The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-02-06
Andre Plead for
Soldiers Death
Note to Washington Prayed
To Be Spared Dishonor
Of Being Hanged.

NEW ORLEANS.-A New Orleans
collector has bought for s4OO a scrap
OF paper containing the proud words
MAJ. John Andre penned to George
washington asking death by a firing
squad.
The yellowed, 16l-year-old letter
which was never answered-has
been IN the hands of New Orleans
family for generations. It was sold
by Leo Brownson, a broker. who
would reveal the name of neither
seller nor buyer.
In II Andre, imprisoned for plot
ting with Benedict Arnold. pleaded
with General Washington in polite.
nicely turned phrases to spare him
death ION a jibbet.", Andre wrote
the request on the eve of his execu-
ton at Tappan, N. Y.
Washington's denial of if caused
subsequent charges of harshness on
the American commanders part
that have been the subject of much
historical argument.
HIS manner of death, however.
was only the last blow in a life of
dlsappolntmentS for John Andre.
Perhaps the greatest came when the
strict parents of Honora Sneyd for
babe him her hand.
Joins Royal Army.
He then joined the royal army in
Canada. Honora married another in
l773, but Andres account of his
capture with the surrender of St.
Johns in ITS notes that he was
stripped of everything except the
picture of Honora, which concealed
in my mouth. Preserving this l yet
think myself fortunate.
Exchanged for an American pris-
oner IN three years, Andre returned
to service and won rapid promo
tons. His Inflated rendezvous with
Benedict Arnold occurred when, as
an adjutant general of the British
forces, he landed at West Point fly
ing a flag of truce.
Pretending to arrange for DISPOSE
ton of Loyalist's confscated prop
erty, he obtained vital defense maps
from the traitorouS American officer.
The plot might have been success
full had not American fire forced his
sloop o'war, the Vulture, to move
down the river.
Andre changed into civilian
clothes and hurried toward the Eng
liSh lines, but three colonial militia
men captured him near Tarrytown
They found the telltale papers in his
boots.
Pleads With Washington.
The event later was commemorat-
ed by an American statue to the
three who seized the British officer,
and by a British tablet in West
minister Abbey eulogizing Andre.
The historic letter to His Excellen-
cy General Washington" will be sent
to the Library of Congress in Wash
ington to be photographed and then
returned to New Orleans. It fol-
lows:
dated October !, 1900
Sir:
"Buoyed above the terror OF death
by the consciousness Of a life dnvot-
ed to honorable pursuits end stained
with no action that can give me re-
morse, l trust the request l make
TO Your Exceliency at this serious
period and which is TO soften my
last moments will not be rejected.
Sympathy toward a soldier will
surely induce Your Excellency and
d military tribunal to adapt the
mode of my death to the feelings Of
man of honor.
Let me hope, sir, that if aught
in my character impresses you with
esteem toward me, if aught in my
misfortune marks me as the victim
of policy or resentment, ] shall ex-
perience the operation of these feel
ings in your breast by being in
formed that am not to die on a
jibbet.
Il have the honor to be, Your Elk
cellency's most obedient and most
humble servant
JOHN ANDRE
Adiutant General. British Army"