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kept the love of independence alive.
To seek
Chap. XVIII.} 1780. Sept. 25. |
security by a threat of retaliation on innocent men was an unworthy act which received no support from
Sir Henry Clinton.
Andre was without loss of time conducted to the headquarters of the army at
Tappan.
His offence was so clear that it would have justified the promptest action; but, to prevent all possibility of complaint from any quarter, he was, on the twenty-ninth, brought before a numerous and very able board of
officers. On his own confession and without the examination of a witness, the board, on which sat
Greene, second only to
Washington in the service;
St. Clair, afterwards president of congress;
Lafayette, of the
French army;
Steuben, from the staff of Frederic the Second;
Parsons,
Clinton,
Glover,
Knox,
Huntingdon, and others, all well known for their uprightness,—made their unanimous report that
Major Andre,
adjutant-general of the
British army, ought to be considered as a spy from the enemy and to suffer death.
Throughout the inquiry
Andre was penetrated with the liberality of the members of the court, who showed him every mark of indulgence, and required him to answer no interrogatory which could even embarrass his feelings.
1 He acknowledged their generosity in the strongest terms of manly gratitude, and afterwards remarked to one who visited him, that if there were any remains in his mind of prejudice against the
Americans, his present experience must obliterate them.
2
On the thirtieth the sentence was approved by
Washington, and ordered to be carried into effect