The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-11-29

Execution of Major andre

been extracted from the historical col
lections Of New Jersey:
was at the time au artifcer in Col
Jcduthan Baldwin's regiment, a part o
which was stationed within a short dis
tance of the spot where Andre suffered
! One of our men Il believe his name wa,
Armstrong; being one of the oldest and
best workmen at his trade in the regi
ment, was selected to make his coffin
which lie performed, and painted black
agreeably to the custom iu those times
| At this time. Andre was confined in wha
was called a Dutch church, small stone
! building with only one door, and closely
I guarded by six sentines When the
hour appointed for his execution arrived
which believe was 2 o'clock p. NJ, a
guard of three hundred men were para
dcd at the place Of his confinement. A
kind of procession was formed by plac.
! ing guard in single file on each side of
the road. In front were large mum.
bcr Of American officers Of high rank.
on horseback
These were folwcd BY wagon con.
tanning Andres coffin; then large mum.
Der Of officers on foot, with And;e in
their midst. The procession moved
slowly mp moderately rising hill, I
should thiuk about fourth of mile to
the west Ga the top was field with.
ont any enclosure In this was very
high gallows, made by setting up two
poles, or crotchcs, and laying a pole Oh
the top. The wagon that contained the
coffin was drawn directly under the gal
lows In short time Andre stepped in
to the hind end of the wagon; then OH
his coffin took off his hat, and laid it
down-ihon Placed his hands upon his
hips. aud walked very uprightly back and
forth. as far as the length of his coffin
would permit at the same time casting
his eyes upon the pole over his head and
the whole scenery by which he was sur
rounded. He was dressed in what |
should call complete British uniform
his coat was of the brightest scarlet,
faced or trimmed with the most bcauti
full green. Ills undtrcloihes, or vest
and breechcs, werc bright buff, very sim.
liar to those worn by military officers in
Connecticut at tho present day. lie had
n long and beautiful head of hair which
agreeable to the fashion. was wound with
a black ribon, and hung down his back
All cycs were ii1on him and il is not
believed that any officer of the British
army. placed in his situation, would have
appeared better than this unfortunate
man
Not niany minutes after he took his
stand upon the coRil. the exccutioncr
stepped into tie wagon. with baltar in
his hand. which he nttqnpted to nut over
the head and around the neck of Andre:
but bv n sudden movement of bis hand,
this was prevented Andre took off the
handkerchief from bis neck. unpinnned
his shirt collar. and deliberately took tho
end of the halter. nut it over his head
and placed the knot directly under his
right car. and drew it very snugly to his
neck. He then took from his coat mock.
ct a handkerchief, and tied it over his
eyes. This done. the officer that CON-
minded This name have forgotten
spoke in rather a loud voice and said
that his arms mnst be tiel Andre a,
once pulled down tho handkerchief he
had lust tied over his eyes. and drew
from his pockot second one. aud gave
il TO the eSecutiopcr. and then replaced
his handkerchief. His arms were tied
lust above the elbows and behind the
back. The rome was then made fast to
the pole over head The wagon wa,
very suddenly drawn from under tho
rallows. which. with the length of the
rome. eaye him most tremendous swing
back and forth but in few minutes he
hung entirely still
Duriug the whole transaction. he an
peared as little daunted as Mr.. John
ROGERS is said to have been when he was
about TO be burned at the stake but hi.
countenonce was rather male. He re-
maincd b,ncipr I should think from
twenty to thirty Minutes. and durine
that time the chambers of death were
pcvcr stillcr ,hnn the multitud, bv u hicl
ho was surroundcd Orders wore pive,
70 ont rho rome and tokc him down with
ON, lettinq him fall This was done and
his bndy carefully laid on the ground
Shortly after. the ruatd was withdraw
and spcctators were permitted 10 com,
forward and t;ev The cornsc lint ,b,
crowd was so rreat ,hat it was som,
t;me hofor, T cenld oet an onnortunitv
When | was abIo 10 do This his coat
vest and breeches were taken off aud hi,
body laid in the coffin. covered by som,
nudcr.clotbes The ton Of the coffin wa,
not mt on. viewed the cornse NOR,
carefully than | had ever done that O
anv human being before Ills head wa,
very much nm one side in CONSEQUENCE n
.