Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-07-12
MAJOR JOHN ANDRE.
BY JAMES PARTON.


At Tappantown, in Rockland coun-
ty, New York, a village about three
miles west of the Hudson river, and
about forty from the city, there is an
elevated field, in the midst of which
there may be seen withorcd tree, and
a heap of stones; and for little space
round about the ground is never plough.
cd. Strangers occasionally come, who
gaze upon the spot with evident inter-
est. 1t is a pleasant, romantic region,
interesting to Now Workers because Of
the vicinity of Rockland Lake, which
supplies us with part OF our ice, and
gives name to much Of the rest.
This heap of stones marks the spot
where the remains of Major Andre re
posed from the day Of his execution in
1880, until 1921, when they were
transferred to Westminster Abbey, in
London. His grave was dug directly
beneath the gallows, and there he was
inferred at the depth Of three or foui
feet. A peach tree, planted by sym.
pathetic woman's hand to mark the
grave, struck down its roots pierced
the coffin, and formed net work Of
fbres around the skull. This tree was
taken up with the remains and re
planted in one Of the royal gardens in
London. The skeleton, cnclosedsin q
mahogany coffin, which was exceed
ingly massive and richly decorated
with gold, was conveyed to London in
British man-of.war, and inferred In
the abbey with religious ceremonies
near the monument erected to his hon
or by George the Third. For forty
one years the body had remained in I
cheap pine coffin, painted black, and
in the unhonored grave of spy, to be
buried at last in the mausoleum Of he
roes, orators, poets and statesmen.
The reader has, perhaps seen, OF
will see, the monument to Andre II
Westminster Abbey. 1t has very
insignificant appearance, but the nam'
in the inscription arrests every Amer
lean eye, and few words accompany
ing it impress every American mind !;
Sacred to the memory Of Majol
John Andre, who, raised by his mcrit
at an early period of life, TO the ranl
OF Adjutant General of the British
forces in America, and cmployedin al
important but hazardous enterprise
fell O sacrifice to his zeal for his kinl
and country, on the Second of October
1880, aged twenty-nine years; univer
sally beloved and esteemed by th,
army in which he served, and lament
cd even by his foes. His gracious SOW
creign, King George the Third, ha
caused this monument to be erected.
John Andre was one Of the last mel
in the British army to be employed il
any affair requiring nerve and duplici
ty. Brave and high-principled he was
but he had not the toughncss of fibre
the coolness Of temperament, the fcr
tility of resources, and the callousnes
of conscience requisite in man VIII
ventures into the lions den with IN
tent to deceive and entrap the lior
He was too talkative, too confdinl
too sensitive, too quick in surrender
ing the game. He would have led
iorlorn hope up into the breach Of
beleaguered city with the most spler
did valor; but he was not the man 10
the complicated, cold-blooded busnes
of spy.
His father was Swiss merchant
long settled in London, where he gair
ed considerable fortune. His motf
or, though of French parentage, wa
born in London. The native languag,
therefore, Of both his parents, wa
French; and there was in his chara,
ter spice of French sentiment and rt
nance. He was French enough {
think, for example, that to be an off
Ger in an army is thing more desiri
bic, more honorable, and moro becou
ing a man, than 10 serve his countr
as man Of business. Nevertheless
when he was a lad Of seventeen, b
father placed him in counting.hous,
where he remained, plying the assid
ous pen, till he was past twenty.one.
He was an agreeable, winning, an
handsome youth. The diligence of h
biographer, the late Winthrop sargcn
has brought together some Of his earl
est letters, written when he was pa
sionately in love with an oxtremel
beautiful girl, who afterwards marie
the father of the celebrated Miss Edg,
: worth. He drew the portrait of tht
lady, which still exists, with sever,
other efforts of his pencil and brusl
His letters reveal TO us an affectionat'
ardent, innocent mind, and o talent ft
composition which practice might hav
developed into decided gift. He tel
his beloved in one of his letters ho'
much he hates the slavery Of the desl
and how ho sits in the counting -hous
and indulgcs his imagination wit
anticipations Of tho future. wv
Borne on the soaring pinions of a
ardent Imagination he writes,
wing my fight to the time when Hea'
en- shall have crowned my labors wit
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