History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 48

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > New York > Westchester County > History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II > Part 48

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205

GREENBURGH.

It so happened that on this same Saturday morning, September 23d, when Andre crossed Pine's Bridge, there were seven young men, living in the neighbor- hood of Tarrytown, who had agreed to go out armed to watch the road, and to intercept any suspicious stragglers, or droves of cattle, that might be found passing sonth toward New York.

The names of the young men, as given long after by David Williams, were Isaae Van Wart, John Paulding, William Williams, John Yerkes, James Romer, and " the name of the sixth," added Mr. Wil- liams, " I have forgotten." It has been said to have been Isaae See. But Lossing gives the name of Jolm Dean, which seems to be correet, having been eon- firmed by the statement of a citizen of Tarrytown, who received it directly from Isaac Van Wart him- self. John Dean was the father of the late Thomas Dean, long a well-known merchant of Tarrytown, on the corner of Main Street and Broadway. Thomas Dean is referred to in the " Life and Letters of Washı- ington Irving." He died January 7, 1873, and was interred, as was his father before him, in the grave- yard of the old Dutch Church. Of course, David Williams himself made the seventh. They left Sa- lem, where they had come together at about one o'elock on Friday afternoon, September 220, and after traveling fifteen miles that night, they slept in a hay barraek baek of Buttermilk Hill, and the next morn- ing crossed the hill and came down toward Tarry- town. While Andre, with Smith, was lying sleepless in Miller's bed, near Crompond, his eaptors were sleeping quietly in the hay barrack back of Butter- milk Hill. The roads they traveled were soon com- ing together. John Paulding stopped on the way at Isaac Reed's house, the next place to William David's, on the east, and borroweda pack of cards, as he said, "to divert themselves with." They then came on as far as Davis' (or David's) Hill, part of the late John R. Stephens estate, where they separated, four re- maining on the hill along the old County House road, and three-namely, John Panlding, David Williams and Isaae Van Wart,-eoming about a mile or less farther on toward the Hudson River, and along the Tarrytown road. There they concealed themselves in the bushes west of the road, where the monument now stands. That this was the spot there can be no question. In the interview with the Rev. Alexander Van Wart, on June 15, 1885, referred to further on, he stated to the writer, as a faet of which he had knowl- edge, that his father, one of the captors, was, toward the latter part of his life, one day at the store of the late Nathaniel Bayles, where J. Benediet See now keeps store, and that Mr. Bayles, being mmeh inter- ested in all public atlairs, made many inquiries as to the exact spot where the capture took place, and final- ly asked Mr. Van Wart to leave his horse tied in front. of the store, and, as the distance was but short, to walk down there with him, and point it out. Mr. Van Wart complied with the request, and pointed out the

place where the monument now stands, stating, as a reason for their being on the west side, that the road makes a bend just there, and they wanted to keep watch up the road, which they could not have done on the east side, as the bend to the cast just there would have hidden the road above from their view.1

Major Andre is said to have come into the Tarry- town road near a small hamlet called Sparta, below Sing Sing. This road he pursued undisturbed until he was over the little stream which now flows west- ward through the premises of Mr. E. J. Blake, and erosses the public highway in its course to the river. This stream was destined to be the limit to his pro- ' gress, and now bears, as it probably always will, the name of Andre Brook.

About one mile and a half northeast of the Hud- son River Railroad depot at Tarrytown, on the north side of the old road to White Plains, and only about half a mile from the Tarrytown depot on the North- ern Railroad, there stands an old one-story-and-a-half house, fronting the south, with a more modern kitch- en built on to the east end of it. Directly before the front door, which is divided horizontally into two parts, the upper and the lower, are two immense horse chestnut trees, that have stood there for over one hundred years. The house was what was known in Revolutionary times as "a guard-house,"-a sort of headquarters and rendezvous, where patriot militia- men met and consulted, and whence they sent out gnards or watchers on any particular mission. This old house is famous in local history as the place to which Andre was first taken, along the old road over the hill, after his capture in Tarrytown. The house ean be plainly seen from the car windows looking northward, as the trains on the Northern Railroad pass to and from the Tarrytown depot, along the south side of the "Tarrytown Loop." In the south- east corner of the old part, where it joins the kitchen, is a step, the lowest one of the curving stairway, which looks like a beneh when the stairway door is shut. On this step Andre is known to have sat, and to have eaten a bowl of bread and milk to refresh his strength while waiting here for an hour or two before he started with his captors on the way to Colonel Jamieson's quarters, at North Castle. The house belonged, after

