Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-27
Major Andre.

Considerable discussion has been
ELECTED by the proposition to erect a
monument over abe burial place of
Major Andre. with an inscription by
Dean Stanley. In view of the in
terest aroused on the subject. we
publish the following letter, written
to the New York Esangelis: by a
lady in Richfeld Springs, New York:
Does it not seem strange, in these
days of liberal ideas, that the kind
act OF kind hearted man should be
criticised and censured2 l refer TO
that OF Mr.. Cyrus w. Field in plac.
ing monument over the grave of
the brave but. unfortunate Major
John Andre. Mr.. Field says that 1t
is only to mark the place of his
death but if sorrow was felt for
his fate even when our country was
in the midst of the war Of the Rev.
olution, would it be unfitting now
as a mark of respect to his memory q
Often have Iheard my aunt speak
OF the sympathy that was manifest.
cd for this gallant and accomplished
yoeng oflcer. and the tender respect
pa;dsthe removal Of his remains to
England forty years after his death.
1t is particularly of this event, and
OF an Interesting memento my aunt
has OF it, wish to speak, thinking
it might interest some Of your read.
era. The father of this aunt. the
Rev. John Demarest, was then
clergyman of the Reformed Dutch
Church at Tappan, and owned and
occupied the farm on which Andre
was buried. Al the time of the
removal in 1921 she was q yonna
lady Of eighteen, and being an eye.
witness to the scene, it is still as
fresh in her memory as the day it
occurred, and to mo che has often
told this story. Two sisters of Major
Andre, being very SOLICITORS for the
transfer of his remains to England.
the British government took meas.
ures to effect this removal. In the
early part of August, 1921, British
Gan.of.war entered the Hudson
river, the consent of the United
States having been obtained, on
board of which was His ROYAL
Highness the Duke Of York. the
uncle of Queen Victoria, Here the
distinguished visitor was Joined BY
Mr.. Buchanan. the British Consul at
New York, and together with Can't.
Paul., they sailed up the river to
Tappan. Going ashore thew were
received by Mr.. marest, who
offered them the hospitalities of his
home, and treated them with the
courtesy due their social and official
stations, and the sympathy their sad
mission deserved.
In commencing to remove the re-.
mains, The attendants first took up
the lonely cedar. his only monument,
and on reaching the skeleton it was
found intact, but strange to say, the
roots of the tree had penetrated it
even to the skull. The remains
wero thon carried TO the house and
put in a handsome Egyptian sarco /.
phagus. covered with Royal purple;
here they were kept couple of
days, and then placed on board the
vessel to start on their homeward
Tourney. At the same time they
took with them the cedar tree.
which was afterwards made up into
souvenirs, and given to the friends of
the deceased.
| After the arrival Of Andres re-
mains in England, the sisters, hear.
ing the marked kindness of Mr..
Demarest, wished to send him some
testimonial of their esteem and re.
gard. The Duke of York, with that
dehcaoy and courtesy which dis.
tinguished him, made known their
desire to Mr.. Demarest, ct the same
time Offering to send him solid sill.
yer Communion service. To this
Mr.. Demarsst modestly replied that
be felt that such o. costly service
would be ont or place in his plain
country church, and that . more
simple gift would be az acceptable,
if they insisted on sending any. In
| the course of time there came to
him from England beautiful snuff
box, made from the wood of the
Identical cedar which grew over
| Andres grave. The box is heavily
, lined with gold, and the wood is
exquisitely polished. 1t shows the
heart of the wood, and in the lid is
Q bullet which had probably been
buried there years before. On the
. tc1lIoc l;n;o<p re tha ia 90 ooc~avad