The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-06-17
WASHINGTON, AND ANDRES EX-
ECUTION.

The National Intelligence" contains
very clear, full and able answer to
! Lord Mahon's second attack upon the
memory of Washington, for signing the
death warrant of Andre. We are sorry
for the occasion which has drawn forth
this elaborate paper, from the pen ol
harles j. Biddle, Esq.,) but gratiied
that it has been SO well answered. The
oftsner we read the incidents of the dis
covery of Arnold's treaehery and Andres
arrest, the more impressed are we with
what Washington called the Providence
which then as upon previous occasions,
presided over the destinies of the nation,
in its struggle for independence. Strange
to say, it is not to Arnold that Lord
Mahon imputes breach of "plighted
faith," but to those against whom his
treachery was directed, viz: Washington
and the American government.
In the same spirit, Lord Rawdon (af-
terwards Earl of Moria) in letter to
Gen. Henry Lee, wrote that Andres en-
tering in disguise within the fortress
was by direction and with the invitation
of the officer commanding there, as if
Arnold could complicate his government
by an act of treason which pointed out
the way for Andre through the opera
tions of Clinton, not merely to surren-
der West Point, but SO to arrange the
forces as to secure the destruction of all
who should defend themselves and their
country. Mr.. Biddle's account of Ar
mold and Andres landing from the Vul-
ture, and of his interview with Arnold
and of
ANDRES ARREST,
will be read with interest. Arnold's
original plan was that Andre should
come directly to headquarters at West
Point, in the character of one well af-
fected to the American cause, and bear
ing important intelligence; and for his
admission without the outposts orders
were given to Col. Sheldon, command
ing there, to pass and expedite him up
on his way. Andre, accepting the per-
sonation- of this character, wrote under
the assumed name of Anderson, to Col.
Sheldon, informing him that the person
expected by Arnold would come out un-
der a flag of truce, on a day named, to
Dobb's Ferry, point without the Amer
lean lines. We quote:
This plan was frustrated But two
weeks after, (2Oth September, $780, we
find Andre on board the British sloop of
war Vulture, off Teller's Point, fifteen
miles below West Point The next day
a flag of truce was dispatched to the
shore, ostensibly for an open communi.
cation with the American authorities, but
really to intimate to Arnold the fact of
Andres arrival Thus with abuses of
a flag of truce began the disastrous ad-
venture in which Andre was to involve
his life and honor.
On the night of September 2lst, Ar
mold dispatched an emissary named josh
ua III. Smith, in boat with muff1ed oars,
rowed by two laborers, who, with some
compulsion had been induced to go upon
what seemed to them to be a suspicious er-
rand. After midnight they neared the
Vulture, and were Immediately hailed
and ordered to come on board, where
they met with rough treatment for their
presumption in approaching the ship at
such an hour of the night, till an officer
in the cabin directed that Smith should
be brought below. There he announced
his errand, and it was arranged that the
boat should Immediately return to the
shore with Mr.. Anderson, who was, in
fact Major Andre. The assertion made
by Smith and Arnold that this oommu-
nication with the Vulture was under
flag of truce, was, you perceive, entirely
without foundation, and Andre disdained
to support them in falsehood SO palpa-
BILE, frankly declaring "that it was i'm
possible for him to suppose that he came
ashore under the sanction of flag"
Veryearly on
the 22d an active American officer had
brought gun to bear upon the Vulture,
driving her from her position and rem
dering communication with her danger
Gus thus Andre was obliged to find
some other mode of returning to the
British camp, with his precious but per-
ilous acquisitions. Disguised in clothes
furnished by Smith,-for till this time
he had worn his uniform, concealed,
however, under an over-coat that bore
no indications of military character,
and was in effect a disguise-Andre ac-
companied by Smith, crossed over to the
left bank of the Hudson to Verplank's
Point, and proceeded to place called
Crompond, where they remained all
night; the representation by Smith, and
pass signed by Arnold, allaying the sus-
picions of the officers in command of
those places. At the first dawn of light
theme morning, Andre hurried their
departure. They seemed now to have
passed the most formidable difficulties
of their route and Andre who had been
restless taciturn, and depressed, rallied
his spirits, and to the surprise of his
companion, displayed gaiety that strik-
-