 of a mother ; and every appearance of suffer- 
 ing innocence, conspired to make her an object 
 of sympathy to all who were present. She 
 experienced the most delicate attentions, and 
 every friendly office, till her departure for 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 "Andre, without loss of time, was conducted 
 to the head-quarters of the army, where he was 
 immediately brought before a board of general 
 officers, to prevent all possibility of misrepre- 
 sentation, or cavil on the part of the enemy. 
 The board reported that he ought to be con- 
 sidered as a spy, and, according to the laws and 
 usages of nations, to suffer death ; which was 
 executed two days after. 
 
 " Never, perhaps, did a man suffer death with 
 more justice, or deserve it less. The first step 
 he took after his capture was to write a letter 
 
68 
 
 to General Washington, conceived in terms of 
 dignity without insolence, and apology without 
 meanness. The scope of it was to vindicate 
 himself from the imputation of having assumed 
 a mean character for treacherous or interested 
 purj)oses, asserting that he had been involun- 
 tarily an impostor ; that, contrary to his inten- 
 tion, which was to meet a person for intelligence, 
 on neutral ground, he had been betrayed within 
 our posts, and forced into the vile condition of 
 an enemy in disguise ; soliciting only, that to 
 whatever rigour policy might devote him, a 
 decency of treatment might be observed, due 
 to a person, who though unfortunate, had been 
 guilty of nothing dishonourable. His request 
 was granted in its full extent ; for, in the whole 
 progress of the affair, he was treated with the 
 most scrupulous delicacy. When brought be- 
 fore the board of ofiicers, he met with every 
 mark of indulgence, and was required to an- 
 swer no interrogatory which could even embar- 
 rass his feeling. On his part, while he carefully 
 concealed every thing that involved others, he 
 frankly confessed all the facts that related to 
 himself; and upon his confession, without the 
 trouble of examining a witness, the board made 
 their report. The members of it were not more 
 impressed with the candour and modest firm- 
 ness, mixed with a becoming sensibility which 
 
69 
 
 he displayed, than he was penetrated with their 
 liberaHty and politeness. He acknowledged the 
 generosity of the behaviour towards him in 
 every respect, but particularly in this, in the 
 strongest terms of manly gratitude. In a con- 
 versation with a gentleman, who visited him 
 after his trial, he said — he flattered himself he 
 had never been illiberal, but if there were any 
 remarks of prejudice in his mind, his present 
 experience must obliterate them. 
 
 "In one of the visits I made to him, (and I 
 saw him several times during his confinement) 
 he begged me to be the bearer of a request to 
 the general, for permission to send an open let- 
 ter to Sir Henry Clinton. " I foresee my fate, 
 (said he) and though I pretend not to play the 
 hero, or to be indifferent about life, yet I am 
 reconciled to whatever may happen, conscious 
 that misfortune, not guilt, will have brought it 
 upon me. There is only one thing that disturbs 
 my tranquillity. Sir Henry Clinton has been 
 too good to me ; he has been lavish of his 
 kindness. I am bound to him by too many 
 obligations, and love him too well, to bear the 
 thought that he should reproach himself, or 
 that others should reproach him, on a suppo- 
 sition that I had conceived myself obliged by 
 his instructions to run the risk I did. I would 
 not for the world leave a sting in his mind that 
 
70 
 
 should embitter his future days." He could 
 scarce finish the sentence, bursting into tears 
 in spite of his efforts to suppress them, and 
 with difficulty collected himself enough after- 
 wards to add, "I wish to be permitted to assure 
 him I did not act under this impression, but 
 submitted to a necessity imposed upon me, as 
 contrary to my own inclination as to his or- 
 ders." His request was readily complied with, 
 and he wrote the letter annexed, with which, I 
 dare say, you will be as much pleased as I am, 
 both for the diction and sentiment. 
 
 " When his sentence was announced to him, 
 he remarked, that since it was his lot to die, as 
 there was a choice in the mode, which would 
 make a material difference to his feelings, he 
 would be happy, if it were possible, to be in- 
 dulged with a professional death. He made 
 a second application by letter, in concise but 
 persuasive terms. It was thought this indul- 
 gence, being incompatible with the custom of 
 war, could not be granted ; and it was therefore 
 determined in both cases to evade an answer, to 
 spare him the sensations which a certain knowl- 
 edge of the intended mode would inflict. 
 
