Year: 1879

AN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE THAT DlSChED-


ITS AMERICAN PATRIOTISM.


We are indebted to. Captain Charles H
Townsend, says the New Haven (Conn.) Pal
ladiuns, for the following copy of an interest:
ing manuscript. In the year 1917 General
King was written to by friend who desired
to know the exact facts in relation to Major
Andres capture, etc. The following letter
was written by Gen. King in reply, and al
though previously solicited for publication, is
now, for the first time, given to the public:


RIDGEF1ELD, June II, 1S17.-Dear Sir :
Yours of the 9th is before me. ]. have noted
the contents, and am sorry to express the in.
dignation feel at the idea Of being obliged
to translate foreign language to obtain a
true history of any part of our Revolution.
The facts, so far Us I am acquainted with
them, I will state to the best of my ability
and recollection. Paulding, Williams and
Van Wort I never saw before or since that
event. / know nothing about them. The
time and place where they stopped Major
Andre seems to justify the character you
have drawn of them. The truth is, to the
imprudence of the man, and not the patriot
ism of any one, is to be ascribed the capture
of Major Andre. I was the first and only
officer who had had charge of him while at
the headquarters of the End Regiment Of
Light Dragons, which was then at Esquire
Gilbert's in South Salem. He was brought up
by an adjutant and four men belonging to the
Connecticut militia, under the command OF
Lieut.. COL Jamison, from the lines near Tar
rytown, character under the disguised name
of John Anderson. He looked somewhat
like reduced gentleman. 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 small brimmed tarnished beaver
on his head He wore his hair in queue
with a lcng, black band, and his clothes some.
what dirty.


"In this garbI took charge of him. At
ter breakfast my barber came in to shave me,
after which I requested him to undergo the
same operation, which he did. When the
ribbon was taken from his hair l observed it
was full of powder. This circumstance, with
others that occurred, induced me to believe
that had no ordinary person in charge. BE
requested 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 be accepted. We were
close pent up in bedroom, with a guard at the
door and window. There was spacious yard
before the door which he desired he might be
permitted to walk in with me. I accordingly
disposed Of my guard in such manner as to
prevent an escape While walking together
he observed that he must make conGdant of
somebody, and he knew not more proper
person than myself. Iproceed with the Ma
ior's own story. He said he came up the
North River in the sloop.ofwar Vulture for
the purpose Of seeing person by flag OF
truce This was not, however, accomplished.
Of course he had to come ashore in skif,
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 the militia had
lined the shore, so that no attempt would be
made with safety, consequently he was fur.
nished, after changing his clothes, with a
continental horse and Gen. Arnold's pass, and
was to take route by Peekskill, Crumpound,
Pinesbridge, Sing Sing, Tarrytown, ETC., to
New York. Nothing occurred to disturb him
on his route until he arrived at the last place,
except at Crumpound He told me his hair
stood erect and his heart was in his mouth on
meeting Col. Samuel B. Webb, Of our army,
plump in the face. An acquaintance of his
said that Col. Stoddert knew him and he
thought that he was gone, but 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, 4 hope, gentlemen,
you belong to the lower party I'VE do,'
says one SO do l. says he, and by the to-
ken Of this ring and key you will let me pass
1 am British officer on business of import
ance, and must not be Detained


"One of them took his watch from him,
and then ordered him to dismount. The mo-
ment that was done he said he found he was
mistaken; he must shift his tone. He says
I am happy, gentlemen, to find / am mis-
taken-you belong to the upper party and so
do I; and to convince you of it, here is Gen
eral Arnold's pass handing ii to them:
Damn Arnold's pass said they. You said
you were British officer. Where is your
money! Gentlemen, have none about
me, he replied. You British officer, pooh


A gold watch and no money! Let us search
him They did so, but found none Says
one: He has his money in his boots let's
have them off and see' They took off bis
boots and there they found his papers, but no
money. They then examined his saddle but
found none He said he saw they had such
thirst for money, he would put them in
way to get it if they would be directed by
him. They answered him in this way: III
we deliver you at Kings Bridge, we shall be
sent to the sugar-house and you will save
your money He says: IF you will not trust
my honor, two of you may stay with me and
one shall 20 with the letter | will write.
Name your sum- The sum was agreed upon,
but l cannot recollect whether it was five
hundred or one thousand guineas, but the lat
ter, think. was the sum. They held con:
sultation for a long time, and finally told
him if he wrote party would be sent out
and take them, and then they shall all be
prisoners. They said they had concluded to
take him to the commanding officer on the
lines They did so, and retained the watch
until General Washington sent for them to
Tapan, when the watch was restored to MAJ
Andre.


"Thus, you see, had money been at com
mand after the imprudent confession OF MAJ
Andre, or any security given that the British
would have put confidence in, he might have
passed on to Sir Henry Clinton's headquar'
ters with all his papers and Arnold's pass into
the bargain. I do not recollect to have seen
true statement of this business in any his
tory that has fallen into my hands. IT my