Year: 1875

loVhh hHucisoi) sHOuiu lutel ullu lJi
this purpose on Neutral Ground, ]
was so induced to consent to his doing
so from my great confidence in that
officers prudence and address. Some
attempts toward meeting had been
accordingly made before Sir George
Rodney's arrival; but though the
plans had been well laid, they were
constantly frustrated by some untow>
ard accident or other, one of which
had verv nearly cost Mr.. Arnold his
life. These disappointments made
him, of course, cautious; and as |
now became anxious to forward the
Execution of my project Will | could
have that naval chiefs assistance,a
under so good a mask as the Expedi-
tion to the Chesapeake, which ena


bled me to make every requisite
Preparation without being suspected,
consented to another proposal from
General Arnold for Major Andre to
90 to him by water from Dobb's Fer
ry in boat which he would himself
send for him under flag of Truce.
For / could have no reason to suspect
that any bad consequences could pos
sibly result to Major Andre from such
mode, as | had given it in charge
to him not to change his Dress or name
on any account, or possess himself of
writings by which the nature of his
Embassy might be traced and | un-
derstood that after his business was
finished he was 70 be sent hack in the
same way. But unhappily none of
these precautions were observed; on
the contrary, General Arnold, for
reasons which he judged important,
orperhaps, which is the most probable,
losing at the proper moment his pres
ence of mind, thought proper to give
over the design of sending Major An
Dire back by water, and prevailed upon
him. (or rather compelled him, as
would appear by that unfortunate
officers letter to me- to part with
his uniform, and under a borrowed
disguise to take a circuituous route to
New York through the posts of the
enemy under the sanction OF his pass
port. The consequence was Jas might
he expected) that he was stopped at
Tarrytown and searched, and certain
papers being found about him conceal.
ed he vas Notwithstanding his pass
port) carried prisoner before Mr.
Washington. to whom he acknowl-
edged his name and quality. Meas
ures were of course Immediately taken
upon this to seize General Arnold;
but that officer, being fortunate
to receive timely notice of Major An
dre's fate, effected his escape to a
Kings lying of Tsllers point, and
came next DAY to New York.


81 was exceedingly shocked by
this very unexpected accident
which not only ruined a most impor
tant project which had all the appear
ance of being . happy train OF SUCCESS
but involved in danger and distress a
confidential friend for whom | had
(very deservedly) the warmest es,
TEEN. Not Immediately knowing,
however, the full extent of the mis-
fortune, | did not then imagine the
enemy could have any motive for
pushing matters to extremity, rs the
bare detention Of so valuable an Off
GERS person might have given him a
great power and advantage over me
and | was accordingly in hopes that
an ofic al dem: n from me for his i'm
mediate release, as having been un-
der the sanction of a flag Of Truce
when he landed within his posts,
might shorten his captivity, or at
least stop his proceeding with rigor
against him. But the cruel and un-
fortunate catastrophe convinced me
that was much mistaken iii my
opinion of both his policy and hu-
manitv. For delivering himself up
(as it should SEEM to the rancor eX-
cited by the near accomplishment OF
plan which might have eiiectually
restored the Kings authority, and
tumbled him from his present exalted
situation. he burnt with u desire OF
wreaking his vengeance on the prin-
cipal actors III it; and consequently,
regardless of the acknowledged worth
and abilities of the amiable young
man who had thus fallen into his
hands, and in opposition to every
principle OF policy and call of human
ity, he without remorse, put him to
most ignominious death and this at
moment when one Of his Generals
was by his own appointment in act


ual conference with commissioners
whom | had sent to treat with him
for Major Andres release.


"The manner in which Major An


drc was drawn to the Enemy's shore
(manifestly at the instance and under
the sanction of the General office :,
who had the command OF the district,
and his being avowedly compelled
bv that officer to change his dress and
name and return under his passports
by Land, were circumstances which,
as they much lessen the imputed
criminality Of his offence, ought at
least to have softened the severity of
Council of Wars Opinion respecting
it, Notwithstanding his Imprudence o.
having possessed himself Of the pa
pers which they found on him.
Which, though they led TO a discoye-
Try ofth nature Of the business that
drew him TO conference with Gen
eral Arnold, were not wanted Gas they
must have known for my Informs
ton. For they were not ignorant
that had, myself, been over every
part Of the ground on which the forts
stood, and had of course, made myself