 " When he was led out to the place of exe- 
 cution, as he went along he bowed familiarly to 
 all those with whom he had been acquainted 
 in his confinement, A smile of complacency 
 
71 
 
 expressed the serene fortitude of his mind. 
 Arrived at the fatal spot, he asked, with some 
 emotion, "must I then die in this manner?" 
 He was told it had been unavoidable. " I 
 am reconciled to my fate, (said he) but not to 
 the mode." Soon, however, recollecting him- 
 self, he added, " it will be but a momentary 
 pang ;" and springing upon the cart, performed 
 the last offices to himself, with a composure 
 that excited the admiration and melted the 
 hearts of the beholders. Upon being told the 
 final moment was at hand, and asked if he had 
 any thing to say, he answered, " Nothing, but 
 to request you will witness to the world that I 
 die like a brave man." Among the extraordi- 
 nary circumstances that attended him in the 
 midst of his enemies, he died universally es- 
 teemed and universally regretted. 
 
 " There was something singularly interesting 
 in the character and fortunes of Andre. To an 
 excellent understanding, well improved by edu- 
 cation and travel, he united a peculiar elegance 
 of mind and manners, and the advantage of a 
 pleasing person. 'Tis said he possessed a pretty 
 taste for the fine arts, and had himself attained 
 some proficiency in poetry, music, and painting. 
 His knowledge appeared without ostentation, 
 and embellished by a diffidence, that rarely at- 
 tended so many talents and accomplishments, 
 
72 
 
 which left you to suppose more than appeared. 
 His sentiments were elevated, and inspired es- 
 teem ; they had a softness that conciliated affec- 
 tion. His elocution was handsome, his address 
 easy, polite, and insinuating. By his merit he 
 had acquired the unlimited confidence of his 
 General, and was making a rapid progress in 
 military rank and reputation. But in the height 
 of his career, flushed with new hopes from the 
 execution of a project the most beneficial to his 
 party that could be devised, he is at once pre- 
 cipitated from the summit of prosperity ; sees 
 all the expectations of his ambition blasted, 
 and himself ruined. 
 
 " The character I have given of him is drawn 
 partly from what I saw of him myself, and 
 partly from information. I am aware that a 
 man of real merit is never seen in so favoura- 
 ble a light as through the medium of adversity. 
 The clouds that surround him are so many 
 shades that set off his good qualities. Misfor- 
 tune cuts down little vanities that, in prosperous 
 times, serve as so many spots in his virtues, and 
 gives a tone of humanity that makes his worth 
 more amiable. His spectators, who enjoy a hap- 
 pier lot, are less prone to detract from it through 
 envy ; and are much disposed by compassion, to 
 give hiui the credit he deserves, and perhaps 
 even to magnify it. 
 
78 
 
 " I speak not of Andre's conduct in the affair 
 as a philosopher, but as a man of the world. — 
 The authorized maxims and practices of war 
 are the satire of human nature. They counte- 
 nance almost every species of seduction as well 
 as violence ; and the general that can make 
 most traitors in the army of his adversary, is 
 frequently most applauded. On this scale we 
 acquit Andre ; while we could not but condemn 
 him if we were to examine his conduct by the 
 sober rules of philosophy and moral rectitude. 
 It is however a blemish in his fame, that he once 
 intended to prostitute a flag ; about this a man 
 of nice honour ought to have had a scruple ; 
 but the temptation was great : let his misfor- 
 tune cast a veil over his error. 
 
 "Several letters from Sir Henry Clinton 
 and others, were received, feebly attempting 
 to prove, that Andre came out under the pro- 
 tection of a flag w^ith a passport from a gen- 
 eral officer in actual service, and consequently 
 could not be justly detained. Clinton sent 
 a deputation, composed of lieutenant-general 
 Robertson, Mr. Elliot, and Mr. William Smith, 
 to represent, as he said, the state of Major An- 
 dre's case. General Greene met Robinson, and 
 had a conversation with him, in which he reit- 
 erated the pretence of a flag, urged Andre's re- 
 lease as a personal favour to Sir Henry Clinton, 
 
 10 
 
74 
 
 and offered any friend of onrs in their power 
 in exchange. Nothing could have been more 
 frivolous than the plea which was used. The 
 fact was, that besides the time, manner and ob- 
 ject of the interview, change of dress, and other 
 circumstances, there was not a single formality 
 customary with flags ; and the passport was not 
 to Major Andre, but to Mr. Anderson. But had 
 there, on the contrary, been all the formalities, 
 it would be an abuse of language to say, the 
 sanction of a flag for corrupting an officer to 
 betray his trust ought to be obligatory. So 
 unjustifiable a purpose would not only destroy 
 its validity, but make it an aggravation. 
 
