withhold the duties, is injurious to the public, and ought to be difcontinued. The revenue fhould come from the pocket of the fubject directly into the Exchequer ; but to permit Receivers to retain it in their hands, exprefsly for their own advantage, is to furnish them with the ftrongeft motive for withholding it. A private interest is created, in direct oppofition to that of the public; government is compelled to have recourse to expenfive loans; and the revenue itself is finally endangered. Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of America, refpecting Major John Andrè, Adjutant General of the British Army, September 29, 1780. Published at Philadelphia, by order Extracts of Letters from General Robinfon's Houfe in the High SIR, Have the honour to inform the We are, therefore, of opinion, Congrefs, that I arrived here I that there are no fervices to which GUY CARLETON, (L. S.) A. PIGGOTT, (L. S.) RICHARD NEAVE, (L. S) SAM. BEACHCROFT, (L. S) GEO. DRUMMOND. yesterday about twelve o'clock, on my return from Hartford. Some hours previous to my arrival, Major-general Arnold went from his quarters, which were at this place, and, as it was fuppofed, over the river to the garrifon at Weft-point, whither I proceeded myself, in order to vifit the post. I found General Arnold had not been there during the day, and on my return to his quarters, he was ftill absent. In the mean time, a packet had arrived from Lieutenant-colonel Jamefon, announcing the capture of John Anderfon, who was endeavouring to go to New-York with feveral interefting and important papers, all in the handwriting of General Arnold. This was accompanied with a letter from the prifoner, avowing himself to be Major John Andrè, Adjutantgeneral to the British army, relating the manner of his capture, and endeavouring to fhew that he did not come under the defcrip. tion of a spy. From these feveral circumftances, and information that the general feemed to be thrown thrown into fome degree of agitation, on receiving a letter a little time before he went from his quarters, I was led to conclude immediately, that he had heard of Major Andrè's captivity, and that he would, if poflible, efcape to the enemy; and accordingly took fuch measures as appeared moft probable to apprehend him: but he had embarked in a barge, and proceeded down the river, under a flag, to the Vulture fhip of war, which lay at fome miles below Stoney and Verplank's Point. He wrote me a letter after he got on board. Major Andrè was not arrived yet; but I hope he is fecure, and that he will be here today. I have been, and am taking precautions, which I truft will prove effectual to prevent the important confequences which this conduct, on the part of General Arnold, was intended to produce. I do not know the party that took Major Andrè, but it is faid it confifted only of a few militia, who acted in such a manner on the occafion, as does them the highest honour, and proves them to be men of great virtue. As foon as I know their names, I fhall take pleasure in tranfmitting them to Congrefs. SIR, Paramus, Oct. 7, 1780. I have the honour to inclofe to Congrefs a copy of the proceedings of a board of general officers in the caufe of Major Andrè, Adjutantgeneral to the British army. This officer was executed in pursuance of the fentence of the board, on Monday the 2d inftant, at twelve o'clock, at our late camp at TapVOL. XXIII. pan. Befides the proceedings, I tranfmit copies of fundry letters refpecting the matter, which are all that paffed on the fubject, not included in the proceedings. I have now the pleasure to com. municate the names of the three perfons who captured Major Andrè, and who refufed to releafe him, notwithstanding the most earneft importunities, and affurances of a liberal reward on his part. Their names are, John Paulding, David Williams, and Ifaac Vanwert. Proceedings of a Board of General Officers, held by order of his Excellency Gen. Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of America, reSpecting Major Andrè, Adjutant general of the British Army, September 29, 1780, at Tappan, in the State of New York. PRESENT, Major-general Green, Prefident; Major-general Lord Stirling, Major-general St. Clair, Major-general the Marquis de la Fayette, Major-general Howe, Major-general the Baron de Steuben, Brigadier-general Parfons, Brigadier-general Clinton, Brigadiergeneral Knox, Brigadier-general Glover, Brigadier-general Patterfon, Brigadier-general Hand, Brigadier-general Huntington, Brigadier-general Starke, John Laurence, Judge-advocate-general. Major Andrè, Adjutant-general to the British army, was brought before the board, and the following letter from General Washington to the board, dated head-quarters, Tappan, September 29, 1780, was laid before them, and read: [Bb] Gen Gentlemen, Major Andrè, Adjutant-general to the British army, will be brought before you for your examination. He came within our lines in the night, on an interview with Majorgeneral Arnold, and in an affumed character, and was taken within our lines, in a difguifed habit, with a pass under a feigned name, and with the inclosed papers concealed upon him. After a careful examination, you will be pleafed, as fpeedily as poffible, to report a precise state of his cafe, together with your opinion of the light in which he ought to be confidered, and the punishment that ought to be inflicted. The Judgeadvocate will attend to affift in the examination, who has fundry other papers, relative to this matter, which he will lay before the board. I have the honour to be, your most obedient, The Board of General Officers convened at Tappan. The names of the officers compofing the board were read to Major Andrè, and on his being asked whether he confeffed the matters contained in the letter from his Excellency General Washington to the board, or denied them, he faid, in addition to his letter to General Washington, dated Salem, the 24th of September, 1780, which was read to the board, and acknowledged by Major Andrè, to have been written by him, which letter is as follows: Salem, 24th Sept. 1780. SIR, WHAT I have as yet faid concerning myfelf, was in the justifiable attempt to be extricated; I am too little accustomed to duplicity to have fucceeded. I beg your excellency will be perfuaded, that no alteration in the temper of my mind, or apprehenfion for my fafety, induces me to take the step of addreffing you; but that it is to fecure myself from an imputation of having affumed a mean character for treacherous purposes, or felf-intereft: a conduct incompatible with the principles that actuated me, as well as with my condition in life. It is to vindicate my fame that I fpeak, and not