The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-02

cess, but involved in danger ana distress
friend for whom | had very de-
the warmest esteem. Not lmme-
dia,elv Knowing. however, the full extent of
the misfortune. dld not then imagine the
enemy could have any motive for pushing
matters 10 extremity, as the bare detention
OF so valuable an officers person might have
given hlm great power and advantage over
me: and was accordingly in hopes that an
official demand from me for bis immediate
release, as having been under the sanction OF
fl - Of Truce when he landed within his
pos,s, nigh! shorten his captivity, or at least
stop his proceeding with rlgor against him.
But the cruel and unfortunate catastrophe
convinced me that was much mistaken IN
my opinion of both bis policy aud humanity.
For delivering himself up Ia itsnonld seen)
to the rancoI excited by the near accomplish
mcnt Of plan which might have etectualy
restored the Kings authority, and tumbied
him from his present exalted situation, be
burnt with desire OF wreakinS his ven
geance on the principal actors 10 II; ana con.
Sequenlly, regardless OF the acknowledged
worth and abilities Of the alniable young
man whe had thus fallen into bis hands, and
in opposition to every principle oil policy and
call of humanity, he, without remorse, put
him to most ignominious death; ana ms
at moment when one OF his Generals was
by his own appointment in actual conference
with commissioners whom had sent to treat
with him Tor Major Andes release.
"The manner in which Major Andre was
drawn 10 the Enemy's shore (manitestly at
the instance aud under the sanction OF the
General officer, who had the command OF
The dlstrici), and his being avowedly com.
pced by that officer to change bis dress and
name and return under his passports by
Land, were circumstances which, as tney
much lessen the imputed criminaity Of bis
offence, ought at least to have softencd the
severity of Council OF Wars Opinion re-
specling it, notwithstanding bis lmprudcnce
of having possessed himself of the papers
which they found on him. Which, though
they led to Il discovery of the nature OF the
business that d'cw'him to conference win
General Arnold, were not wanted Us they
must have kDowr) for my Information. For
they were not ignorant that l bad, myself,
been over every part Of the ground on when
the forts stood, ard lad, of course, made
myself perfectly acquainted With every tb'ng
nect SSary for facilitating an attack OF them
Mr.. Washington ought also to have remem'
bercd that h,d never, in one irs'ance. pun
isbed the d'sitlrctcd Colon's:s (wlthn my
power) with Death, but, on the contrary, bad
in several shown the most humane Atten.
ton 10 bis IutercesSion even IN favor oil
avowed spies. His acting therefore in SO
cruel manner in opposition to my earnest
stl,clution could not but excite IN me the
greatest surprise; Especially as no adj
| vantage whatever could be possibly ex
pcctcd to his cause by putting the o'Jec
| of lhtm to Death. Nor could be be insensi
BILE (nud he the smallest spark OF honor ir
| bis own hear) that the example Chougt
ever so terrible and ignominious) wouic
never deter British officer from treadine
| in the same steps whenever the service o.
| his country would require bis exposing blm
self 10 The like danger in such war. But
the subject affects me too deeply TO proceed
! nor can my heart cease TO bleed whenever
| rtfl,ct on the very unworthy fate of thi:
most amiablc and valuable young man, wEc
| was adorned with the raleS. ENDORSEMENTS q
education and nature, and (had he lived
| could not but have attained to the higDcs
houors of his proession."
Such is Sir Henry Ciinton's version o
what has universally been conceded to have
been one of the sadde>t events in our Rero
Iunonary struggle. How far this version
may affect our estimate CT the wisdom ant
correctness Of the course pursued by Wash
ingion | cannot tell. I. is clear that Sill
! Henry REGARDED the execution of Audleas ;
base outrage, not sanctioned IL the law;
| of honorable warfare, and 10 be espe
ca!y condemned because it was in suct
marked cuntla>t with his own treatment o
| spic; found within the British lines. Th
| vel dict of our own historians seems to b
unanimous that Washington was JUSTIFIED il
ps,tiug 10 an ignominious death one whC
| came, in such close relations TO an OttiIe
| holding high rank in the American army
who vas doing all in his power to ruin
just cause. and whose name is branded will
eternal infamy as the Traitor Arnold"
| j. G.. S.
Providence. r. T.. Nav IS. 1875.