 "Andre himself has answered the argument, 
 by ridiculing and exploding the idea in his ex- 
 amination before the board of officers. It was 
 a weakness to urge it. There was, in truth, no 
 way of saving him : Arnold or he must have 
 been the victim ; the former was out of our 
 power. 
 
 "It was by some suspected, Arnold had taken 
 his measures in such a manner, that if the 
 interview had been discovered, in the act, it 
 might have been in his power to sacrifice 
 Andre to his own security. This surmise of 
 double treason, made them imagine Clinton 
 might be induced to give up Arnold for An- 
 dre ; and a gentleman took occasion to sug- 
 
75 
 
 gest this expedient to the latter, as a thing 
 that might be proposed by him : He decHned it 
 — the moment he had been guilty of so much 
 frailty, I should have ceased to esteem him. 
 
 "The infamy of Arnold's conduct, previous 
 to his desertion, is only equalled by his mean- 
 ness since. Besides the folly of writing to Sir 
 Henry Clinton, assuring him that Andre had 
 acted under a passport from him, and accord- 
 ing to his directions, while commanding officer 
 at a post, and that, therefore, he did not doubt, 
 he would be immediately in ; he had the effi'on- 
 tery to write to General Washington, to the 
 same purpose, with the addition of a menace 
 of retaliation, if the sentence should be carried 
 into execution. He has since acted the farce 
 of sendino; in his resio-nation. This man is 
 in every sense despicable. In addition to the 
 scene of knavery and prostitution, during his 
 command in Philadelphia, which the late seiz- 
 m^e of his papers has unfolded ; the history of 
 his command at West-Point is a history of little 
 as well as great villanies. He practised every 
 art of peculation, and even stooped to connex- 
 ions with the suttlers of the garrison to defraud 
 the public. 
 
 " To his conduct, that of the captors of Andre 
 forms a striking contrast : he tempted their in- 
 tegrity with the offer of his watch, his horst\ 
 
76 
 
 and any sum of money they should name. 
 They rejected his offers with indignation : and 
 the gold that could seduce a man high in the 
 esteem and confidence of his country, who had 
 the remembrance of past exploits, the motives 
 of present reputation and future glory to prop 
 his integrity, had no charms for three simple 
 peasants, leaning only on their virtue and a 
 sense of duty. While Arnold is handed down 
 with execration to future times, posterity will 
 repeat with reverence the names of Van Warty 
 Paiddiug, and Williams^ 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 A few only, in addition to those by Mr. Gar- 
 denier, in his editorial paragraph, Courier, IStli 
 February, will be necessary. Some, as will be 
 perceived, have become so by the subsequent 
 ajDpearance of the Pcnnsi/lvania article in our 
 papers. It was republished here, and as de- 
 clared by Mr. Dwight to Mr. Gardenier, at the 
 request of Colonel Tallmadge ; he thereby vir- 
 tually making it his own, resjionsible for the 
 truth of the facts, and among them, for these 
 to be particularly noted, " that the captors of 
 Major Andre took iwo watches from him ; that 
 
77 
 
 they took coin from him ; that ho offered to 
 reward them if they would take him to New- 
 York ; that they hesitated ; that he declared 
 it as his opinion, that the reason why they 
 did not do so, was the impossibility, on his 
 part, to secure to them the performance of 
 the promise ; that the informant of the writer 
 of the article supported him to the place of 
 execution; that on the way he sent for Colo- 
 nel Tallmadge to come near him, that he 
 miG;ht learn the manner in which he was to 
 die." As to some of these facts, let it be 
 briefly repeated and stated, that the captors 
 aver the oiAy money or currency they took from 
 him was j^apcr, and that they took only one 
 watch ; that, according to General Hamilton, 
 the unfortunate man was not ascertained of 
 the manner in which he was to suffer until by 
 the sight of the fatal mean, the gibbet, all pre- 
 vious notice or intimation of it having been 
 designedly withheld from him ; and that so far 
 from requiring to be supported, he sprany on the 
 cart and performed the last office himself As 
 to one of the facts. Colonel Tallmadge is even 
 at variance with himself — In the report of his 
 speech in Congress he is made to say, that the 
 captors demanded the reward, and specified the 
 amount, and that Major Andre refused to yive it ; 
 when considered as speaking through the Penn- 
 
