The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-04-02

Last month has produced two events
which will bear distinguished lustre iI
the annals of America. The infamy O.
Mr.. Arneld and the death Of Major An
Dire, adjutant general of the British ar
my. Mr.. Arnold has been villain or
the small scale as well as on the great
He had established lucrative connections
with suffers and suffers wives, and had
them the instruments of converting into
money his embezzlements of public
stores. He has
DECEIVED HIS WIFE
and estranged his friend, Maj. Andre.
This latter matter was, perhaps, unavoi,
dable, though it is generally attributable
to pusilanimity inherent in the villains
breast. AS if determined to exhibit to
the world how deep in infamy human
nature is capable of descending, he is
now, by violating his confidential COM
munications with the commander-in-
chief, pointing out to Sir Henry Clinton
those characters in the city of New
York friendly to the American cause.
He lives, but he lives to misery and an
guish. The virtuous Andre is dead, but
dead with honor. Perhaps history does
not afford an instance of an execution
similar to that of Andre-just and una
voidable, without the least particle of
immortality in the sufferer. Many tales
which have gone forth relative to these
transactions must render you anxious to
hear a special relation of
THE WHOLE ADVENTURE.
It seems that General Arnold was the
proposer of his intensions in letter to
Sir Henry Clinton. The point of issue
is not assertained, though we have some
reason to believe it originated soon after
General Clinton's return from South
Carolina. The object in view was the
betraying of West Point into the hands
of the enemy. Appearances were to be
kept up; the place was to have been sur
rendered on terms of capitulation, and
Mr.. Arnold, general in our service, on
parole. In other words, the object was
bLO SuOlOSdbAOA VI AAACIlCds OH 11CnI5
Clinton committed the management of
this important business to Mai Andre,
young gentleman equal in eminencc to
any the world ever produced. Major
Andre came up the North river in an
armed sloop and lay near Kings ferry,
at which place we have two small forts.
Kings ferry is distant from West Point
between twelve and sixteen miles. Gen
eral Arnold, by means of Joshua Smith,
held conference with Major Andre in
the night on the shore of the river.
From the shore they adjourned to this
Mr.. Smiths house, one mile in the coun-
try. Here matters were completely fix
ed The American Gibraltar was to be
betrayed and the traitor secured as to
the reception of the bribe.
THEY PREPARED TO RETURN,
Arnold to West Point, Andre to the Yul-
ture. Some embarrassments arose as to
the getting on board; the two peasants
who had landed Major Andre having
been up the night before, and most of
that night, were both to assist when
called on. 1t was then proposed to spend
! the day in secret at Smiths house. An
DIRE consented; Arnold left him. In The
evening Andre and his guide Smith set
out, and by reason of General Arnold 8
pass they uninterruptedly passed Kings
/ ferry Andre left his regimental coat at
Smiths house, and wore one borrowed
/ from Smith. Mr.. Smith conveyed his
charge safe to solitude without the
line of our usual patrol, and left him
pushing on for New York Fortunate
Iy, when very near the enemy's advanc.
ed post, he met with three young militia
men, whom quest of plumber had carried
thus far. Major Andre accosted them,
asking them from whence. They replied
from below. Above and below were
country terms on the lines for the Amer
lean and British armies. Andre, in his
transport of joy, discovered to then
that he was British officer.
THE LADS INSTANTLY SEIZED HIM.
He made every attempt on the virtue o
his captors. Ten thousand guineas wer'
assured them, and every necessary of lif
was lavishly proffered. All in vain. An
DIRE was brought prisoner to our I'D
vance horse-guards. Papers announC
ing the object of his mission were fount
upon him. Arnold's villainy was alst
discovered, but so laundering was tn
officer in his measures that he contrivet
to give thu first notice of the capture O
the spy to Mr.. Arnold, and, consequent
lV. furnished Arnold with time to es
cape. This was erroneous, not inter
tional. Arnold made the best use of thi
notice, and got to the Vulture in hi
barge under the sanctity of flag. TIL
poor bargemen whom he had made us
of on this occasion were, at his instance
retained as prisoners of war. Andre an
Smith were brought TO camp for trial
The former was condemned, the latter
still under trial. The virtuous Andre
though conscious of having become
spy without intention and by accident
), vet, in letter which he wrote to hi
general, he approves the propriety of hi
sentence. Time was given for prepar;
tion on behalf of the unfortunate All
Dire. General Robertson came to our az