Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-10-26
NO. 253.
Gales ano Skettbes.
AUGUST, 1881.
The Disintermelt or Maj. Andrc-Iacts
from an Eye.WitucsS - Interesting
Circumstances.

The circumstances OF the arrest of
Major Andre are SO fresh in our minds,
especially since the centennial celebration
at Tarrytown. that it is not necessary to
recapitulate them here.
We will take up few after-events con-
neeted with his history. The circumstan-
ces under which he had been arrested SUBJ
jected him TO trial rs spy. Gen. WASH
ington, anxious to preserve the strictest
justice in the proceedings, allowed the
prisoner the full benefit of his brevet rank.
and assigned the ease TO a board of general
officers, among whom were Mai Gen.
Greene. Lord Stirling. Lafayette. Baron
Steuhen and others. The court was held
in the old stone house Mt Tappan. then oc-
cupied by Washington rs his head quar-
ters.
The place of the trial of Andre has often
been the subject of dispute, Inhabitants
of Tappan claim, and are probably COR
rect. that the court martial convened in
the ''Old 20 House" and then adjourned
TO the Dutch church near by rs more ade-
quate for the purpose,
Maj Andre was examined before the
board and the particulars OF his case in
quired into and they reported TO the Com
mander-in-C Chief that Mai. Andre came on
shore from the Vulture, sloop-of-war, in
the night, on an interview with Gen. Arm
old, in a private and secret manner; that
he changed his dress within the American
lines. and in n feigned name aud in dis
guised habit passed the American works
at Stony and Verplanck's Points on the
evening of the 22d of September; that he
was taken on the morning of the 23d. at
Tarrytown, ne being then on his way to
New York and that. when taken. he had
in his possession several papers which
contained intelligence for the enemy.
They therefore determined that he ought
to be considered rs a spy from the enemy
and that, agreeabiy TO the law and usage
OF nations. he ought TO suffer death. Sir
Henry Clinton. Licut.-Gen. Robertson and
Gen. Arnold all wrote pressing letters
the latter threatening ones-to Gen.
Washington on the occasion. in order to
prevent the decision of the board OF gen.
eral officers from being put in force; but
their applications were Intellectual. Mai.
Andre was hanged ut Tappan. on the I'd
of October, 1880.
In August, 1881, Mr.. James Buchanan,
British Consul mt New York. was COM
missioned by the Duke. of York to disinter
the remains and send them to London.
Accordingly. accompanied by Mr.. Moore,
an English agent for packets. he proceed
ed to Tappan. The first house they in
quircd at proved to be the very one in
which Andre had been confined while a
prisoner there And when they were
taken into the little chamber, about IL
leet by &. with one window looking into
the garden. which was used as his prison,
and looked out on the hill and directly on
the spot where he suffered, their excited
feelings could scarcely be kept under con-
troll.
LOOKING FOR THE GRAVE.
Having inquired for the owner of the
field, they waited on Rev. Mr.. Demarest,
to whom they explained the object of their
visit, and who generously expressed his
satisfaction at the honor, (which at tlengtll"
to use his words. "was intended the MEM
ory of Mai. Andre assuring them that
every facility should be afforded by him.
From thence they proceeded TO the grave,
accompanied by many of the inhabitants,
who by this time had become acquainted
with the cause of their visit. They pro-
ceeded up the narrow lane or broken road,
with trees at each side, which obscured
the place where he suffered, until they
came to the opening into the field which
leads to the elevated spot on the hill
From the summit was visible Gen. Wash
ington's headquarters, and it was evident
that the army lay encamped chiefly in view
of the place, and must necessarily haye
witnessed the execution. The field. con-
tanning from eight to ten acres, was culti-
waited. but around the grave the plow had
not approached nearer than three or four
yards. that space being covered with loose
stones thrown upon and around the grave,
which was only indicated by two cedar
trees about ten feet high. \ small peach
tree had also been placed at the head Of
the grave by the kindly feeling Of lady
in the neighborhocd.
Considerable fears were expressed by
many that the body had been secretly car
ried to England. and that nothing Of the
remains would be found. by noon quite
large crowd had assembled at the grave,
and as the day was unusually fine, great
many ladies'. and many aged matrons who
witnessed his fall-who had seen his per-
son, and who had mingled their tears with
his sufierings. attended to witness the
exhumation of one who still lived in their
sympatiies and recollections.
| As soon as the stones were cleared awe
and
TIE GRAVE WAS FOUND,
not a tongue moved among the multitude !;
a deep, breathlcss anxiety was depicted on
every countenaDce. When, at length, one
of the men cried out that he had touched
the coffin. so great was the feeling and en-
thusiasm that it was found necessary to
call in the aid OF several of the ladies to
form large circle, so that all could see
the operation. This being effected, the
men proceeded with the greatest caution,
and the clay was removed with the hands.
as it was soon discovered that the lid of
the coffin was broken in the centre.
With great care the broken lid was re-
moved, and there, exposed to view, lay
the bones Of the brave Andre, in perfect
order; and from the skeleton it was evi-
dent that he had been small man. The
roots Of the small peach tree had compile.