78 
 
 sylvania article, he says, that Major Andre offered 
 the reward and they refused to taJte it. If the 
 last is the fact^ we have then the evidence^ as 
 furnished by Colonel Tallmadge himself, of the 
 very virtue^ the consideration of the honours and 
 bounty of their country to them ; but if the 
 first is the fact, then they are unquestionably 
 to be given up as hrihcd — they were bribed 
 in their hearts, and that is enough ; protesting, 
 solemnly protesting, at the same time, against 
 the hearsay, the declarations of Major Andre, 
 and, by whomsoever repeated, as proof. Bribe ! 
 — Has Colonel Tallmadge been hitherto uncon- 
 scious of the reflection, how honourable to the 
 character of our country at the time, to those 
 who were in the revolution, to the cause itself 
 of the revolution, Arnold the single instance 
 where the defection to be traced to a hrihe? 
 " It was the opinion of Major Andre, and, on 
 his aidhority, it became the opinion of Colonel 
 Tallmadge, that if Major Andre could have 
 given to the captors the sum they demanded, 
 they would have released him." It is said to 
 have been the opinion of Sir Robert Walpole, 
 that every man has his price. The sentiment, as 
 meant by him, is licentious ; still, in one view 
 of it, there is reason to fear it is too true. — 
 Whenever I deviate from truth or rectitude, 
 and whether from vile sordid lucre, or whatever 
 
79 
 
 may be the gratification, the tempter may be 
 said to have succeeded with his hrihe ; he has 
 found imj iwicc. I apply this remark to my- 
 self, and do not hesitate to apply it to John 
 Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams ; 
 hence it behooves them and me to be ever 
 guarded how we '■^ first cast a stoned 
 
 " Cowhoys " — When the British troops ad- 
 vanced into Westchester County, in the au- 
 tumn of 1776, those of the inhabitants who 
 were in favour of the revolution, moved off 
 to the northern towns of the county, or to the 
 adjacent towns in Dutchess County, or Connec- 
 ticut ; those who were opposed to it remained. 
 The British and American lines soon became 
 stationary, and remained so generally through 
 the war, leaving a sjDace of country between 
 them from the North River to the Sound, and 
 in depth from the town of Westchester to the 
 southern frontier of the northern towns, in the 
 county, a distance of about twenty miles. At 
 this juncture, 27th December, 1776, the Con- 
 vention of the state passed a resolve, " requir- 
 ing all the male inhabitants of the county, of 
 the age of sixteen years and upwards, without 
 discrimination, to take an oath of allegiance to 
 the state, within a limited time, or be put out 
 of the protection of the state, and treated as 
 open enemies." The pillage of the Recusants, 
 
80 
 
 or those who refused to take the oath, although 
 in this manner legalized, was still, and notwith- 
 standing the hostility between the parties in 
 the contest, considered as disreputable ; but 
 whether the cases in which it actually took 
 place, and whether the persons engaged in it, 
 called in contumely Cowhoijs, and at times also 
 simmers, would, on inquiry, the regular or direct 
 proof being called for, appear as numerous as 
 from Colonel Tallmadge's representation, we 
 would be led to suppose they were, I think 
 may be questioned. Indeed, if we are to be- 
 lieve they were so in numbers as to form a 
 class of persons, and if it also appertained to 
 them " to be passing between both armies, and 
 as often in one camp as the other," we may 
 then perhaps find some difficulty in believing, 
 at the same time, there was due vigilance in 
 the officers in command on the lines — scarce 
 a day and the enemy not furnished with intelli- 
 gence. Colonel Tallmadge has certainly been 
 singularly unfortunate in applying the latter 
 portion of the description of the Coivboy inter- 
 course and good fellowship with the enemy, to 
 John Paulding, it having happened, of which, 
 however, it is possible Colonel Tallmadge was 
 unapprized at the time, that he was three 
 times a prisoner, twice he escaped, and instantly 
 again in arms ; when captured the third time 
 
81 
 
 he was wounded, and was languishing in cap- 
 tivity until discharged on the peace. Incidents 
 of like peculiar proof of decisiveness of charac- 
 ter and conduct, and of firm unyielding spirit, 
 do not perhaps occur in the history of any other 
 individual during the whole of the war. 
 
 "Had I met with these persons," asserts Colo, 
 nel Tallmadge, "I would as soon have appre- 
 hended them as Major Andre." This is nmv his 
 opinion of what he would then have done. If I 
 might vcnhwe an opinion, it would be, he would 
 not have apprehended them, because it would 
 have been unwarranted in him ; they were duly 
 in the service of their country; they were in 
 the way of their duty, intercepting or ^'■prevent- 
 ing supplies to the enemyl'' and he had no right to 
 interrupt them in it; they had a right to be 
 where they were ; they had a right, had they 
 chosen it, to approach nearer to the lines of 
 the enemy, nearer to danger. 
 
