The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-16
THE CAPTURE OF ANDRE,
An Historical Narrative that Discresaik
American Patriotigm.

we are indebted 70 captain Charles
IL. Townsend, says the New Heaven
Conn., Palladium, for the following copy
OF an interesting manuscript. In the
year 1917 Gen. King was written to by a
friend who desired to know the exact
facts In relation to Major Andres cap.
ture, etc. The following letter was writ.
ten by Gen. King in reply, and although
previously solicited for publication. q
now, for the first time, given to the pub
lie: -
RrDaEFIELD, June II, 1917.
DEAR SIR: Yours of the 9th Is before
me. have noted the contents. and am
sorry to express the indignation / feel at
the idea Of being obliged to translate n
foreign language to obtain t,re history
of any part of our revolution. The facts.
so far as l am acquainted with them. /
will state to the best of my ability and
recollection. Paulding Williams. and
Van Wort never saw before or since
that event. know nothing about them.
The time and place whers they etopped
Major Andre saams 70 ;nalisy tha cskas-
Gcter you have drawn of them, The
truth 10. to the imprudence of the man.
and no. the patriotism of any one. Ia To-
DO ascribed the capture of Major Andre.
was tho first and only officer who had
charge of him while at the headqusrtera
of the I'd Regiment Of Light Dragoons.
which was then at ESQUIRE Gilberts in
South Salem. He Yves brought up by an
adjutant and four men belonging to tho
Connecticut militia, under the Command,
OF lieut.. Col. Jamison, from the lines
I'nrrUtntyr, ~, a. a
disguised name Of John Anderson. He
looked somewhat like reduced gentle.
man. His small clothes were nankeen,
with long, white top boots, in part his
undress military suit. His coat, purple
with gold lace, worn somewhat thread
bare, with o small brimmed tarniahea
beaver on his head. He wore his hair
In queue with o long, black band, and
his clothes somewhat dirty.
''In this garb I took charge of him.
After breakfast my barber came into
shave me. after which I requested him to
undergo the same operation, which he
did. When the ribbon was taken from
his hair / observed it was full of powder.
This circumstahce with othera that ,oc-.
CURED induced me to believe that had
no ordinary person in charge. He ra-
quested permission to take the bed while
his shirt and small clothes could be
washed. told him that was needless,
for change was at his service, which he
accepted. We were close pent up in q
bedroom with guard at tho door and
window. There wan o spacious yard be-
fore the door which hedeaired he might
be permitted to walk in with me. I ac.
cordipgly disposed of my guard in such
q manner as to prevent an escana.
While walking together he observed ttst
he must mako O confdant of somebody,
and he knew not moro proper person
than myself. proceed with the NAY.
jor's own story. He said he came up the
North River in the sloop.of.waf Vulture
for the PURPOSE of seainn . nerann hv lah.
of truce. This was not, however, accom-.
plished. OF course he had to come
ashore In skiff, and after he had done
his business the wind was so high the
Dutchman who took him ashore dare not
venture TO return him ON board. The
night following tbs militia had lined tho
shore, 30 that no attempt would be made
with safety, consequently he was fur
nished, after changing his clothes, with
hoTa5 aud Gen. Arnoid;s pass,
aud was to take o route by Peekskill.
Crumpound, Pinesbridge, Sing Sing,
Tarrytown, ETC., to New York. Nothing
occurred to disturb him on his route IN.
til he arrived at the Lest place except at
Crumpound. He told me his hair steod
erect and his heart was in his mouth on
meeting Col. Samuel 3. Web, OF our
army. plumb in the Esna. An aej;ss;fs-
tance of his said that Col. Stoddert knew
him and he thought that he was gone,
bus they kept moving along, and soon
passed each other. He then Thought
himself past all danger, and, while
Illuminating on his good luck and hair.
breadth escapes. he was assailed by three
bushmen near Tarrytown, who ordered
him to stand. He said to them, II hope,
gentlemen, you belong to the lower par
ty.' we do,' says one. SO do T. says he.
and by the token Of this ring and key,
you will let mo pass. am British
officer on business Of Importance, ard
must not DO detained y ss
Gone Of them took his watch from him.
and then ordered him TO dismcunt. The
moment that was done he said he found
he was mistaken he must shift his tone.
He says: 4 am happy, gentlemen, TO
hnd am mistaken Belong to the
upper party and SO do I ;and to convince
you of 1t, here is General Arnold's pass,,
handing it to them. Damn Arnaolds
pass, said they. sYon said you were q
British officer. Where is your money p
Gentlemen, have none about me-, he
replied. eYon q Rritish officer, pooh I
a gold watch and no money! let IA
search him. They did SO, but found none.
Says one: He has his money in hts
boots; let's have them of and see.' They
took off his boots and there they found
his papers, but no money. They then
examined his saddle but found none.
he said he saw they hsd such a thirst
for money, he wonld put them in q way
70 get 1t If they would be directed by him.
They answered him in this way: IF We
deliver Won at Kings Bridge, We shall be
sent 20 tie sugur-nouge ana You viii aave
your money. F- says: If you;pwili
not trust my homo two of you may STAY
With me and one shall 10 with The letter
l will write. Name your surn.' The
sum was agreed upon, but I cannot ra.
collect whether 1t was I've hundred Or
one thousand guiness. but the latter T
think, was the epu. They held con-
sultation for q long si.c.s, and finally thev
told him il he ws0fe d party would Se.
sent ont and take them, and then thew
ahoIe d all be prisoners, They said thew
had concluded 60 take him "a the COM
handing officer on The lines. Thoy did
20, AID retained the watch until General
w Washington sent for them 20 Tapafl
when tho watch Yves restored to Maiorj
Andre.
Thus yon eco, had money been at
command alter she impruaent con- niession
Of, Major Andre, or any security rivefl