The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-09
A ROMANCE OF THE REVOLT
TION.


TION.
1t was a tragedy, but tragedy
sanctifed and glorified by an aura
of pity and pathos, of poetry and
romance, which was enacted at Tap
pan on the Hudson, one hundred
and fifteen years ago. The story of
Major John Andre is one of the most
touching themes of the Revolution.
His youth, his beauty, his captivating
manners, his varied and graceful &C
complishments, his love for his Hon
ora, his calm courage in the face OF
an ignoble death, all combined to
move a world to sympathy and to
Undue the literature of two hemis-
pheres with the tenderest tributes to
his memory. Even his captors and
his executioners wept at his untimely
fate, while Westminster Abbey, the
final ambition of monarchs, states
men, poets, and warriors, gathered
his ashes under its walls and COM
memorates his name in marble.
And yet he was spy. In conspir-
acy with despicable traitor, Andre
schen- ed to buy with gold what steel
had failed to win-West Point, the
key of the Hudson and the last hope
of the American cause. Under an
assumed named and in disguise, he
was captured within an enemy's lines
and reasonable documents were
found concealed upon his person.
Endeavors to bride his captors as he
had bribed the recreant hero of Sar-
atoga failed. He was captured as
spy, tried and convicted as spy, and
hanged as a spy. A shameful and
ignominious death, indeed, but war
is war, and it's stern DEGREES are as
those of fate.
The story is familiar one, story
in which, after more than century,
there is no abatement of tender in
terest. John Andre was brilliant,
accomplished, chivalric, and ambi-
tious young adjutant in the army OF
Sir Henry Clinton, then in possession
of New York and lower Westchester
Benedict Arnold, smarting under
reprimand of congress, was in COM
mand of the strong garrison at West
Point. These two men under the
nom de plumes of "John Anderson"
and "Gustavus," entered into treas
enable correspondence for the sur
render of West Point to the enemy,
and thereby practically to close the
war for independence. A meeting
was arranged. Andre was brought
up the Hudson by the sloop Vulture,
and in a thcket below Haverstraw,
in the darkness of Sept. Fl, 1850, Ar
mold and Andre met. Seven thous-
and pounds and a brigadier general
ship in the British army were to be
the price of West Point. Arnold pro-
vided "John Anderson" with a pass
through the American lines, and gave
him full information as to the arma
ment and defense of West Point, and
how the sham capture was to be eff
fected. These discriminating papers
were concealed in Andres stockings.
The next day he crossed the river
to Verplanck's point, accompanied
by Joshua Smith, at whose house on
"Treason Hip he had stayed the
night before. They rode southwark
along the river road through the
American lines, Arnold's pass seem
ing to everywhere disarm suspicion.
Remaining all night of the 22nd
within the enemy's lines at Crum
pond, he marched on the next morn
ing, happy, garrulous, and tuneful.
At Pines bridge Smith left him to go
on alone. Through Sing Sing and
Sparta, past the old Sleepy Hollow
church, the young major blithely
rode, and approached bridge over
the little brook near Tarrytown,
which was to be his fatal Rubicon.
There he was halted by three young
minute men - Paulding, Williams,
and Van Wert-whom Andre at first
mistook for friends, and incautiously
declared his identity. Perceiving his
mistake, he presented Arnold's pass,
but their suspicious being then ar
oused, on a careful search the trea-
sonable papers were discovered.
Princely brides We're offered, but
spurned, and Andre was taken first
to West Point, then to Washington's
headquarters, at Tappan, on the west