Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-08-20

| he as yet made any struggle, when th.
com manding officer ordered soldier to
bear down upon his shoulders, that ht
might not be long in agony, and he imme
diately died. Neither did Major Andre
struggle in the least, nor did he hang a
quarter of the time usual in such cases.
The commanding officer ordered two sol
ders TO bear him up. one on each side
with one arm under bis shoulders, and one
under his thighs; the commanding officer
then cut the halter, when the two soldiers
bore him away from the gallows, Major
Andre was not suffered TO fall on the
ground. Every attention and respect
were paid to Major Andre that il was pos :
sible to pay to man in his situation
neither did he discover anything, in either
officer or soldier, but deep sorrow for the
fate Of Major Andre, and a strong desire
and wish that the traitor Arnold should
have been executed in his stead. And al
though the talents Of Major Andre as an
officer, and his knowledge Of the works at
West Point would have been much against
the American cause, had he been spared,
still every officer and soldier in the army
would have lifted both hands for the ex-
change of Major Andre for Gen. Arnold.
This exchange was offered by General
Washington, but refused by Gen. Clinton
the British commandment chief. So the
life Of traitor was saved, and Major An
DIRE fell sacrifice.
| presume il will not be amiss for me to
state, that during the American Revolu-
ton, West Point was allowed to be
strong place, well fortified and OF great i'm
portance 10 the United States, and the
key of communication between the eastern
aud southern States. Indeed it was a
common saying in the city Of New York,
at that time, among the British officers s.
soldiers, that West Point was the young
Gibraltar being afraid to attempt taking
il by force Of arms, they made the attempt
by bribery and corruption.
JOHN VAN DYK.
Capt Artillery, Amer. Rev.
Col Lambs Reg. State of N. Y. line.
New York Aug. ~, 1888.
On the return of Mr.. John Pintard the
Captain Of the British packet and the Bri
fish Consul Of New York, with the bones
of Major Andre, called ont Mr. Pintard
at bis office in Wall street, MIR. Pintard
informed me that they did not believe they
were the bones Of Major Andre Why
not was my reply, You know that gold
buttons and epaulettes will not waste soon
and there was none found in the collin
can explain that mystery. When Maj.
Andre was borne of by the two soldiers,
TO where bis coffin was, his servant, who
was permitted to be in the camp with bis
master, at the grave took of his regimen.
tai coat, pantaloons, vest, boots, aud hat,
TO be taken TO New York so that Major
Andre was put into his coffin. with only
his shirt and stockings which accounts
for no gold buttons. and gold epaulcttcs
being found.
The bones Of Major Andre were taken
on board the British Packet, and rcques-
ted Of Mr.. Pintard line from him TO the
English Consul, on whom called, who
gave me line 10 the Captain of the Bril-
fish Packet. went to the North River,
and found the Captain in his barge, just
going of 10 the Packet. gave him tho
line, and he informed me that tomorrow
at len O'Clock the barge would be on shore
for me. In the afternoon DIR. Valentine
Mott was at my house, attending on some
oil my family, and informed DR.. Mott oil
nv going on board Of the British Packet
to morrow morning. TO see the bones OF
Major Andre. The doctor expressed a
desire of going with me at half past nine
in the morning. He came, and we went
together on board the Packet. The bones
were in superb urn, and we were per-
mitted 10 handle them. | mentioned the
circumstances, as have related them a
bove, to the Captain--bid him good bye,
and we came on shore.
JOHN VAN DYK.