1 .4 The memorable tulip-tree, at Greensburgh or Tarry- town, under which Major Andre was laken, was, on Saturday the 3ist of July, 1801, struck with lightning. It was rent almost exactly in lwo, from the top to the bottom. Near The root it was hollow, at which part it look fire, and blazed up for about 12 or 15 feet through The fissure for a few minutes, when the eastern half fell. The remainder, extending over The road, stood in so menacing an attitude as to render it necessary to ent it down. This remarkable Tree measured 29 feet in circumference at the base, was 111 feet in height, and its branches extend 106 feet in diameter. It is rather a singular coincidence, that the news of Arnold's death arrived at Greensburgh the same day on which the bghtuing destroyed this tree. Its destruction has occasioned general regret through the surrounding country, and its fragments have been carefully collected and preserved by the inhabitants."-AAmerican Citizen, 1801 August 25th.

Tope

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

the Revolution, to a family named Reed. In 1824 it was bought, with one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, from the legal representatives of Archer Reed, by the late William Landrinc. He made some improvements in the house, but always strictly for- bade any alteration whatever in the old step upon which Andre sat and ate his bread and milk. The consequence is, that the step remains to this day. The writer of this, in company with Mr. William B. Land- rine, a son of the former owner, walked over to the old house on the afternoon of April 19, 1886, and there sat upon the Andre step, while writing on his knee the memoranda from which this account is given. The present Mr. Landrine, as administrator of the estate, sold the place some years ago to Mr. Ambrose C. Kingsland, who sold it to the Tarrytown Heights Land Company, which, having failed, Mr. Kingsland was obliged to take it back. It now be- longs to his estate. The house is occupied by Mr.

OLD LANDRINE HOUSE. To which Andre was taken after his capture, and where he sat on the step.

The best account of that momentous transaction in American history, the capture of Andre, is to be found in the official papers of the court of inquiry, by which Major Andre was tried and condemned,' and in the other contemporaneous and later papers that throw light upon this remarkably interesting subject. That the reader may have the satisfaction of perusing them for himself, without abridg- ment or alteration, they will here be incorporated into the record.

The following is a copy of the proceedings of the board of general officers to whom the subject was referred by General Washington. It is taken from an official copy in the Library of the New York Historical Society. The paper is entitled "Report of the Proceedings of a Board of General Officers, Held by Order of His Excellency, George Washing- ton respecting Major John Andre. September 29, 1780."

LETTER FROM GENERAL. WASHINGTON TO THE PRESI- DENT OF CONGRESS

" Robinson's House, in the Highlands, 26 September, 17M. Sin, -I have the honor to inform Congress, thal I ar- rived here yesterday abont twelve o'clock, on my re- turn from Hartford. Some hours previous to my arrival Major General Arnold went from his quarters, which were this place, and, as it was supposed, over the river to the garrison al West Point, whither I proceeded my- xelf, in order lo visil The post. I found General Arnohl had not been there during the day, and on my return to his quarters he was still absent. In the meantime, a packet had arrived from Lieul. Colonel Jameson, an- mincing the capture of a John Anderson, who was endeavoring to go to New York with several interesting Arnold. This was also accompanied with a letter from the prisoner, avowing himself' to be major John Andre, Adjutant General lo the British army, relating the manner of his capture, and endeavoring to show that

Michael Nolan, who farms, and boards some of the people connected with the construction of the New Croton aqueduct, which passes down a short distance toward the west. The locality is one of many natural attractions. The old house itself is an interesting relie of the past, and as the writer sat upon the step he could not but try to imagine what must have been the feelings of Andre as he sat upon that identi- eal board, a prisoner, nearly one hundred and six years ago. Miss Mary Nolan, daughter of the present or- cupant, happened to have an excellent photograph of the house, which she kindly loaned for a time to the writer. In the picture her father stands, with his sleeves rolled up, directly in front of the place inside, where the Andre step is located. Be- fore leaving, Mr. Landrine borrowed a tumbler, and leading the way cast of the house, to a well-remem- bered spring, flowing from a rock, both visitors took a copious draught of cool, delicious water.

