relating the manner of his capture, &c. It unfortunately happened that the express took a different road and missed of meeting the Commander in Chief, and Arnold first received the information about ten o'clock on the morning of the 25th September. At this moment Major Shaw and Dr. McHenry, two of his Excellency's aids, had arrived, and were at breakfast at Arnold's table. His confusion was visible, but no one could devise the cause. Struck with the pressing danger of his situation, expecting General Washington would soon arrive, the guilty traitor called instantly for a horse, any one, even if a waggon' horse,"-bid a hasty adieu to his wife, and enjoined a positive order on the messenger not to inform that he was the bearer of a letter from Colonel Jameson, and having repaired to his barge, he ordered the cockswain, with eight oarsmen, to proceed down the river, and he was soon on board the Vulture, which Andre had left two nights before, and which immediately sailed with her prize for New-York. General Washington arrived about twelve o'clock, and was informed that Arnold had absented himself, saying he was going to West Point, and should soon return. His Excellency passed over the river to view the works there, but not finding Arnold at his post he returned in the hope of meeting him at his quarters. But here he was again disappointed, for no person could account for his absence. Mrs. Arnold was now in her chamber, in great agitation and distress deprived of her reason, and Dr. Eustis in attendance. At a lucid, interval she inquired of the doctor if General Washington was in the house, desiring to see him. Believing that she intended to say something which would explain the secret of Arnold's unaccountable absence, he hastened below, and conducted the general to her chamber, who remained no longer than to hear her deny that he was General Washington, and to witness the return of her distraction. His Excellency sat down to dine, but soon rose from the table with apparent agitation, called out Colonel Lamb, the commander of artillery at West Point, and expressed to him his suspicion that Arnold had deserted to the enemy. In less than two hours it was ascertained that the conjecture was too well founded, for the despatches arrived from Colonel Jameson, with an account of the capture of Major Andre, accompanied by his own letter of confession. Major Andre was conducted to West Point, and thence to head quarters at Tappan, and a board, consisting of fourteen general officers, was constituted and directed to sit on the 29th September, for his trial. It was to have been expected that Sir Henry Clinton would make every possible overture and exertion with the hope of rescuing his friend, and the adjutant-general of his army, from an ignominious death. Accordingly he addressed General Washington, claimed the release of Major Andre, alleging that he ought not to be considered in the character of a spy, as he had a passport from, and was transacting business under the sanction of General Arnold; but arguments so obviously absurd and futile could have no influence, and the prisoner was ordered before the military tribunal for trial, and the following are the particulars of their proceedings : Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the British army, was brought before the board, and the following letter from General Washington to the board, dated Head Quarters, Tappan, September 29th, 1780, was laid before them and read. "GENTLEMEN, "Major Andre, Adjutant-General to the British army, will be brought before you, for your examination. He came within our lines in the night, on an interview with 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 on 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 will attend to assist in the examination, who has sundry other papers, relative to this matter, which he will lay before the Board. "I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant, "To the Board of General Officers, convened at Taррап. "G. WASHINGTON. The names of the officers, composing the Board, were read to Major Andre, with the following letter of his to General Washington, namely: "Salem, 24th September, 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 purposes 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. "The influence of one commander in the army of his adversary is an advantage taken in war. I agreed to meet on ground not within the 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 till the next night. I was in my regimentals and had fairly risked by person. : Against my stipulation, my intention, and without my knowledge before hand, I was conducted within one of your posts. Your Excellency may conceive my sensation on this occasion, and will imagine how much more I must have been affected by a refusal to reconduct me back the next night, as I had been brought. Thus become a prisoner, I had to concert my escape. I quitted my uniform, and was passed another 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 Tarrytown by some volunteers. *Thus as I have had the honour to relate, was I betrayed into the vile con dition of an enemy in disguise within your posts. Having avowed myself a British officer, I have nothing to reveal but what relates to myself, which is true on the honour of an officer and a gentleman. "The request I have to make your Excellency, and I am conscious I address myself well, is that in any rigour which policy may dictate, a decency of conduct towards me, may evince that though unfortunate, I am branded with nothing dishonourable, as no motive could be mine but the service of my king, and as I was involuntarily 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 Charleston, who, being 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. 