Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-07-12


around and find John Andre by small
coal fire, in o gloomy counling-houso
in Warnford Court nothing so little as
what he has been making himself and,
in all probability, never TO be much
more than he is at present But, OIL
my dear Honora lit IL for thy sake
only wish for wealth"
Many of his letters arc in this strain
He tells her, in one Of them, that, ior
her sake, he has overcome his repug-
nance to a mercantile life, and that, If
ever something whispers in his ear,
that he is not of the right stnff for n
merchant, hc draws his Honora's pic
ture from his bosom, and tho sight of
that dear tailsman so inspirits his in
dustry, that no toll appears distress
ing.
But this romantic affection in mcr-
chants clerk of eighteen had no re-
suits, Soon after becoming OF age, he
entered the army, and, about two
years after, his Honora gave her hand
to that terrific being whom lovers are
supposed to style with gnashing teeth
-"another.' In l774, the year before
the Revolutionary War began, he was
ordered to Canada to join his regi-
ment
Scarcely had the contest begun, when
he was taken prisoner by Gen. Mont
gomery, at the capture of st. Johns
and he was held on his parole for about
fourteen months. The American troops,
he says, in one of his letters, robbed
him of everything he had except a
miniature of his llonora, which he
concealed in his mantle and having
preserved that, he thought himself
lucky. He spent most Of his time as
q prisoner at Lancaster and Carlisle,
in Pennsylvania, having the liberty to
90 TO q distance OF SIX miles from his
appointed residence. His chief amuse.
ment was drawing and painting, and
he gave instructions in those arts to
| the young people Of the families he
visited, some Of whom preserve to this
day specimens Of his skill The grand
father of the late Caleb Cope, of Phila-
delphia, of the eminent mercantile fam
lily of that name, was one of his pupils
in 1776, There is still a tradition in
those towns Of his agreeable and polite
behavior.
After his exchange he was stationed
for while in the city of New York
where he held the rank of Captain
He probably owed his further rise in
the army to a memoir which he wrote
upon the war, in which he embodied
the results Of bis observations during
his long confinement, and IN preparing
which he was aided by a journal care
fully kept, and illustrated by drawings
. Of everything curious and rare that he
had seen. The intelligence displayed
in this memoir procured him staff ap
pointment, and finally led TO his being
| lAdjutant General Of the whole army
He was eminently fitted to shine upon
a Generals staff.
4 During the British occupation o.
Philadelphia, Major Andre was one o
those who were quartered in DR.. Frank
Inns house, from which the family haC
fled. Amateur theatricals were th,
rcigning amusement OF that winter
and it was Andre who painted the droI
curtin, and most of the scenery, som,
Of which did duty in a Philadelphia
theatre for many years after the war
The drop curtain was in use until 1921
i One of the plays in which he tool
part was "The Liar" which was re
vived two years ago in the city o
New York. Andre amused the garri
son also with various comic pieces o
verse, in the style Of Yankee Doodle
designed to, 'cast ridiculc upon tn,
starving and shiycring patriot army q
Valley Forge. He was much concern
cd in the details of a burlesque tourna
ment, in which he performed con
spicuous part. The city, during th'
whole period of the British occupation
was scene of revelry and riot. Wei
might an old officer exclaim, when th,
tournament was spoken of;
"What win Washington think o
all this2"
There is reason to suppose that Ma
jor Andre was in correspondence will
the traitor Arnold for whole year be
fore tho discovery OF the plot. A
Philadelpha he became intimate will
the Shipper family, one of the daugh
ters Of which Arnold had married
and it is supposed that the corrcspon
. denco began with his writing to Mrs
, Arnold from New York in 1879. II
assured her that his regard for hcrsel
"and the fair circle in which had tn
honor of becoming acquainted wit
you, remains unimpaired by distanc
or political broil" He told her, alsC
as this participation in the gayeties {
Philadelphia had made him "a con
!. plctc milliner," he should be glad {
. send her from New York such article
as "cap-wire, needles and gauzc,
which she might require. Whethe
or not this letter was intended to pre-
pare the way for Arnolds treason,
:. not certnip but IL is known that, ffor
this time forward, lctters passed b,
. tween Andre and Arnold as often a
opportunity permitted.
lie looked forward with the utmos
= confidence to being the means of pu,
ting an end to the war through the d,
fection Of Arnold and the capture {
West Point. Immense supplies ha
. been gathered in and about that pos
which had been fortified by thre
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