1 Aubrey in his Travels gives the following account of Andre's execution :

" By un officer just left Washington's camp we have received the mel- ancholy account of the death of Major Andre, the Adjutant-General of The British Army, who was laken as spy in negotiating a Inisiness with General Arnold, which, if it hal succeeded, would have been nearly the overthrow of the Americans. This officer was present at his execution. who said that he met his fate with that courage and manliness of In- bavjour that deeply affected every one present, and that his severe destiny was universally lamented. So much was he esteemed that Gen- eral Washinglon shed tears when the rigorous sentence was put into excention. When he found thal his fate was inevitably tived and determined, and That all intercessions aml every exertion of Sir Henry Clinton to save his life were in vain, he became perfectly resigned ; en extremely composed was his mind That the night previous to his exe- enlion he drew the situation of the . Vulture' sloop, as she my in the North River, with a view of West Point, which he sent by his servant to a general ofheer nt New York. The only thing that any way discomposed him or rutlled his mind, and at which his feelings appeared hurt, was the refusal of General Washington to let him die a military death. In regard to this circumstance, the other informed ns thal General Wash- inglon would have granted this request, but, on consulting the Board of' General Officers who signed his condemnation, they deemed it neces. wary lo put that sentence in force That was laid down by The mavinis of war; al the anne lime evineing the sincerest grief that they were forced lo comply with, nud conbl not deviale from, the established customs in such Cases."

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GREENBURGH.

lwe did not come under the description ot & spy. From the several circumstances, and information that the General seemed to be thrown into some 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 Andre's captivity, and that he would, it possible, csrape to the enemy ; and I accordingly took such measures as appeared the most probable to apprehend him. But he had embarked in a barge and proceeded down the river, under a tlag, to the Vulture ship of war, which lay at some miles below Stony and Verplank's Points. After he got on board, he wrote to me a letter, of which I enclose a copy.

Major Andre is not arrived yet, but I hope he is secure, and that he will be here to-day. I have been and am taking precautions, which I trust will provo effectual to prevent the important consequences which this conduct, on the part of General Arnold, was intended to produce. 1 do not know the party that took Major Andre, but it is said that it consisted only of a few militia, who acted in such a manner upon the occa- sion, as does them the highest honor, and proves them to be men ot great virtue. They were offered, I am informed, a large sumu of money for his release, and as many goods as they would demand, but without any effect. Their conduct gives them a just claim to the thanks of their country, and I also hope they will be otherwise rewarded. As soon as I know their names 1 shall take pleasure in transmitting them to Con- gress. 1 have taken such measures, with respect to the gentlemen ot General Arnold's family, as prudence dictated ; but from every thing that has hitherto come to my knowledge, I have the greatest reason to believe they are perfectly innocent. 1 early secured Joshua 11. Smith, the person mentioned in the close of General Arnold's letter, and tind him to have had considerable share in this business, I have the honor to be, &c.

GEO, WASHINGTON.

LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

PARAMUS, 7, October, 1780.

SIR, -I have the honor to enclose to Congress a copy of the proceed. ings of a board of general officers in the case of Major Andre, adintant- general to the British army. This officer was excented in pursnance ot the opinion of the board, on Monday the 2d instant, at twelve o'clock, at our late camp at Tappan. He acted with great candor, from the time he avowed himself after his capture, until he was executed. Congress will perceive by a copy of a letter I received from him on the Ist instant, that it was his desire to be shot ; but the practice and usage ot war, circumstanced as he was, were against the indulgence. At the bottom of the sixth page of the proceedings an explanatory note it added, to prevent any suspicions being entertained injurious to Colonel Sheldon, who, otherwise, from the letter addressed to him, might be supposed to have been privy to the measures between General Arnold and Major Andre. If it should be the pleasure of Congress to publish the case which,'1 would take the liberty to suggest, may not be improper, it will be necessary for the explanatory note to be annexed.

