American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-01
From, the .New Fork Enquirer, august 8.

has taken bust Of Col Isaac Pan Wart, the only
surviving capt0 Of Major Andre-au humble citi-
zen, it is true, but whose fidelity and patriotism
have been emnently servceable to his country.
Presuming that narrative Of the capture oil
Andre, related with simplicity by the old soldier,
might not be unnteresting. Browere, during the
operation, prevailed upon him 10 give an account oil
himself; and also that particular even; so closely
connected with the history OF our revolutionary war
He commenced as follows:
al am the third son of Martnus Van War. he
had nine children. was born at Greensburgh
West Chester County but don't know what day
but was chrstened on the 25lh Oct. 1748. When
division OF the American army was at North Cas-
tle commanded by Col. Jamison, went on scout
ing patty consisting OF two sides myself, in order
TO way LAY the COW boys or refugees, who, we had
notice, passed The North River Post daily, with cat
tie horses, sheep, sc While al the encampment
at North Castle. John Pauldng came, one afternoon,
to me, saying, Isaac, have you any objection to
..ong with me scout below p No. says !.
We then started between 8 and O'Clock in the
afternoon, with our English rifles our shoulders
and proceeded southwark. Afer walking mile OF
so, we fell in with David Williams. and persuaded
aim TO accompany on our expedition Al night,
came to neighbor John Andrews barn at Mount
Pleasant and slept m the hay until day break. We
next crossed the fields 10 the North River Post
Road, and abou, half past O'Clock, we came TO The
widow Reads house, got some milk and pack OF
playing cards. A, we reached the field beside the
road. now the property Of MIR. Wiley. three quar-
ters Of mile from Tarrytown Getting over tht
lence, we found It filed with thick bushes, under
wood SC. &c. We cleared spot, and PaudIng,
aking out the cards SAID " Boys, will draw cuts
two can play, while the third stands sentry" The
cuts were made, and was to stand sentinel. Dur
ing 10 or 20 minutes, several neighbors whose
political principles well knew, passed the field
where we were, without discovering us Paudiog
and Williams keeping perfect silence, and lay
ing down within the bushes, and close 10 the fence
Shortly, (ssy twenty thirty minutes from the time
Of our arriva) I saw horseman ride slowly along
On black horse, on the rising ground directly OPP
posite 10 where the Tarryown Academy now stands.
said to Paulling and Williams, Here's horse
man coming-we must stop him."-We got up
with our 6relocks ready. ard waited for him to ed
vance. As soon as he iii was Maj Andre) saw US
standing by The fence, he refined in his horse, and
riding straight up to u.s. said, " God bless you, my
dear friends, L hope you belong to our purity" We
asked, "What parly?" Without hesitation, he
snilingly replied: +" Why. the io,oer party lam
British c1tcer, and to convince you that am a
gentleman aud arer the truth, sse here is my goid
watch 4" Wetold him, he was wrong. for we Meth
er belonged to his, nor to the lower party, but
Americans and that he prisoner. He start
ed, changed color, and fetching deep sigh. said,
A" God bless my soul! A body mast do any thing to
get along noto "a S"-Thereupon he showed us
Gen. Arnod's passport, and said, : haze been in
the country on particular business, and hope you
Eont detdth me a minute"
After we had read the passport, we ordered him
TO dismount and follow us We then took down
the fence and led him and his horse through into
he 'hcket. Williams put up the fence as at Fl st,
that no suspicion or inquiry should arise from Sec
ing it down. When Williams came up, Major
Andre requested us again to release him, and said
he would give US any sum OF money we might ask,
or any quantity of dry goods. You know our
answer Alter searching his clothes, we ordered
him to sit down, and pulling off his boot We perce
we'd that his silk stocking sagged little; we took
that OIL and found in it three letters that we're not
sealed On taking off his other boot and stocking
we iound three more unseaed letters, which contain
ed correct descriptions Of the posts, redoubts, can.
non &c OF West Point and other places After
taking possession Of these documents he said ".No,U
you haue gotten aH lead on.' He put on his stock.
lngs and boots, and followed US to the road Re
placing the fence, we allowed him to mount his
horse and go in advance You never saw such an
alteration in any mans face. Only few minutes
before, and he was uncommonly gay in his looks,
but alter we had made him prisoner, you could read
10 his tace that he thought it all over with him
we felt ior him. but that was all we could do, so
long as we meant to be honest to our country. We
made our way as quickly and silently as we could
10 the cncampnent at North Castle. We neve,
went into the main road, but kept 10 the by ways
and never stopped except to give the prisoner lit
tie milk or so, which we got from the country peo
pie. When we arrived at Sands Mills, which was
ten miles from where we captured him, we surren-
dered the major up to the commanding officer, who
was Col. Jamison. ! wish you to know, that after
travelling one or two miles, Major Andre said. ~
would to God you had blown my brains out when
you stopped me-" During this speech, and the
whole OF the journey, big dops OF sweat kept con
'inualy falling from his face; he suffered much in
mind as was apparent from his great detection, but