Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-09-01
Execution of Andre.

drawer in Harper's Magazine for Aug- Y
ust:
On Independence Day we took steam :
er for the county Of Rockland, determined
to pass the Fourth in peace and quietness' =,
and desirous of refreshing our patriotism
amidst scenes hallowed by the sacred mem
ories Of the Revolution. We visited
Washington's Head quarters at the little ,
village OF Tappan; the Seventy SIX House.
where Andre waq confined, the place where
he was executed, the graS9Hsere he was
buried, and whence he >pmed.--
We conversed with vd iy who
gave him four beautiful on the
morning in which he went u dIe.-
He thanked me with a sweet she
said,' but somehow ornotherhidn
seem to have no appetite. lie onlyAtH:
TO one Of EN- <I
Standing by his grave, we coui1see
across the lroad Hudson. the verSface
where he was arrested by Van Vert. Will
liams and Paulding, and the cleaning OF
the white monument erected to their NOM
ory; the place where Washington stood
when Andre went forth to die, and the
stone house whence he was taken to die
upon gallows.
The following account Of Andres ex-
3 ecution is one Of the most minute and in
e teresting that we have ever read. 1t was
: furnished to Mr.. William G. Haeselbarth,
e of R,ckland county, the history of which
: he is engaged in writing. 1t was taken
n down from the lips of soldier IN Colonel
e .Jeduthan Baldwin's regiment, part OF
}, which was stationed a short distance from
/ where poor Andre suffered.
a Zone of our men, whose name was
ii Armstrong, being one of the oldest and
le hest vorkmen at his trade in the regiment,
1t was selected to make his coffin, which he
S did and painted it black, as was the GUS
t. tom at that period.
< CAT this time Andre was confirmed IN
Id what was called the Old Dutch Church
he small stone building with only one door,
an and closely guarded by six sentlneis.
1t, "Whcn the hour appointed for his eX'
a ecution arrived, which was at o'clock II
re the afternoon, a guard OF three hnnofe'
nd men were paraded at the place OF his con
he Gnement. a kind of procession was form
n by placing the guard in single file on eacl
ry side of the road. In front were larg
ns number Of American officers OF high ran'
ch on horseback. These were followed D.
ns the wagon containing Andres coffin, the'
nS a large number of officers on foot with AN
The DIRE in their midst.
Did "The procession wound slowly up
me mode .ate Y rising ground about q"art'
of a mile to the west. On the top was
old field without any inclosure; and on tn
or, was very high galowS made by settln
the up two poles with a croSs-beam on the TO- o.
the The wagon that contained the coil
az was drawn directly unterlh ga!io"s.
IN, shor. time Ilndre stepped iAto .he II"
He'd end of the wagon, then on his coliln' toe
an off his hat and laid it down, then p ac'
sed his hands upon, his hips, and walked We
en- uprichtlv back and forth as far as t
we'd length Of the wagon will permit, at t
She same time casting his eyes up to the pc
nee, over his head and the whole scenery
hlle which he was surrounded.
for He was dressed in complete briti
~ uniform. His coat was OF the bright
own scarlet, faced and trimmed with the M
ness beautiful green. His under clothes, v
her and breeches, were bright buff ; he hat
and long and beautiful head of hair, VIII
the agreeably to the fashion was wound W
black ribbon and hung down his pa
ID on Not many minutes after he took
rms, stand upon the coffin, the execute
stepped into the wagon with halter
ng- his hand, on one end of which was W
it in the soldiers in those days called "a ha
be- mans knot which he attempted to
bap- over the head around the neck OF AND
calm but by sudden movement OF MS ha
osted this was prevented. :,
d did Andre now took off the handkerc
grand from his neck, unpinned his shirt col
t the and deliberately took the cord oil the
e au- ter, put it over his head, and placed
roken knot directly Under his rig mt ear
} car drew it very tnugly to his neck. lie
carers took from his coat pocket handkercl
t that and tied it before his eyes. This done
dark officer who commanded spoke in a
task; voice and said:
slt on His arms must be tied
ed the Andre at once pulled down the HI
form kerchief which he had just tied owe
ewes, and drew from his pocket sex
ht the one which he gave to the eXecutloner'
house then replaced his handkerchief.
twen- His arms at this time were tied
night above the elbow, and behind the bacl
name, The rope was then made fast to the
he last overhead. The wagon was very sudt
en- on drawn from under the gallows, whlcl
Ill one gether with the length of the rope,
racters him most tremendous swing back
forth bnt in few moments he hun
oror- tirely still.
follow Du,iA1 ,i,1 Wv III, Receive yb
jill tl'' was about to be burnt at the stak
-, .:, though his countenance was rather p
:. . sou SOW He remained hanging from twer
y ,:a. l!.a. thirty minutes, and during that tim
NV. NV chambers OF death were never stillel
y.:ns the multitude by whom he was surr
II 'ntn'' ed. Orders were given to cut the roT
take him down without letting hin
he phi This vas done, and his body car
NO the laid on tile ground.&s
talk the Shortly after the guard was withd
and spectators were permitted to
nan al forward and view the corpse; b.
sbut I'd crowd was so great that it was som
jaw a before could get an opportunity.
| was able to do this, his coat, ves
breaches had been taken off, and his