Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-24
The Execution Of Major Andre.
From sargents Life Of Andre --just published BY
nnr n HiaIda ua.to.

From Sargentb Life Of published by Tick
| Ia nor q Fields. Boston.l
"Keepng pace with the melancholy notes of
the death march, the procession passed along:
no member Of IL apparently less troubled than
be whose conduct was its cause aud whose death
was its object. 10 the beautiful Orientalism of
Sir William Jones, the dying only smiled while
oil around him grieved. His heart told him
that life honorably spent In pursuit of glory
would not leave his name to be enrolled among
those Of the ignoble or guilty many ;and his face
spoke the serenity Of an approving and undis
mayed conscience. From time to time, as he
caught the eye of an acquaintance, and especi-
ally to the officers Of the court OF inquiry, he
rendered the customary cvilities of recognition,
and received their acknowledgement with com.
posure and grace. II seems that up to this mo-
ment he was persuaded that he was not to be
hanged, but to be shot to death; and the inner
guard in attendance he took to be the firing par.
| ty detailed for the occasion. Not until the
troops turned suddenly, at a right angle with
the course they had hitherto followed, and the
gallows rose high before him, was he undeceiv-
ed. In the very moment of wheeling with his
escort, his eye rested on the ill.omened tree;
and he recoiied and paused. why this motion,
slrr asked Smith, who held one Of his arms
i am reconciled to my fate said Andre, clench.
ing his fist and cOnvulsively moving bis
arm, 'but not to the mode Of it, 'Is is una
voidable, sir was the reply. He beckoned
Tallmadge and inquired anxiously If he was not
to be ehot:-'Must / then die In this manner?'
Being told that it was 80 ordered-'do hard Ia .
my fste! he cried; but it will soon be over
Ascending the hillside, the prisoner was
broughtto to the gibbet, while the outer guard Sc.
cured the ceremony from interruption. During
the brief preparations, his manner was nervous
and restless, uneasily rolling pebble to and
fro beneath the ball of his foot, and the gland
Of his throat sinking and swelling as though he
choked with emotion. His servant who had fol-
lowed him to this point now burst forth with loud
weeping and lamentations, and Andre for mo.
ment turned aside and privately converted With
him. He shook hands with Tallmsd e who With.
drew. A baggage wagon was driven beneath the
cross-tree, into which he leaped lightly, though
with visible loathing; and throwing his bat
aside, removed his stock, opened his shirt-cOl-
lar, and snatching the rope from the clumsy
hangman, himself adjusted it about his neck.
He could not conceal his disgust at these fea-
lures OF his fate, but it was expressed 10 man
ner rather than in language. Then be bound
his handkerchief over his eyes
| The order Of execution was loud and impress
sively read by our Adjutant General SCANNED,
who at its conclusion informed Andre he might
now speak, if he had anything to say. Lifting
the bandage for moment from his eyes, he
bowed courteously to Green and the attending
officers, and said with frmness and dignity
'All request of you, gentlemen, is that you
will bear witness to the world that die like
brave man. His last words, murmured in an
undertoDe, were, 1t will be but momentary
pang"
| Everything seemed now ready, when the
commanding officer on duty suddenly cried OUT
His arms must be tiedn
i The hangman, with piece Of cord, laid hold
of him to perform this order; but recoiling from
his touch, Andre vehemently struck away the
man shand, and drew another handkerchief from
Ibis pocket, with which his elbows we're loosely
piHioned behind his back. The signal was
'Igiveni the wagon rolled swiftly away; and al
most in the same instant he ceased to exist :
The height of the gibbet, the length of the cord,
and the sudden shock as he was jerked from the
co6in-lid on which he stood, produced immedi-
ate death"