and fufficiently fhowed how much they felt for his fitu- 1780. ation. They treated him with fuch delicacy at the opening of the examination, as to defire that he would not answer any interrogatory, which would at all embarrass his feelings. Every poffible mark of indulgence, and the utmost attention and politenefs were exercised toward him: fo that the major himself, deeply fenfible of the liberality of their behaviour, declared that he flattered himself he had never been illiberal; but that if there were any remains of prejudice in his mind, his prefent experience muft obliterate them, The board did not examine a fingle witnefs: but founded their report merely upon his own confeffion. In that, after a recital of a few facts, they declared, that major Andre ought to be confidered as a spy from the enemy; and that, agreeable to the law and ufage of nations, it is their opinion he ought to fuffer death.

General Washington wrote a fhort anfwer to Sir H. 30. Clinton's letter of the 26th, reclaiming the major, in which he stated, that though the major was under such circumftances as would have juftified the most fummary proceedings against him, he had referred his cafe to the examination and decifion of a board of general officers, whose report, founded on his free and voluntary confeffion of his letters, was enclofed. This drew another letter from Sir Henry, who propofed to fend gen. Robertfon and two other gentlemen, as well to give his excellency a true state of facts, as to explain to him his own fentiments on the fubject. The gentlemen were to be at Dobb's ferry on the following morning, to wait for Washington's permiffion and fafe conduct, and to meet himself, or whoever he fhould appoint. He urged it

1780. as a matter of the highest moment to humanity, that the general should fully understand the whole ftate of the business, before he proceeded to carry the judgment of the board into execution. Gen. Greene, who had been prefident of it, was appointed to meet Robertson, but the others were not permitted to come on shore. Robertfon used his utmost ingenuity to fhow, that Andre did not come within the character and defcription of a fpy. As Greene was far from admitting either his facts or conclufions, Robertfon wifhed that the opinions of difinterested gentlemen might be taken on the fubject, and propofed Knyphaufen and Rochambeau as proper perfons. Humanity was the laft ftring touched. Robertfon faid, he wifhed an intercourse of such civilities as might leffen the horrors of war; and quoted inftances of Clinton's merciful difpofition. He held out, that major Andre poffeffed a great share of that gentleman's esteem; and that he would be infinitely obliged if he was fpared. He offered, if the former was admitted to return with him to New York, to engage that any perfon whatever, who was named, fhould be fet at liberty. Gen. Robertson having failed in his other attempts, prefented a long letter from Arnold to gen. Washington, filled with threats in cafe Andre fhould fuffer, and infolently making the American commander anfwerable for the torrents of blood that might be fpilt, in confequence of his difregarding the warning, and ordering the execution of Andre. The prefentment of fuch a letter was confidered as no lefs an abfurdity than the writing of it. On October the 2d the tragedy was clofed. The major was fuperior to the terrors of death: but the difgraceful mode of dying, which the ufage of war had

4

annexed to his unhappy fituation, was infinitely dreadful 1780. to him. He was defirous of being indulged with a profeffional death: and accordingly had written, the day before, a pathetic letter, fraught with all the feelings of a man of fentiment and honor, in which he requested of gen. Washington, that he might not die on a gibbet. The general confulted his officers on the fubject. Pity and esteem wrought fo powerfully, that they were all for fhooting him, till Greene infifted on it, that his crime was that of a common fpy; that the public good required his being hanged; and that was he fhot, the generality would think there were favorable circumftances entitling him to notice and lenity. His obfervations convinced them, that there would be an impropriety in granting the major's requeft; while tenderness prevented its being divulged. When major Andre was led out to the place of execution, as he went along he bowed himself familiarly to all those with whom he had been acquainted in his confinement. A fmile of complacency expreffed the ferene fortitude of his mind. Upon feeing the preparations at the fatal fpot, he asked with fome emotion-" Muft I die in this manner?" He was told it was unavoidable. He replied" I am reconciled to my fate, but not to the mode." Soon after, recollecting himself, he added-" It will be but a momentary pang;" and fpringing upon the cart, performed the last offices to himself, with a compofure that excited the admiration, and melted the hearts of all the fpectators. Being told the final moment was at hand, and asked if he had any thing to say, he answered— "Nothing but to requeft that you will witnefs to the world, that I die like a brave man." He died univer

1780. fally esteemed and regretted. The fympathy he had excited in the American army was perhaps unexampled, under any fimilar circumstances.

General Washington thus expreffed himself upon this 13. whole business in a private letter" In no inftance fince the commencement of the war, has the interpofition of Providence appeared more remarkably confpicuous, than in the refcue of the poft and garrifon of West Point How far Arnold meant to involve me in the catastrophe of this place, does not appear by any indubitable evidence; and I am rather inclined to think, he did not wish to hazard the more important object

, by attempting to combine two events, the leffer of which might have marred the greater. A combination of extraordinary circumstances, and unaccountable deprivation of prefence of mind in a man of the first abilities, and the virtue of three militia men, threw the adjutant general of the British forces (with full proof of Arnold's intention) into our hands; and but for the egregious folly, or the bewildered conception of lieut. col. Jamefon, who seemed lost in astonishment, and not to have known what he was doing, I fhould undoubtedly have gotten Arnold. Andre has met his fate, and with that fortitude which was to be expected from an accomplished man and a gallant officer: but I am miftaken if Arnold is undergoing at this time, the torments of a mental hell." The unhappy event of which Arnold's project was productive, the death of major Andre, deeply affected the whole royal army. Arnold was made a Britih brigadier general in America; and it was hoped, that with the aid of the loyalifts and the difcontented of

all forts, he would raise a confiderable body of forces, 1780. to act under his own feparate command: but neither an addrefs of his to the inhabitants of America, nor his proclamation infcribed to the officers and foldiers of the continental army, had any effect. Notwithstanding the difcontents among the American troops, through their various difficulties, Arnold's example and endeavours were fo far from being the means of bringing over, even a fmall body or detachment, that they do not appear to have produced the defertion of a fingle foldier, much lefs of an officer.

15

Sir Henry Clinton in obedience to the orders fent him to prosecute the war with vigor in North Carolina and Oct. Virginia, difpatched gen. Leflie from New York to the bay of Chefapeak, with near 3000 choice troops. He was to co-operate with lord Cornwallis, who was expected to have been far advanced toward, if not to have reached Virginia. Within a few days the fleet arrived in the bay. The troops were landed in different parts of Virginia. In the beginning of November, Leslie was engaged in establishing a post at Portsmouth, till he could hear from his lordship, according to whofe orders he was to act in all cafes. It was fometime before he learned for a certainty where Cornwallis was: but at length inftructions were received from his lordship, for the fleet and troops to proceed without delay to Charleftown. While in Virginia they poffeffed themselves of fome tobacco and ftores; but the veffels feized in the harbours and rivers were the most valuable part of the booty. About the time that Leflie landed at Portsmouth, Sir H. Clinton fent to Charlestown all the recruits belonging to the fouthern army, amounting to near 800,