80
While the army was subsequently encamped at Verplanck's Point, the
captors were asked to dinner by Washington, and the silver medals awarded by
Congress were presented to them. Washington also gave each a sword and pair
of pistols, telling them they "might expect to be hunted like partridges." It is
said their lives were more than once attempted by Tories, but all died in their
beds—Paulding at Peekskill, February 18, 1818; Van Wart at Greenburgh,
May 1, 1828, and Williams at Broome, Schoharie County, August 2, 1830. (A
monument was erected to his memory at Old Fort, where he is buried.)
A curious incident in connection with Van Wart's funeral is found in a
letter from Edward G. W. Butler, published in the New York Sun, October 10,
1879. Butler was a West Point graduate and served in the Mexican War. His
statement was that while a cadet, he was one of a party sent to bury Van Wart
with the honors of war. He further says his own mother was a cousin of Andr6,
" being a daughter of the British grenadier officer who three times led the forces
up Bunker Hill."1
Captain Partridge, on his visit in 1818, found the grave marked by head
and foot stones, neither inscribed. These had disappeared in 1850, and a small
boulder, lettered: "Andre Executed, Oct. 2, 1780," had replaced them,2 but this
too, disappeared in the course of time before the Vandal's hammer and chisel, and
for many years the spot was unmarked, save by a heap of stones.
The news of the execution produced a great effect on Clinton and his
army.8 Clinton thus announced the event:
Head Quarters, New York, October 8.
The Commander in Chief does with infinite regret inform the army of the death of
the Adjutant General, Major Andre. The unfortunate fate of this officer calls upon the
Commander-in-chief to declare that he ever considered Major Andr6 a gentleman as well
as, in the line of his military profession, of the highest integrity and honor, and incapable
of any base action or unworthy conduct. Major Andre's death is very severely felt by
the Commander-in-chief, as it assuredly will be by the army; and must prove a real loss
to the country and to His Majesty's service.
Andre's commission was sold, as he had requested, by Clinton, for the
benefit of his mother and sisters. George III. gave _^i,ooo to his mother and a
pension of £3°° was settled on his sisters (the last of whom died single in 1845).
The King also ordered the army to wear mourning, and caused a monument4 to be
erected in the South Aisle of Westminster Abbey, near the Poets' Corner, and in
1821 Andre's remains were buried nearby.
While stationed in New York in 1777, Andre had made his will. It
reads:
1 Who was this? I cannot identify him.
2 Lossing (Two Spies) says this was set up by James Lee, a merchant, of New York.
8 Simcoe had, 4 Peter Van Schaack says, page 81.
