night effectual. With the greatest respect and regard I have the honor to be Your most obt. serv't

Go. Washington.

I come now to treat of a very different Character, whose name will shine with Lustro & Glory, while that of the Traitor will be handed down with Infamy & disgrace to the latest posterity.

From the moment that Major Andre made the Disclosure of his name & true Character, in his Letter to the Commander in Chief, dated Sep'r 24th, 1780, which he handed to me as soon as he had written it, to the moment of his Execution, I was almost constantly with him. The Ease and affability of his manner, polished by the refinement of good Society & a finished Education, made him a most delectable Companion. It often drew tears from my Eyes to find him so pleasant & agreeable in Conversation on different Subjects, when I reflected on his future fate, & that, too, as I believed, so pear at land—

Since you ask for private Anecdotes, I would remark that soon after Acquaintance, being mutually disposed to have the most unreserved & free Conversation, & both being soldiers of equal Rank in the two Armies, we agreed on a Cartel, by the terms of which each one was permitted to put any Question to the other, not involving a third Person. This cpered a wide field for two inquisitive young Officers, & we amused ourselves on the march to Head Quarters not a little. Many Anecdotes doubtless were related, which the lapse of more than fifty three years has consigned to oblivion, & wh I have no desire to recollect.

My principal object was to learn the late plot. On every point that I enquired, when any other person was concerned, he maintained most rigidly the rule, so that even where that most infamous Traitor Arnold was concerned (& he out of our control), so nice was his sense of honour, that he would disclose nothing. When we left West Point for Tappan early in the morning, as we passed down the Hudson river to King's Ferry, I placed Major Andre by my side, on the after seat of the Barge.

I soon began to make Enquiries about the expected Capture of our fortress, & begged him to inform me whether he was to have taken a part in the military attack, if Arnold's plan had succeeded. He instantly replied in the affirmative, & pointed me to a table of Land on the West Shore, which he said was the spot where he should have landed at the head of a select Corps. He then traversed in idea the Course up the mountain into the rear of Fort Putnam, which overlooks the whole Parade of West Point, & with much greater exactness than I could have done; & as the Traitor Arnold had so disposed of the Garrison that little or no opposition could have been made by our Troops. Major Andre supposed he should have reached that important Eminence without difficulty. Thus that important key of our Country would have been theirs, & the Glory of so splendid an Achievement would have been his. The Animation with which he gave the Account I recollect perfectly delighted me, for he seemed as if he was entering the fort, sword in hand. To complete the Climax, I then enquired what was to have been his reward if he had succeeded. He replied that military Glory was all he sought, & that the thanks of his General, & the approbation of his King, was a rich reward for such an Undertaking.

I think he further remarked that if he had succeeded (&, with the aid of the opposing General, who would doubt of success?) he was to have been promoted to the rank of Brigdr. General.

As we progressed on our way to Tappan, before we reached the Clove, where we dined, Major Andre was very inquisitive to know my Opinion as to the result of his Capture. In other words, he wished me to give him my Opinion as to the light in w’h he would be viewed by Genl. Washington, & a Military Tribunal, if one should be ordered. I endeavored to evade the Question, unwilling to give him a true answer. When I could no longer evade this Importunity, I said to him that I had a much loved Class mate in Yale College by the name of Nathan Hale, who entered the Army with me in the year 1776. After the British Troops had entered N. York, Genl. Washington wanted Information respecting the strength, position & probable movements of the Enemy. Capt. Hale tendered his services, went into N. York, & was taken just as he was passing the out posts of the Enemy; said I, with Emphasis, do you remember the sequel of this story; Yes," said Andre; "he was hanged as a Spy; but you surely

P. S. Smith is also in our possession and has confessed facts

sufficient to establish his guilt.

[To G. C.]

do not consider his Case & mine alike." I replied, "precisely similar, & similar will be your fate!" He endeavored to answer my remarks, but it was manifest he was more troubled than I had ever seen him before

We stopped at the Clove to dine & to let the Horse Guard refresh; while there Andre kept reviewing his shabby Dress, & finally remarked to me that he was positively ashamed to go to the Head Qrs. of the American Army in such a plight. I called my Servant, & directed him to bring my Dragoon Cloak, which I presented to Andre. This he refused to take for some time, but I insisted, & he finally put it on & rode in it to Tappan.

The Catastrophe, which ensued after we reached the army at Tappan, was narrated in my former Letter, & the principal facts are matters of history. Give me leave then to remark, that so deeply were my feelings interested in the fate of this unfortunate young Man, that I believe I have never narrated the story, nor perused the account of his merited, but ignominious Death without shedding tears of sorrow over such blighted prospects. I hope & trust this will be the last trial of my feelings in this way. I am yours, &c.,

J. Sparks Esqr.

Benjamin Tallmadge.

P. S. Altho' my views & Col. Jameson's differed so widely respecting the disposal of John Anderson, I feel it to be due to his Character & Memory to declare that I never entertained a Doubt of his Patriotism & Devotedness to his Country's Cause. In sending the Prisoner & his Letter of Information to Arnold, his Head was in fault, & not his heart. His Confidence in his Commanding General outweighed the Influence of prudent precautionary Measures.*

*Magazine of American History, Part II, 1879, pp. 747-756.

[For further particulars regarding Arnold's perfidy see Clinton Papers, Volume II, pages 724-728 footnote.]