to folicit fecarity. The perfon in your poffeffion is Major John Andrè, Adjutant-general to the British army. The influence of one commander in the army of his adverfary, is an advantage taken in war. A correfpondence for this purpose I held, as confidential (in the prefent inftance) with his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. To favour it, I agreed to meet upon ground not within pofts of either army, a perfon who was to give me intelligence: I came up in the Vulture man of war for this effect, and was fetched by the boat from the fhore to the beach: being there, I was told, that the approach of day would prevent my return, and that I must be concealed until the next night. I was in my regimentals, and had fairly rifqued my perfon. Againft my ftipulation, my intention, and without my knowledge before hand, I was conduct ed ed within one of your pofts. Your excellency may conceive my fenfation on this occafion, and will imagine how much more I must have been affected, by a refufal to re-conduct me back the next night as I had been brought. Thus become a prisoner, I had to concert my efcape. I quitted my uniform, and was paffed another way in the night, without the American pofts, to neutral ground; and being informed I was beyond all armed parties, and left to press for New-York, I was taken at Tarry-town, by fome volunteers. Thus, as I have had the honour to relate, was I betrayed (being Adjutant-general of the British army) into the vile condition of an enemy within your pofts. Having avowed myself a British officer, I have nothing to reveal but what relates to myfelf, which is true on the honour of an officer, and a gentleman. The request I have made to your excellency, and I am confcious that I addrefs myfelf well, is, that in any rigour policy may dictate, a decency of conduct towards me may mark, that though unfortunate, I am branded with nothing difhonourable ; as no motive could be mine, but the fervice of my king, and as I was involuntarily an impoftor. Another request is, that I may be permitted to write an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton, and another to a friend for cloaths and linen. I take the liberty to mention the condition of fome gentlemen at Charles-town, who, being either on parole, or under protection, were engaged in a confpira cy against us. Though their fitua tion is not fimilar, they are objects who may be fent in exchange for me, or are perfons whom the treatment I receive might affect. It is no lefs, Sir, in a confidence in the generofity of your mind, than on account of your fuperior ftation, that I have chofen to importune you with this letter. I have the honour to be, with the greatest refpect, Sir, your excellency's moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, JOHN ANDRE, Adj. Gen. His Excellency Gen. Washington, St. He then faid, that he came on fhore from the Vulture floop of war, in the night of the twentyfirft of September inft. fomewhere under the Haverstraw Mountain; that the boat he came on fhore in carried no flag, and that he had on a furtout coat over his regimentals, and that he wore his furtout coat when he was taken :That he met General Arnold on the fhore, and had an interview with him there. He alfo faid, that when he left the Vulture floop of war, it was understood he was to return that night; but it was then doubted: and if he could not return he was promised to be concealed on fhore in a place of fafety, until the next night, when he was to return in the fame manner he came on fhore; and when the next day came, he was folicitous to get back, and made enquiries in the courfe of the day, how he fhould return, when he was informed he could not return that way, and he must take the route he did afterwards. He also faid, that the first notice he had of his being within any of our posts, was, being challenged by the fen[Bb] 2 try, try, which was the first night he was on the fhore. He alfo faid, that the evening of the twentyfecond of September inftant, he paffed King's Ferry, between our pofts of Stoney and Verplank's Points, in the drefs he is at prefent in, and which he said was not his regimentals; and which drefs he procured after he landed from the Vulture, and when he was within our poft; and that he was proceeding to New York, but was taken on his way at Tarry town, as he mentioned in his letter, on Saturday the 23d of September inftant, about nine o'clock in the morning. The following papers were laid before the board, and fhewn to Major Andrè, who confeffed to the board, that they were found on him when he was taken; and faid they were concealed in his boot, except the pafs : A pafs from General Arnold to John Anderfon, which name Major Andrè acknowledged he affumed. Artillery orders, September 5, 1780. Eftimate of the force at Weft Point and its dependencies, September 1780. Eftimate of men to man the works at Weft-point, &c. Return of ordnance at Weftpoint, September, 1780. Remarks on works at Westpoint. Copy of a flate of matters laid before a council of war, by his Excellency General Washington, held the 6th of September, 1780. A letter figned John Anderson, dated September 7, 1780, to Colonel Sheldon *, was also laid before the board, and fhewn to Major Andrè, which he acknowledged to have been written by him, and is as follows: New York, Sept. 7, 1780. SIR, I AM told my name is made known to you, and that I may hope your indulgence in permit. ting me to meet a friend near your out-pofts. I will endeavour to obtain permiffion to go out with a flag which will be fent to Dobb's Ferry, on Monday next, the 11th, at 12 o'clock, when I fhall be happy to meet Mr. G†. Should I not be allowed to go, the officer who is to command the efcort, between whom and myfelf no diftinction need be made, can speak on the affair. Let me intreat you, Sir, to * Left it should be fuppofed that Colonel Sheldon, to whom the above letter is addreffed, was privy to the plot carrying on by General Arnold, it is to be observed, that the letter was found among Arnold's papers, and had been tranfmitted by Colonel Sheldon, who, it appears from a letter on the 9th of September to Arnold, which inclofed it, had never heard of John Anderfon before. Arnold, in his anfwer on the roth, acknowledged he had not communicated it to him, though he had informed him, that he expected a perfon would come from New York, for the purpose of bringing him intelligence. It appears by the fame letter that Arnold had written to Mr. Anderfon, under the fignature of Gustavus. His words are," I was obliged to write with great caution to him, my letter was figned Guftavus, to prevent any discovery, in cafe it fell into the hands of the enemy." |