66 It is no less, sir, in a confidence in the generosity of your mind, than on account of 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 humble servant, 66 "JOHN ANDRE, Adjutant-General. His Excellency General Washington, &c. &c. &c." On being asked whether he confessed or denied the matters contained in this letter, he acknowledged the letter, and in addition stated, that he came on shore from the Vulture, sloop of war, in the night of the 21st of September instant, somewhere under the Haverstraw 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, he was to return that night; but it was then doubted, and if he could not return, he was promised to be concealed on shore in a place of safety till 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 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 our posts, was, his being challenged by the sentry, which was the first night he was on shore. He also said, that in the evening of the 22d of September, instant, he passed King's ferry, between our posts of Stony and Verplank'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 arrested at Tarrytown, as he has mentioned in his letter, on Saturday, the 23d of September, instant, about nine o'clock in the morning. The Board having interrogated Major Andre, about his conception of his coming on shore under the sanction of a flag, he said, that it was impossible for him to suppose he came on shore under that sanc tion, and added, that if he came on shore under that sanction, he certainly might have returned under it. Major Andre having acknowledged the preceding 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 concluded, he was remanded into custody. "The Board having considered the letter from his Excellency, General Washington, respecting Major Andre, Adjutant General to the British army, the confession of Major Andre, and the papers produced to them, report to his Excellency, the Commander in Chief, the following facts, which appear to them relative to Major Andre. First, that he came on shore from the Vulture, sloop of war, in the night of the 21st of September, instant, on an interview with General Arnold, in a private and secret manner. Secondly, that he changed his dress within our lines, and under a feigned name, and disguised habit, passed our works at Stony and Verplank's Points, in the evening of the 22d of September, instant, and was taken on the morning of the 23d of September, at Tarrytown, in a disguised habit, being then on his way to NewYork; 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 General to the British army, ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy, and that agreeably to the law and the usage of nations it is their opinion he ought to suffer death." Signed, NATHANIEL GREENE, Major-General and President. ST. CLAIR, LA FAYETTE, R. HOWE, STEUBEN, SAMUEL H. PARSONS, Brigadier-General. JAMES CLINTON, HENRY KNOX, Artillery JOHN GLOVER, JOHN PATERSON, EDWARD HAND, JOHN HUNTINGton, JOHN STARK, JOHN LAWRENCE, Judge Advocate General. Head Quarters. "The Commander in Chief approves of the opinion of the Board of General Officers, respecting Major Andre, and orders that the execution of Major Andre take place to-morrow, at five o'clock, P. M.” During the trial of this unfortunate officer, he conducted with unexampled magnanimity and dignity of character. He very freely and candidly confessed all the circumstances relative to himself, and carefully avoided every expression that might have a tendency to implicate any other person. So firm and dignified was he in his manners, and so honourable in all his proceedings on this most trying occasion, that he excited universal interest in his favour. He re quested only to die the death of a soldier, and not on a gibbet. The following is a copy of a very pathetic letter from Major Andre to General Washington, dated SIR, Tappan, October 1st, 1780. Buoyed above the terrors of death, by the consciousness of a life 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 pe1 riod, and which is to soften my last moments, will not be rejected. Sympathy towards a soldier will surely induce 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, if aught in my character impresses you with esteem towards me, if aught 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 This moving letter, as may be supposed, affected the mind of General Washington with the tenderest sympathy, and it is reported that he submitted it to a council of general officers, who decided that as Major Andre was condemned as a spy, the circumstances of the case would not admit of the request being granted, and his Excellency, from a desire to spare the feelings of the unfortunate man, declined making a reply to the letter. -- October 1st.-I went this afternoon to witness the execution of Major Andre, a large concourse of people had assembled, the gallows was erected, and the grave and coffin prepared to receive the remains of this celebrated but unfortunate officer; but a flag of truce arrived with a communication from Sir Henry Clinton, making another and further proposals for the release of Major Andre, in consequence of which the execution was postponed till to-morrow, at twelve o'clock. The flag which came out this morning brought General Robertson, Andrew Eliot, and William Smith, Esqrs. for the purpose of pleading for the release of Major Andre, the royal army being in the greatest affliction on the occasion. The two latter gentlemen, not being military officers, were not permitted to land, but General Greene was appointed by his excellency to meet General Robertson at Dobb's Ferry, and to receive his communications. He had nothing material to urge, but that Andre had come on shore under the sanction of a flag, and therefore could not be considered as a spy. But this is not true; he came on shore in the night, and had no flag, on business totally incompatible with the nature of a flag. Besides, Andre himself, candidly confessed, on his trial, that he did not consider himself under the sanction of a flag. General Robertson, having failed in his point, requested that the opinion of disinterested persons might be taken, and proposed Generals Knyphausen and |