Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/264

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[2nd s. NO 13., MAR. 29. '56.

of the Kevolution. We visited Washington's head- quarters at the little village of Tappan ; the ' Seventy-six House,' where Andre" was confined, the place where he was executed, the grave where he was buried, and whence he was exhumed. We conversed with a venerable lady who gave him four beautiful peaches on the morning in which he went forth to die. 'He thanked me with a sweet smile,' she said ; ' but somehow or 'nother, he didn't seem to have no appetite. He only bit one of 'em.'

" Standing by his grave, we could see, across the broad Hudson, the very place where he was afrested by Van Wart, YVilliams, and Paulding, and the gleaming of the white monument erected to their memory : the place where Washington stood when Andre went forth to die, and the stone-house whence he was taken to die upon a gallows.

" The following account of Major Andre's execution is one of the most minute and interesting that we have ever read. It was furnished to Mr. William G. Haesel- barth of Rockland County, the history of which he is engaged in writing. It was taken down from the lips of a soldier in Colonel Baldwin's regiment, a part of which was stationed a short distance from where poor Andre" suffered :

" One of our men, whose name was Armstrong, being one of the oldest and best workmen at his trade in the regiments, was selected to make his coffin ; which he did, and painted it black, as was the custom at that period.'

" ' At this time Andre was confined in what was called the Old Dutch Church, a small stone building with only one door, and. closely guarded by six sentinels. When the hour appointed for his execution arrived, which was at two o'clock in the afternoon, a guard of 300 men were paraded at the place of confinement. A kind of proces- sion was formed by placing the guard in single file on each side of the road. In front were a large number of American officers of high rank on horseback. These were followed by the wagon containing Andrews coffin ; then a large number of officers on foot, with Andre" in their midst. The procession wound slowly up a moderately rising ground, about a quarter of a mile to the west. On the top was a field, without any enclosure ; and on this was a very high gallows, made by setting up two poles, or crotchets, and laying a pile oh the top. The wagon that contained the coffin was drawn directly under the gallows. In a short time Andre" stepped into the hind end of the wagon, then on his coffin, took off his hat and laid it down ; then placed his hands upon his hips, and walked very uprightly back and forth, at the same time casting up his eyes to the pole over his head. He was dressed in a complete British uniform. His coat was of the brightest scarlet, faced and trimmed with the most beautiful green. His under clothes, vest and breeches, were of bright buff; he had a long and beautiful head of hair, which, agreeably to the fashion, was wound with a black ribbon, and hung" down his back.

" ' Not many minutes after, he took his stand on the coffin; the executioner stepped into the wagon with a halter in his hand, on one end of which was what the soldiers in these days called a hangman's knot, which he attempted to put over the head and around the neck of Andre", but, by a sudden movement of his hand, this was prevented. Andre' now took off the handkerchief from his neck, unpinned his shirt collar ; and deliberately took the cord of the halter, put it over his head, and placed the knot directly under his right ear, an'd drew it very snugly to his neck. He then took from his pocket a handkerchief, and tied it before his eyes. 'This done, the officer who commanded spoke in rather a loud voice, and said, " his hands must be tied." Andre' at once pulled clown the handkerchief which, he Lad just tied over his

eyes, and drew from his pocket a second handkerchief, which he gave to the executioner. Having again bandaged his eyes, the executioner tied his arms just above the elbow, and behind his back. The rope was then made fast to the pole over head. The wagon was very sud- denly drawn from under the gallows, which, together with the length of the rope, gave him a most tremendous swing back and forth, but in a few minutes he hung en- tirely still. During the whole transaction he seemed as little daunted as Jonn Rogers, when he was about to be burned at the stake, although his countenance was rather pale. He remained hanging from twenty to thirty minutes, and, during that time, the chambers of death were never stiller than the multitude by whom he was surrounded. Orders were given to cut the rope, and take him down without letting him fall. This was done, and the body carefully laid on the ground.

" ' Shortly after the guard was withdrawn, and spectators were permitted to come forward to view the corpse ; but the crowd was so great, that it was some time before I could get an opportunity. When I was able to do this, his coat, vest, and breeches, had been taken off, and his body laid in a coffin covered by some under-clothes. The top of the coffin was not put on. I viewed the corpse more carefully than I had ever done that of any human being before. His head was very much on one side, in consequence of the manner in which the halter had drawn, up his neck. His face appeared to be greatly swollen, and very black, resembling a high degree of mortification. It was indeed a most shocking sight to behold. There were at this time two young men of uncommon short stature, standing at the foot of the coffin. They were not more than four feet high. Their dress was extremely gaudy. One of them had the clothes just taken from Andre" hanging on his arms. I took particular pains to learn who they were ; and was informed they were his servants, sent up from New York to take care of his clothes, but what other business I did not learn.

' ' I now turned to take a view of the executioner, who was still standing by one of the posts of the gallows. I walked near enough to him to have laid my hand upon his shoulders, and looked him directly in the face. He appeared to be about twenty-five 3 r ears of age ; his beard of some two weeks growth j and his whole face covered with what appeared to me to have been taken from the out- side of a greasy pot. A more frightful looking creature I never beheld. His whole countenance bespoke him to be a fit instrument for the business he had been doing. I remained upon the spot until scarcely twenty persons were left ; but the coffin was still beside the grave, which had previously been dug. I returned to rny tent with my mind deeply imbued with the shocking scene which I had been called to witness.' "

In the above extract, we find an interesting and truly painful description of the last moments and death of a most gallant and unfortunate officer. But it should be remembered that he had a fair trial for his life before a court martial, and was not condemned on any doubtful authority. The papers and drawings found concealed in his boots, at the time of his capture, but too certainly proved his crime, and sealed his fate. He is sent on a desperate service who acts as a spy in the time of war. Any one engaging in it well knows, whether he be a civilian or soldier, that if he suc- ceeds in his object, his fortune is made ; if he fails, he goes to his grave. Major Andre failed, and perished ; and a brave young American officer,