wagon being now removed from under him, he was suspended and instantly expired." 1 Such, at the age of twenty-nine, was the death of this brave and accomplished officer; his fate was deplored by those who had condemned him, and whose cause he had sought to ruin. No American can read this portion of our history without deep regret that the sacrifice was deemed necessary; no Englishman, who reads it impartially, can ever assert that the whole proceedings were not conducted by the strict laws of war, or that the conduct of Washington was not in all respects worthy of himself. That Major André was a spy, his own admissions most conclusively proved; and, by the martial code, a spy must suffer death in its most ignominious form. Under the circumstances of this case, neither Major André nor his friends had any right to expect a departure from the well established rules of war. The modern reader may regret that André's last request as to the manner of his death was not granted. But Washington was ignorant of the extent of this astounding conspiracy, and he acted under the deliberate advice of his officers that the circumstances of the case would justly admit of no departure from the usual course. Nor was the conduct of the British army in similar cases such as to call for lenity here. And although Sir 1 Thacher's Military Journal, p. 222. 2 In a conversation which André had with Major Tallmadge, soon after his capture, he wished the American officer's opinion as to his probable fate. The latter endeavored to evade the question, but when he could do so no longer, he remarked to him as follows: "I had a 1 Henry Clinton, in his efforts to procure the release of André, argued with great ability that he could not be properly considered as a spy, yet he made no complaint in the narrative which he sent to the British government, that his arguments had been disregarded, or that the sentence was unjust. In publishing the event to the army in general orders, he maintained the same reserve, as to the mode of André's death, and made no insinuation that his death had been caused by vengeance, injustice, or any improper act of the enemy. "The unfortunate fate of this officer," he said, " calls upon the commander-in-chief to declare, that he ever considered Major André a gentleman of the highest integrity and honor, and incapable of any base action or unworthy conduct." Both acted Upon the whole, the fate of André cannot be regarded as disgraceful to himself, or as casting any stain upon the character of Washington. in the conscientious performance of duty. But it is a remarkable commentary on the unnatural system of war, that a man so universally respected and be much-loved class-mate in Yale College, by the name of Nathan Hale, who entered the army in the year 1775. Immediately after the battle of Long Island, General Washington wanted information respecting the strength, position, and probable movements of the enemy. Captain Hale tendered his services, went over to Brooklyn, and was taken just as he was passing the outposts of the enemy on his return." Said Tallmadge, with emphasis, "Do you remember the sequel of this story?" "Yes," said André, "he was hanged as a spy. But you surely do not consider his case and mine alike?" Tallmadge replied, "Yes, precisely similar, and similar will be your fate." 1 See also the remarks of Sir Samuel Romilly, on this subject, in his Memoirs, I. 140. loved, should meet with an untimely and ignominious end for an act which no true soldier could blame him for performing. In lamenting his fate, however, it should not be forgotten that he was perfectly aware of the dangerous character of the enterprise before he engaged in it; and his reward, in case of success, was to have been proportionally great. Major André was buried in an open field, near the spot of his execution. Forty years afterwards his remains were removed to England, and deposited in Westminster Abbey, near the monument erected to his memory by his royal master. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR JOHN ANDRÉ, Who, raised by his Merit, at an early Period of his Life, TO THE RANK OF ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE BRITISH FORCES IN AMERICA, And, employed in an important but hazardous Enterprise, FELL A SACRIFICE TO HIS ZEAL FOR HIS KING AND COUNTRY, Universally beloved and esteemed by the Army in which he served, |