The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-19
THE REPUBLIC.
From the Nst0 York National Democrat.
Major Andre-The Andre-Capture Mo-
49, nument. alaC u @Nlftir "a


Major Andre-The Andre Capture Mo.
0r nument. c ~ t1Ai
Familiar every one is with the history ant
circumstances OF the capture of Major Andre, anC
the subsequent execution of that person as a spy
the subject is still full Of interest to Americans
and especially to the "rising generation. 1t is ar
unfortunate error, into which too many American
young ladies and gentlemen of the present day
have fallen, that they read works of foreign au.
thors to the neglect of those of writers of theil
own country. We saw statement some. time
observer, to the effect that an American boy who
might tell you much Of British history from the
pefusal OF English, Irish, and Scottish romances.
might be at fault if he were asked som very sim
le.questions concerning the history of his native
land. Whether this intimation be true or false,
we would urge upon our young Enthusiastically
A1Nerican boys and girls-that they read the works
of their own countrymen first. We do not de-
sign by this advice to underInte the works of the
great minds of Europe; far from it. We could
not offer such an insult to genius. But we may
say with truth that in the whole range of English
literature there are no romances more full of in
terest than those of Cooper and of Irving, and of
host of others, who have written for the pur-
pose of illustrating the history of our own country
But to the subject Of our article We wish to
present an interesting sketch, in connection with
the monument to be erected at Tarrytown, West
chester county, N. ", commemorative of the
capture of Andre. The sketch we take is con-
densed from speech by James T. Brady, esq, of
this city, delivered on the occasion of the Andre
Capture Monument celebration on the 4th of July
last at Tarytown.
Duringyt6e eventful, desperate, and often de-
spending struggles of our revolutionary sires,
there wa, no period when the patriots soul shook
with mote distrust than when an American gene
|ral, Benedict Arnold, whose chivalric deeds in
many D bloody field had won him the highest
fame al soldier, consigned himself, by one
perfidiols action, to deserved and eternal infamy
The Importance to the British of obtaining West
Point vas immense, and its loss would, to our ar
my, hive been almost annihilating. Sir Henry
Clinton had possession Of New York, and control
of the Hudson river as far up as Stony and Yer
pla1ck points; but beyond that our position at
West Point prevented his progress. On the 9th
of September, 1880, Washington submitted to a
cotncil of officers statement of the condition and
prospects of the army. 1t was not cheering OK
petition He was much depressed by the dilatory
and ineffective action of that Congress of which.
during the whole war, he had occasion SO fire.
u,bntly and bitterly to complain. A copy of the
statement was submitted to Arnold for his iudg-
ment, and on the 18th of September he delivered
an elaborate opinion on the subject to General
Washington, when they met at the Kings ferry,
the latter being on his way to meet the French
commissioners ut Hartford Washington and Ar
mold passed the night together, and on the 18th
beheld each other for the last time. 'S
Poor Andre was an amiable, accomplished, and
gallant young soldier, conscientiously devoted to
the King, whose cause he sustained SO well. He
left England to obtain for himself in the New
World soldiers death or soldiers glory. No
base motive impelled him. A true sense of honor
characterized his whole career and hewould have
preferred any doom rather than to bring disgrace
on that beloved mother, and those cherished sis
ters, to whose arms he hoped to return covered
with glory, and to whom he feelingly alluded
after his capture in letter to Sir Henry Clinton
1t never was his intention to come within the
American lines. He expected to have an inter-
view with Arnold on board the British sloop-of
war Vulture, which was sent up the river for that
purpose He was lured by Arnold to the shore,
and induced by the traitor to assume disguise,
and place himself open to the fate Of a spy. Ar
mold was his murderer and deeply at last, he felt
that the blood of that young man was on his
hands,
On the Odd of September, 1880, Andre was
taken by the three patriots Of Westchester-Pauld-
ING, Williams, and Van Wart They were sit
ting together in little grove, when Andre came
up and paused at little rivulet near by to allow
his horse to drink. Observing tho three men, he
mistook them for tories, and made certain ad,
vances which reused their suspicious, They ac-
cused him as spy, and arrested him at once.
He was greatly lldTIcO, uIU sought 10 purchase
his release by valuable brides, but the patriots
were invulnerable to all temptation. On search
ing him, the reasonable papers were concealed
between his stockings and feet. They were partly
in Arnold s handwriting, and are as follows:
sslst The pass given to Arnold by Andre when
they separated, and when the latter attempted to
return to New York. Major Andre is named in
it as Mr. John Anderson.
ss2d Estimates of forces at West Point and its
dependencies, September 10, 1880. This paper
was to inform the British of the number and quail
ity of the forces with whom they would have to
contend in making an attack on West Point.
esd. ARTILLERY orders, signed by IS. Bauman,
major commandant of artillery This was to
give information of the disposition of the Ameri-
can forces when the attack should be made
ss4th The estimates of the number of men ne
cessary TO man the works at West Point and in
the vicinity This is in the handwriting of Vile
franche, the French engineer, by whom it is
signed,
18th, Return of tho ordnance in tho different
forts, batteries &c.. at West Point and it's dcpcn-
dcncies September S, 1880, signed by S. Bauman
major commandant of artillery This is in the
handwriting of Major Bauman.
ss6th. sRemarks on works ut West Point, copy
to be transmitted to his exccllency General Wash
ington, September, $780, This paper, designed
to communicate the practice, condition, strength,
and proper points of attack on the different forts
and redoubts, is in the handwriting Oh the traitor,
Arnold. ~
se7th, A memorandum, with the names of Ken
nicut. Elijah Hunter, &c., on it, the object of
which is unintelligible.
On the discovery of these papers no doubt re-
manned of the true character OF Andre. He was
a spy. He was Immediately taken to Washing
ton, whose headquarters were at Tappan, nearly
opposite Tarrytown. :,
On the oath of September, the day after his
capture. Andre wrote to General Washington
frank letter, avowing his true rank in the British
army, and suggesting that an exchange OF him tor
some Americans then IN the hands OF inc BRUSH
might be effected. But this proposition could not
he rcce;ved He did not stand upon tho footing
of a common prisoner of war lie 'cas taken as a
spy.