The night the flag was first expected, he expressed much anxiety for its arrival, and, as it did not come, on the morning of the 21st, by an ingenious artifice he let Arnold know where he was. On the ensuing night one Smith, in a boat with muffled oars, went off from the western shore of the Hudson to the "Vulture." The instant André learned that he was wanted, he started out of bed and discovered the greatest impatience to be gone. Nor did he in any instance betray the least doubt of his safety and success. The moon, which had just passed into the third quarter, shone in a clear sky when the boat pushed for the landing place near the upper edge of the Haverstraw Mountains. It was very near the time for day to appear, when André, dressed in regimentals, which a large blue cloak concealed, landed at the point of the Long Clove, where Arnold was waiting in the bushes to receive him. The General had brought with him a spare horse; and the two rode through the village of Haverstraw within the American lines to the house of Smith, which lay a few miles from the river. At the dawn of day, the noise of artillery was heard. An American party had brought fieldpieces to bear on the "Vulture ;" and Arnold, as he looked out from the window, saw her compelled to shift her anchorage. The negotiations of the two parties continued for several hours. Clinton was in person to bring his army to the siege of Fort Defiance, which inclosed about seven acres of land. The garrison was to be so distributed as to destroy its efficiency. Arnold was to send immediately to Washington for aid, and to surrender the place in time for Sir Henry Clinton to make arrangements to surprise the re-enforcement, which it was believed Washington would conduct in person. It was no part of the plan to risk surprising Washington while a guest at West Point. The promises to Arnold were indemnities in money, and the rank of brigadier in the British service. The American

general returned to his quarters. Late in the afternoon, André, changing his dress for the disguise of a citizen, provided with passes from Arnold, and attended by Smith, set off by land for New York. . . .

It happened that John Paulding, a poor man, then about forty-six years old, a zealous patriot who had served his country from the breaking out of the war, and had twice suffered captivity, had lately escaped from New York, and had formed a little corps of partisans to annoy roving parties taking provisions to New York, or otherwise serving the British. On that morning (23d), after setting a reserve of four to keep watch in the rear, he and David Williams of Tarrytown and Isaac Van Wart of Greenburg seated themselves in the thicket by the wayside, just above Tarrytown, and whiled away the time by playing cards. At an hour before noon André was just rising the hill out of Sleepy Hollow, within fifteen miles of the strong British post at King's Bridge, when Paulding got up, presented a firelock at his breast, and asked which way he was going. Full of the idea that he could meet none but friends to the English, he answered: "Gentlemen, I hope you belong to our party?" "Which party?" asked Paulding. "The lower party," said André. Paulding answered that he did. Then said André: "I am a British officer, out on particular business, and I hope you will not detain me a minute." Upon this Paulding ordered him to dismount. Seeing his mistake, André showed his pass from Arnold, saying, "By your stopping me, you will detain the General's business." "I hope," answered Paulding, "you will not be offended; we do not mean to take anything from you. There are many bad people going along the road; perhaps you may be one of them;" and he asked if he had any letters about him. André answered "No." They took him into the bushes to search for papers, and at last discovered three parcels under

each stocking. Among these were a plan of the fortifications of West Point; a memorial from the engineer on the attack and defense of the place; returns of the garrison, cannon, and stores, all in the handwriting of Arnold. "This is a spy," said Paulding. André offered a hundred guineas, any sum of money, if they would but let him go. "No," cried Paulding, "not for ten thousand guineas." They then led him off, and, arriving in the evening at North Castle, they delivered him with his papers to Lieutenant Colonel Jameson, who commanded the post, and then went their way, not asking a reward for their services, nor leaving their names.

What passed between André and Jameson is now known. The result of the interview was, that on the 24th the prisoner was ordered by Jameson to be taken to Arnold; but on the sharp remonstrance of Major Tallmadge, the next in rank, the order was countermanded, and he was confined at Old Salem, yet with permission to inform Arnold by letter of his

arrest.

His letter was received on the 25th, too late for an order to be given for his release, and only in time for Arnold himself to escape down the river to the "Vulture." Washington, who had turned aside to examine the condition of the works at West Point, arrived a few hours after his flight.

André was without loss of time conducted to the headquarters of the army at Tappan. His offense was so clear that it would have justified the promptest action; but to prevent all possibility of complaint from any quarter, he was, on the 29th, brought before a numerous and very able board of officers. On his own confession and without the examination of a witness, the board, on which sat Greene, second only to Washington in the service, St. Clair, afterwards President of Congress, Lafayette, of the French army, Steuben, from the staff of Frederic II.,

Parsons, Clinton, Glover, Knox, Huntingdon, and others, all well known for their uprightness, made their unanimous report that Major André, adjutant general of the British army, ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy and to suffer death. Throughout the inquiry, André was penetrated with the liberality of the members of the court, who showed him every mark of indulgence, and required him to answer no interrogatory which could even embarrass his feelings. He acknowledged their generosity in the strongest terms of manly gratitude, and afterwards remarked to one who visited him, that, if there were any remains in his mind of prejudice against the Americans, his present experience must obliterate them.

On the 30th the sentence was approved by Washington, and ordered to be carried into effect the next day. Clinton had already, in a note to Washington, asked Andre's release, as one who had been protected by a "flag of truce and passports granted for his return." André had himself, in his examination before the board of officers, repelled the excuse which Clinton made for him; and indeed to have used a flag of truce for his purpose would have aggravated his offense. Washington replied by inclosing to the Commander-in-chief the report of the board of inquiry, and observed "that Major André was employed in the execution of measures very foreign to flags of truce, and such as they were never meant to authorize."

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At the request of Clinton, who promised to present a true state of facts," the execution was delayed until the second day of October; and General Robertson, attended by two civilians, came up the river for a conference. The civilians were not allowed to land, but Greene was deputed to meet the officer. Instead of presenting facts, Robertson, after compliments to the character of Greene, announced that he had come to treat with him. Greene answered: