59
the officers of Andre's special guard, was an amplification of Washington's letter
to Greene on the subject (given on page 53):
Major Andre, the prisoner under your guard, is not only an officer of distinction in
the British army, but a man of infinite artfulness, and address, who will leave no means
unattempted to make his escape1 and avoid the ignominious death which awaits him. You
are therefore, in addition to your sentries,2 to keep two officers constantly in the room with
him, with their swords drawn, whilst the other officers who are out of the room are
constantly to keep walking the entry and round the sentries, to see that they are alert.8
Washington arrived at Tappan on the same day as the prisoners, and made
his headquarters at the house of John De Windt, on the road directly east of the
Mabie tavern, and about an eighth of a mile distant. It is still standing, in good
condition, but its north side is entirely transformed by the addition of a wooden
front. From it he issued an order convening a Court of Inquiry4 to which
Andr6's case was referred, and which met the next day. The order reads:
Gentlemen,—Major Andre, Adjutant to the British army, will be brought before
you for examination. He came within our lines in the night, on an interview with Major
General Arnold, and in an assumed character, and was taken within our lines in a
disguised habit, with a pass under a feigned name, and with the enclosed papers concealed
upon his person. After a careful examination, you will be pleased as speedily as possible,
to report a precise statement of his case, together with your opinion of the light in which
he ought to be considered, and the penalty which ought to be inflicted. The Judge-
Advocate will attend to assist in the examination, who has sundry other papers relative to
this matter, which he will lay before the board.
I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,
George Washington.
The Board was thus constituted :
General Greene, President.
Brigadier Generals.
Lord Stirling, James Clint
Lafayette, Glover,
Steuben, i Major Generals. Hand,
St. Clair, Huntington
Robert Howe, Knox,6
6 Parsons,7 Paterson, Stark,
J
On September 30, 1781, while reconnoitering at Yorktown, he was surprised by two Hessian officers, made
prisoner, and wounded after his surrender (Dr. Thacher, who attended him, so states). At Washington's
request, Cornwallis allowed him to be removed to Williamsburg for treatment. There he died and was
buried, a tablet being erected to his memory. Dr. Matthew Thornton, the member of Congress whose
signature was the last affixed to the Declaration of Independence, wrote a dirge on hearing of his death,
which may be found in an interesting sketch of Colonel Scammell's life, by William O. Clough, in the
Granite Monthly, of Concord, N. H., September, 1892. The portrait I give is taken from that in the New
Hampshire Representatives' Hall, Concord.
1 This conclusion was natural, but hardly warranted by Andrews conduct. He never seems to have had any idea
of escape.
2 There were six constantly on post.
3 The guard outside the house consisted of a captain, five subalterns, and forty rank and file.—Bowman.
* Commonly known as the Board of General Officers.
6 The omission of Wayne has been remarked by all historians. Sparks, in 1834, asked Tallmadge the reason,
and got the incisive reply: " None durst ask him (Washington) the 'reason why A. was appointed and B.
omitted." Johnson (Life of Greene) says Wayne declined. • It is of interest, 1 Was Parsons, page 60.
Greenburgh Public Library, The Land and People of Greenburgh