 " These persons brought in Major Andre only 
 because they should probably get more for his 
 apprehension than for his release." This sur- 
 mise betrays an astuteness to discover unmeri- 
 torious motive seldom witnessed. From what 
 case, or on what ground, were they to calculate 
 which to be preferred, to taJce the present hriJ)e, 
 or vjait the future recompense ? 
 
 The question has been put to me, and more 
 11 
 
82 
 
 than once, whence I .suppose Colonel TaHmadge 
 moved in this instance if not by sense of duty ? 
 and the answer has uniformly been, that where 
 a person does an act, beneficial in its effects to 
 another, the motive ought never to be made a 
 question ; the act should be left to speak for 
 itself, and the agent to have entire credit for it ; 
 but where the effects the reverse, injurious, and 
 especially, as here, most aggravatedly so, for 
 unless Colonel Tallmadge meant these persons 
 were in future to be considered as worthless, it 
 is not to be conceived what he did mean, there 
 the formal or artificial reasoning, that because 
 no bad motive obvious, a good one to be in- 
 tended, will not always satisfy ; that no one 
 can know what passes in the heart of another, 
 there can be no more than a rational probable 
 persuasion of it by deduction from the facts 
 and circumstances ; that the declaration of the 
 party, even where from necessity admissible, at 
 best feeble proof; that correctness of motive 
 has usually as its concomitant consistency of 
 conduct; that sense of duty is of an highly 
 active nature, never abiding long with passivity 
 and silence ; that at the same time it restrains 
 from haste and indiscretion, indeed, where it 
 has tailed to do so, it has failed to entitle itself 
 to be received as excuse or apology, if injury 
 has ensued. Major Andre complaiucd to Colonel 
 
83 
 
 Tallmudf^c of supposed nnjiistifiable violence^ or, 
 ill Colonel Tallmadge's own phase, of rohhery ; 
 the complaint not reported to the commander 
 in chief or other person authorized to redress 
 it ; the aggressors, the persons charged, on the 
 spot, and never questioned ; he might have 
 been told that the ialdng being proved, then 
 whether rohhery or not, usually a question of 
 construdioiz, and that, he being an enemy, and 
 on his way to the enemy, to take from him his 
 watch, horse, saddle, bridle, and whatever other 
 effects he had with him, was rightful, and so his 
 complaint satisfied ; he might have been told 
 that Colonel Smith was frequently at head- 
 quarters, and familiarly there, and selected to 
 have the out-post on the west side of the river, 
 opposite to Dobbs' Ferry, whence flags and mes- 
 sages to the enemy were usually despatched, 
 and those from them received, intrusted to him, 
 and so to have had an hope that the watch had 
 been redeemed to be sent to his family. Colo- 
 nel Smith died a few months before Colonel 
 Tallmad ore's intended disclosure in Congress, 
 the last of the ivituesses, and hence the latter 
 circumstance can now be only inthiudcd as a 
 iwohabillty. The year after the capture, the 
 medals, decreed to the captors, presented to 
 them with some solemnity, in the presence of 
 the army assembled in the neighbourhood of 
 
84 
 
 where Colonel Tallmadge was serving at the 
 time. Twenty years thereafter he reads in the 
 Evening Post, among our journals of the most 
 extensive circulation, General Hamilton's letter, 
 republished for the express purpose of preserv- 
 ing it as a 3fomiment, a record of the Facts ; — 
 for years and years together, he a member of 
 congress, one of the grand inquest of the nation 
 to inquire into abuse and imposition, and these 
 persons constantly yearly receiving a sum out 
 of the public treasury as a reward, and which, 
 according to him, originated in their own false 
 suggestion, ought never to have been granted, 
 and of course to be recalled, and during the 
 whole of the time, a period of thirty-seven 
 years, and all these several occasions, and 
 others which mit2;ht be mentioned, were it not 
 that these remarks would be considered as 
 thereby protracted to an unnecessary length, 
 occurring, and Colonel Tallmadge passive and 
 SILENT. One word more ; — surely there never 
 was an instance of such total disregard of what 
 others may feel and suffer, and for a purpose so 
 utterly, utterly trivial. — Let this suffice. 
 
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