New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-14
JOIN ANDRE, PRISONER.
HOW MAJOR TALLMADGE DESCRIBED HIN
IN LETTER TO JARED SPARKS.
From the original documents printed IN The Magazine ~



IN A LETTER TO JARED SPARKS.
Fora the original Documents as printed IN The Magazine ~
american H,stOrg
From the time | first reed MAJOR Andre into
Custody until deliv'd him at Iappan he was
coathed in "A plain Countryman's Dress, with sur
tout overall rather shabby. which THINK ne tod
me was j. Smiths, at havcrstraw, where ne was
concealed. soon after we reached lappah ms hcgi-
mentals were sent out from New York. ~ which he
constantly appeared, IN which he walked 10 the
gallows. * was executed & III which ] saw him laid
IN his Coffin From the moment Mai or Andre made
the Disclosure of his name " true chlr-
acter, in his Letter 10 the COMMUNICATING.
dated Sepr 2ltb 1850, winch he handed TO me as
soon as he bad written i, to the moment OF his TX
ecutIOn, | was almost constantly with hlm. lie
Ease aud AFT ibility Of his manner polished by the
refinement of good Society ~ finished EducailOn,
made him most delectabe Companion. IL often
drew tears from my Eyes to find HIM so pleasant
and agreeable ~ Conversation on different Su Jects,
when reflected on his future fate ~ that toO as
believed, near at hand.
Since YOU ask for Private Anecdotes l would
remark that soon after Acquaintance, beng
mutually disposed 10 have the most nnreserVed ~
tree COW ersation. ~ both being soldiers Ot equal
rank ma the two armies, we agreed on a carte, bY
the terms oi which each one was permitted TO pat
any Question to the other, not involving third
Person. This open, wide field for two inqusltlye
Young Officers, " we amused ourselves ON the
march to Head Quarters NOT little. My principal
hject was To learn the late plot. On every point
that / enqulrcd, wien any other person was con-
cerned he maintained most rgldly the rule so that
even where that most infamous TRAITOR Arnold was
concerned & he out of our control, so nice was his
sense ct honour that he would disclose nothing.
som began 10 make enquiries about the ex-
pcctcd capture of our fortress * legged him to
inform me whether he was 20 have taken part In
The military attack, ii ATnOds plan had succeeded.
me to A table of Land on the West Shore, which he
said was the spot where he should have landed at
the head of select Corps. He then traversed IN
idea the course up the mountain into the rear OF
Fort Putnam. which overooks the whole Parade of
West Point. * with much greater exact
ness than 1 could have done; " as the
garrison that little or no opposition
could have been made by Troops, Major
Andre supposed he should have reached that i'm
porani Eminence without difhculty. Thus that
important key of our country would have been
theirs d the Glory oi so splendid an Achievement
would have been his. The Animation with which
he gave the Account recollcct perfectly delighted
ne for he seemed If he was entering the Tort,
sword IN hand. To complete the Climax, then ep,
succeeded. He replied that military Glory
was all he sought, & that the thanks of
his General, n the appreciation of his
King, was rich reward tor such an nn-
dcrtakng. | think he further IemaI ked that IL
he had succeeded l&, with the aid OF the oppos-
ing General, who would doubt of succcssY) he was
To nave been promoted To the rank OF brigade
General.
we reached the Glove. where We dlned, Major An
DIRE was very lnqusitIve 10 know my Opinion as 10
the result of his Capture. In other words, he wished
mo To give him my Opinion as TO the light III which
he would be viewed by Genl Washington Il a
Military Tribunal, # one should be ordered. en-
deayored to evade the Question, unwilling TO give
hun u true answer When could no
longer evade this Importantly. L said To
him that | had much loved class
mate in Yale College by the name of Nathan Hale,
who entered the Army with me i'll the year l776,
after the British Troops had entered \. York.
GenI Washington wanted Information respecting
The strength, position ami probable movements of
the Euemy. Capt Hale rendered his services, went
into n. York. * was taken just as he was passing
the out posts of the Enemy. said ], with Emphasis,
do You remember the sequel of this Story Yes,
said Andre: he hanged as "a Spy but you
surely do not consider bis Case and mine alike.
replied. precisely similar X similar will be your
fate He cnteavOred TO answer my remarks. but 1t
was manifest lac more troubled than mad ever
seen HIM before.
We stopped at the Glove to dine & to let the
Horse Guard refresh; while there Andre kept re-
viewing his shabby Dress, " finally remarked To
me thar he positively ashamed 10 go to the
Head Qls of the American Army IN such a plight
| called my Servant, & directed him to bring my
Dragon Cloak, which presented TO Andre. This
lac refns I'd To take Tor some time but insisted on
IT, & he finally put IT OH d rode in 1t TO Iappan.
The catastrophe, which cnsued after we reached tho
army at Tappau, narrated III my former Letter,
d the principal facts are matters OF history.
Give me leave then to remark that SO deeply were
my feelings interested in the fate of tnis unfortu-
nate young Man, that believe | have never mar
rated the story perused the account of his mer-
tied, bat ignoninous Death without shedding tears
of sorrow over such bligilted prospects,