Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/109

Rh picious looking person, who had offered them money to let him go free, and showed me the place where this unknown personage was temporarily confined. I went to see him, and spoke to him, but as I did not know Major André by sight, I imagined the man to be nothing more than one of the enemy's spies. I was not the only person astonished a quarter of an hour later.

General Washington arrived with his staff, and having been told of the arrest, ordered Colonel Hamilton to go and examine the accused and bring back a report. I followed the colonel. The low room was very dark, and as night was falling, a light was brought. The colonel sprang back in astonishment and dismay, on recognizing at the first glance the unfortunate Major André. The prisoner wore no military insignia—a regimental jacket under his countryman's coat, might perhaps have saved him. Deeply pained by the recognition. Colonel Hamilton ordered the militia men not to lose sight of their prisoner for a moment, and hurried