Besides these proceedings, 1 transmit copies of sundry letters respect ing the matter, which are all that passed on the subject, not included in the proceedings. I wonhl not suffer Mr. Elliot and Mr. Smith to land, who came up to Dobbs Ferry agrecably to Sir Henry Clinton's letter of the 3 th September. General Robertson was permitted to come on shore, and was met by Major General Greene, and mentioned sub- stantially what is contained in his letter of the 2d instant. It might not perhaps be improper to publish the letters, or part of them, as an appendix to the proceedings of the board of general officers.

I have now the pleasure to communicate the names of the three pel. sons who captured Major Andre, and who refused to release him, uot- withstanding the most earnest importunities and assurances of a liberal reward on his part. Their conduct merits our warmest esteem ; and I beg leave to add, that I think the public will do well to make them a handsome gratuity. They have prevented in all probability our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us.1 Their names aro John Panlding, David Williams and Isaar Van Wart.

For the present I have detached the Jersey, New York and New Hampshire brigades, with Stark's, to the Highland posts. They marched this morning from Orangetown, and will relieve the Pennsyl- vania line, which was thrown in at the moment General Arnoldi went to the enemy. Major General Greene has marched with these four

brigades, and will command at West Point and its dependencies till a further disposition. The main body of the army (the forage about Orangetown and the lower country being exhausted) also moved this morning and is now arrived here. We have had a cold, wet and tedious march, on account of the feeble state of our cattle, and have not a drop of rum to give the troops. My intention is to proceed with them to the country In the neighborhood of Passaic Falls, I have the honor to be, &c.

. GŁO, WASHINGTON.

PROCEEDINGS OF A BOARD OF GENERAL OFFICERS

Hell by order of His Excellency General Washington, commander in chief of the army of the United States of America, respecting Ma- jor Audre, Adjutant-General of the British army, September the 20th, 1780, at Tappan, in the State of New York.

PRESENT :

Major-General Greene, Presi- dent,

Brigadier-General Knox, Brigadier-General Glover,

Major-General Lord Stirling,

Brigadier-General Patterson,

Major-General St. Clair, Brigadier-General Hand,

Major-General Howe, Brigadier-General Huntington,

Brigadier-General Starke,

Brigadier-General Parsons,

Brigadier-General Clinton,

Major Andre, Adjutant-General of the British army, was brought tu.fore the Board, and the following tetter from General Washington, to the Board, dated Head-quarters, Tappan, September 29th, 1780, was laid before them and read.

" Gentlemen,

" Major Andre, Adjutant-General of the British army, will be bronght before you for your examination. le came within our lines in the night, on an interview with Major-General Arnold, and in an assmued character ; and was taken within our lines, in a disguised habit, with a pass under a feigned name, and with the inclosed papers concealed upon him. After a careful examination you will be pleased as speedily as possible to report a precise state of his case. together with your opinion of the light in which he ought to be considered, and the punishment that ought to be inflicted. The Judge-Advocate will attend to assist in the examination, who has snudry other papers, relative to this matter, which he will lay before the Board.

" I have the honour to be, " Heutlenen, " Your most obedient and humble servant,

" G. WASHINGTON.

" The Board of General officers, contrned at Tappan."

The munes of the officers comprising the board were read to Major Andre, and on his being asked whether he confessed the matters con- tamed in the letter from his Excellency General Washington, to the board, or denied them, he said in addition to his letter to General Wash- ington, dated Salem, the 24th September, 1780 (which was read to the board and acknowledged by Major Andre, to have been written by him,) which letter is as follows :

" SALEM, Sept. 21, 1780. " SIR :

" What I have as yet said concerning myself, was in a justifiable at- tempt to be extricated : I amu too little accustomed to duplicity to have succeeded.

" I beg your Excellency will be persuaded that, no alteration in the temper of my mind, or apprehension for my safety, induces ure to take the step of addressing yon, but that it is to secure myself from an impu- tation of having assumed a mean character for treacherous purposes or self-interest. 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 speak and not to solicit scenrity.

" The person in your possession is Major John Andre, Adjutant-Gen- eral to the British army.

