Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
ANDRES DEFENCE.

To the Editor of the Boston Courier:
There be doubt that the piece, published in several
papers, purporng to Andes Defence is spurious. Major
Andre was not tried The that upon his
merely court Of inquiry instructed by the commandern-
chief examine into the facts and report their opinion An
DIRE made no defence The particulars of the examination
narrated in Spakss Life Of Arno from which the fol
lowing is extract, Up. 26l y
"The Board assembled and the prisoner brought be-
fore them The of the officers constituting the board
were read him Before the examination commenced Gen
GREENE (he President Of the Board) told him that
questions would be asked but the board desired him feel
perfect liberty them not he might choose, and
take his time for recollection and for weighing what
he said ANDRE then proceeded TO give brief narrative Of
what occurred between the time of his coming shore and
that Of his capture which agreed in every point with bis let
ter Gen. Washington He also confessed that certain pa
pers which shown to him. the that had been
concealed in his boots and that pass for John Anderson in
the handwriting of Arnold, the he had exhibited to
his captors
Being Intercepted his conception OF the manner
which he came on Shore and whether he considered himself
under flag, he answered that il impossible for him to
suppose he shore under the sanction OF flag and
added that he on shore under that sancon he might
certainly have returned under il Throughout his examine
ton Major Andre maintained MANLY dgned, and respect
fu department replied every question promptly discover
ed embarrassment sought disguise, stated with frank
ness and truth every thing that related himself and used
no words explain paae defend any part Of his
duct So delicate he regard 10 other persons that he
scupuousy avoided mentioning names or abiding to any
particulars except such concerned himself Gen. Greene
spoke of Smiths house, reference to the place of meeting
between Andre and Arnold. Il said house, SIR replied
Andre but did not say whose house. True, answered
Greene, nor have any right to demand this Of YOU after
the conditions have allowed
rhe examination being closed, Major Andre asked
whether he had any remarks make the statements that
had been presented He replied in the negative and said he
should leave them to operate with the board. He then
remanded to the place of his confinement
From This extract, well from other authorities, il is
clear that ASDRg made defence, and that the pretended
defence now published under his is fictitious More
over, the sentiments contained in this piece totally
worthy Of his character, exhibited from the begin
ming the end OF the affair which proved disastrous
him and the composition differs in all points from the letters
and other known writings OF Andre. The brief narrative
mentioned above which he read the board may be found
the appendix 90 the 9Th volume Of Sparkss Washington,
(p 1851 and it is only necessary compare with the pre-
tended defence to be convinced OF the mpossbitY Of their
having proceeded from the pen. Andre betrayed
and ruined by traitor he paid the penalty OF his ndscre
ton with his life let generous enemy be satisfied with this
sacrifice, and award to his virtues the merit they deserved
WARp, man who recently figured in these parts, and
passed himself off IN officer in the army, and who has
rious aliases to his name, lately tried in the Baltimore
City Court for swndng convicted and sentenced to the
Maryland pententiary. -Aer Gazetfe.