The Arkansas advocate., 1830-06-09


 extent of these promises, the three Ame- l fieahssbeeame more persuaded of the value oi the prize they had taken. aud immediately proceeded to rigorous examinations of the dress and person ot tnelr prisoner, in the hope of discover. Ing some information as to his name and quality. Concealed in his boots, they found exact plans and descriptions of the etortLllcatlons andapproaehes of West sPolnt, with other writings, sufficient to confirm the suspicious he had himself imPradentlyy J excited, and to determine them to carry him to Lieut.. Gol. Jamie soIi, at that time in the command of the advanced posts of the American army. With the generous purpose of lntimat- Ing to Arnold that he ought to prepare for his own safety Major Andre request cd that intelligence should immediately be sent to the commander of Vest l l Polnts ot the arrest ot his officer Ander- son on his route to New ork. On the receipt oi this information, Arnold, as was to have been expected. immediate l ly took flight, seeking shelter from Gen. 1 Clinton in the ranks of the British army.
 As soon as Major Andre had ascer- tained that Arnold was in safety he readily acknowledged himself to be a British Officer. On the return of Gen. Washington to the American camp. a court martial was assembled for the purpose of trying poor Andre as a spy. e1t this court, Gen. Green sat as presi- dent, and among the members were the Baron de Stnben and the Marquis de lafayette. It was intimated to the | prisoner by the members of the court before the commencement of the pro- eeedings, that he was al liberty, # So disposed, to decline giving any answer to the questions which should be put to i4im; but with q much greater solici- tade for the preservation of his honor than of his life, he frankly avoWed the aature of the projecti in which lie had been engaged, and seemed to have no other care but to exculpate those who had seconded his enterprise. His jadg- es were deeply affected with the can dor and courage he evinced throughout tiae trial, ando signing his coademna- tiong they could not conceal the strugz gle between their personal feelings and what they conceived to be their duty, IS for Andre himself, he expected the fatal issue, and heard its announcement with resignation.
 His last moments were worthy of his noble character. The following details arc from the pen of Ir. Thatcher, an eyewitness of the event.
 "2d October, L7o0.-Major Andre TO longer lives: was present at his execution. It was scene of the deep est interest. During his imprisonment and his trial, he discovered much digni- ty of character. Tie smallest com plaint was never heard from him; and he appeared to feel very sensibl} all the tokens which were given of an interest in his fate. He left mother and two sisters in England, whom ne loved ailee- tionately: he spoke of them with ten derness, and wrote to Sir Henry Cln- ton, to recommend them to his personal care.
 "I'he officer of the guard who con- stantly remained with the prisoner re- ported to us, that when they came in the morning to announce to him the houro his execution, he did not discoy- CT the slightest emotion. His counte- nance, calm and collected, was striking ly contrasted with the sadness of those around him. Seeing his servant enter bathed in tears, he desired him to with draw, and not again to shew himeelfbut with the courage of a man, His break fast wassent to him every morning from the table of General Washington. On that morning he received it as usual and ate 1t with tranquility. He then shaved and dressed himself, and having l placed his hat on the table, he turned to- wards the officers of the guard, and said with an air of gaiety,s Now, gentlemen, you see that am ready to follow you When the fatal hour had arrived. a strong detachment of troops was placed under arms, and an immense eoncourse of people was assembled. All our off eers were present, with the exception of General Washington and his staff. Melancholy reigned throughout the ranks, and despair was on every coun- tenance. Major Andre came from his prison to the place of punishment be- tween two non-commissioned officers who held him by the arms. The looks