Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-04-09
CAPTURE OF JOHN ANDRE.

One OF the most remarkable episode,
OF the American revolution. and threaten
ing If successful, most disastrous conse
quences To The issue Of that great event,
was The reasonable plo, of Benedict ar.
nold 10 deliver West Point, together with
the person of the commander rim. chief, i,
possible. into the hands of the British
forces. Tha, incident teaches valuable
lesson IN morals and politics. and has con.
signed the name of the great traitor 10 a
signal and unenviable pinnacle Of infsmy.
Connected with the treason and dsfec-
ton Ia the enemy. of Gen. Arnold, is re-
corded the romantic history of The brave
and unfortunate .4adre. whose life paid
the penalty Of the enterprise, on It's fail.
ure.
Il is no, with the view of furnishing a
general history Of what is already on re
cord as facts. that the following narrative
IS prepared for The press, bu! for the cor.
reeuon of various important errors in the
statement of Andres apprehension, BY
the three milliamen, Paaiding, Viii.
Jams and Van Ue,t. | derive the in j..
formation from Mr.. John Hudson, whose
narrative OF the capture Of CORVALLIS,
has lately appeared in The "Adyeriiser. !"
Nr. IL. was for many years Of his life a
resident IN the immediate neighbourlioo,
where the events occurred, and was per.
sonaily acquainted with all three of the
captors, from whose lips he had the state :
menls he makes. ! shall give the nara
tive in his own language.
II have conversed with these men
being resident, of the neighbourhood
where they dwell, and was well acquaint
ed with Paulding and Van Vert. Will
liams was small man, in middle life,
and | did no! know so much of him as of
The rest. Van Vert was shoemaker
by trade, and large athletic man. Pauld.
ing was tall, well built, OF commanding
figure; aud al the period of these events,
IN The twenty-second year of his age. He
had been left an orphan, and was brought
up BY his grandfather, an Independent
farmer, who resided within four miles of
Tarrrtown.
Sol Delaney. at the head Of the ref
ogees aad tories, had been engaged scour-
ing that par, of The State. seizing the
persons OF those who were considered
well affected 10 the cause of liberty. and
taking them on TO New York City; where
they were consigned to The custody Of
the provost marshal, Cunningham -an
absolute antechamber 10 the grave. Hun.
dred. fell victims to the barbariies of the
enemy, and numbers, 10 escape thai treat
ment, enlisted in their service; generally
with the design of deserving a, the first
favourable opportunity. Pauldng fell into
these mems hands, and like others, enlist
Cd, as the only means of offering an es.
cape with life. He soon afterwards, in
the dress. and with the arms and accou-
trements of a British soldier, deserted
accordingly and reformed home, where he
was appointed corporal Of militia; and
having Van Vert and Williams assigned
hln as a patrol. was occupied scouting
over the neutral ground so called be.
oause between lilo lHcs Of both armies
although occupied by neither. Within
this territory, parties of militia on the
one side. and tories on the other, were
constantly on the alert and look out for
the benefit of their respective sides The
neutral ground comprehended the country
between Splkenduyvel creek and Crolon
river.
ION the hill just above Tarry,own. is
level, table land. 10 considerable extent.
The postroad from New York TO Albany,
crossed the elevation, and the White
PLANS road entered it here, nearly at
right angles; a few rods south stood pop.
lar or tulip tree, the most remarkable one
have ever seen, although | have since
seen thousands in the west, and many of
great magnitude. The trunk was smooth
and round, as generally is the case with
that description Of tree. It was at least
six feet through. and extended forty 10
fifty feet without limb, and what is un-
usual with the poplaf, the branches
spread out 10 a great length, forming Inc
greatest extent OF shade which | have
ever seen TO any tree. This | suppose
was owing 10 lis standing alone; no other
tree being within considerable distance
of il.
Under the shade OF this tree, these
three men-Psuldng, Williams and Van
Wert-were playing cards, their guns
resting against lis trunk. Andre, as soon
as his return BY water by the Vnlture had
been cut off, it seems had been directed
by Arnold, circniious route which took
him into the White Plains road, and
thence into the posl.road 10 n. York, as
| have already stated few rods north OF
this tree. As he approached the party,
observing Paulding in the dress and with
the Announcements Of a British soldier, he
very naturally concluded he belonged to
his own side. He rode up accordingly
and accosied the parly-'My lads, am |
past all the rebel guards. From the fact
OF his being Adjutam General to the
troops, The person Of Andre was perfectly
known 10 every soldier in the British
lines, and Pauldirg, Of course, recognised
him al once. He rose up therefore. ap
preached Andre as ii to address him. and
Selling the horse by the bride, ordered
lha rider to dismoun.. Andre promptly
produced his pass signed by General Ar.
mold, as bearer Of flag Of truce. Paulj
ing's judgment led him to thmkit hi ghly
I '-N