77
To the President of Congress. Paramus, 7 October.
Sir,—I have the honour to enclose to Congress a copy of the proceedings of a board
of General officers in the case of Major Andr£, adjutant general to the British army.
This officer was executed in pursuance of the opinion of the Board, on Monday,
the 2d instant, at twelve o'clock, at our late camp at Tappan. He acted with great
candor, from the time he avowed himself after his capture, until he was executed.
Congress will perceive by a copy of a letter I received from him on the 1st instant, that
it was his desire to be shot 1 but the practice and usage of war, circumstanced as he was,
were against the indulgence. * * *
I have now the pleasure to communicate the names of the three persons who
captured Major Andr£ and who refused to release him, notwithstanding the most earnest
importunities and assurances of a liberal reward, on his part. Their conduct merits our
warmest esteem j and I beg leave to add that I think the public will do well to make
them a handsome gratuity. They have prevented, in all probability our suffering one of
the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us. Their names are John
Paulding, David WilHams and Isaac Van Wart.
I have the honour, etc., etc., G. Washington.
Congress acted on the suggestion, settling a pension of $200 on each, and
giving each a farm of two hundred acres in addition. They were also offered
captaincies in the army, but declined them.
Two letters, written subsequent to the event, may be quoted here, to
preserve and complete the continuity of the narrative. The first is from Clinton
to Washington. It was never sent, news of the execution having arrived:
New York, Oct. 4, 1780.
Sir,—I conceived I could not better or more fully express my sentiments in answer
to your Excellency's letter of the 30th September respecting Major Andre\ than by
sending Lieut. Gen. Robertson to converse, if possible, with you, Sir; or at least with
some confidential officer from you. I cannot think Lieutenant General Robertson's
conversation with General Green has entirely answered the purpose for which I wished
this meeting. General Green's letter of the second instant to General Robertson
expresses that he had repeated to you, Sir, as far as memory served, the discourse that
had passed between them, and that it had not produced any alteration in your opinion or
determination concerning Major Andre.
8 A French soldier, Pierre Besancon, who came with Lafayette, was probably the last survivor of those present.
He died at Warsaw, New York, in 1855.
9 Simms.-
Andre1 has met his fate, and with that fortitude which was to be expected from an accomplished man and a
gallant officer.— Washington {Gordon, Hist. Am. War, page 134).
Never did a man suffer death with more justice, or deserve it less. There was something singularly interesting
in the character and fortunes of Andre\ To an excellent understanding, well improved by education and
travel, he united a peculiar elegance of mind and manners, and the advantage of a pleasing person.—
Hamilton.
From the few days of intimate intercourse I had with him, I became so deeply attached to Major Andre1 that I
could remember no instance where my affections were so fully absorbed by any man.—Tallmadge.
He behaved with so much frankness and courage that I could not help lamenting his unhappy fate. It is
impossible to express too much respect or too much regret for Major Andre\—Lafayette.
This brave, accomplished officer was yesterday hanged—not a single spectator but pitied his untimely fate.—
Scammett.
He was more unfortunate than criminal.— Washington.
The gold watch, of which he had been deprived at Tarrytown, and which we have noticed had been restored at
Tappan, was now sold by the captors to Lieutenant Colonel Wm. S. Smith, Thirteenth Massachusetts (one
of Washington's Aids), for £^0. It was intended to be sent to the family in England, but it seems never
to have reached them,