"The influence of one commander in the army of his adversary is an advantage taken in war. A correspondence for this purpose I held ; as confidential (in the present instance) with his Excellency Sir Henry ('linton.

" To favor it I agreed to meet upon ground not within posts of either army, a person who was to give me intelligence ; I came up in the V'ui- ture man of war for this effect and was fetched by a boat from the shore to the beach : Being there I was told that the approach of day would

1 These sentences are the additional inscription put upon the monn- ment at Tarrytown, September, 1880.

Major-General the Baron de Stenteu.

lohn Lawience, Judge-Advocate- General.

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HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

prevent my return, and that I must be concealed until the next night. 1 was in my regimentals, and had fairly risked my person.

" Against my stipulation, my intention and without my knowledge before hand, 1 was ronducted within one of your posts. Your Excel- leury may conceive my sensation on this occasion and will inmgine how much more I must have been affected, by a refusal to reconduct me back the next night as I had been brought. Thus become a prisoner I had to copeert my escape, I quitted my uniform and was passed another way in the night without the American posts to neutral ground, and in- formed 1 was beyond all armed parties and left to press for New York. 1 was taken nt Tarry Town by some volunteers.

" Thus as I have bad the honor to relate was I betrayed (being adja- tant-genend of the British army) into the vile condition of an enemy in disguise within your posts.

" Having avowed myself a British officer I have nothing to reveal but what relates to myself, which is true, on the honor of an officer and a gentleman.

** The request I have to make your Excellency and I am conscious I address myself' well, is, that in any rigor policy may dictate, a decency of conduct toward me may mark, that though unfortunate I am branded with nothing dishonourable, as no motive conll be mine but the service of my king and as I was involuntarily an impostor.

" Another request is that I may be permitted to write an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton and another to a friend for cloaths mind linen.

"I take the liberty to mention the comlition of some gentlemen at Charles-Town, who lwing on parole or nuder protection were engaged ina conspiracy against ns. Though their situation is not similar, they are objects who may be set in exchange for me, or are persous whom the treatment I receive might affect.

" It is no less Sir in a confidence in the generosity of your mind than on account of your superior station that I have chosen to importune you this letter.

" I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir. Tonr Ercelleney's most olo lieut and must homble servant.

JOHN ANDRE, odpotout-generol.

" His Freethe ney, Conrad Washington, (t.c., de., .fr."

That he cam on shore from the Vulture sloop of war in the night of the twenty-first of September instant, somewhere under the Haverstraw Mountain. That the boat he came on shore in carried no dag, and that he Had on a surtout coat over his regimentals, and that he wore his spr- tout coat wlien be was taken. That be met General Arnold on the shore ail had an interview with him there. He also said that when he left the Vulture sloop of war it was understood he was to return that night ; but it was then doubted, and if be coubl not return he was promised to be concealed on shore in a plaer of safety until the next night when he was to return in the amne manner he came on shore, and when the next day came he was solicitons to get back, and made inquiries in the contre of the day how he should return, when he was informed he could not return that way and he must take the route he dil afterwards. He also said that the first notice he had of his being within any of our posts was being challenged by the sentry, which was the first night he was on shore. He also said that the evening of the twenty-second of Septem- bed instant be passed King's Ferry between our posts of Stoney and Ver- plank's Points in the dress he is at present in and which he said was not his regimeutals, and which dress he procured after he landed from the Vul ture, and when he was within our post, and that he was proceeding to New York, but was taken on his way, at Tarrytown, as he has men. tioned in his letter, on Saturday, the twenty-third of September, instant, about nine o'clock in the morning.

The following papers were laid before the board and shown to Major Andre, who confessed to the board that they were found on him when he was taken, and said they were concealed in his boot, except the

A pass from general Arnold to dels boad rson which som major Andre

Artillery orders, September 2, 15M.

Estimate of the force at West Point and its dependencies, September, 1580.

Estimate of men to man the works at West Point, &c. Return of ordnance at West Point, September, 1780. Remarks on works nt West Point.

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History of Westchester county : New York, including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, which have been annexed to New York City, Vol. II, Part 48

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898, Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898,
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.E. Preston & Co.
Number of Pages: 1286