Andre at once avowed himself a British officer; said that he had been up the river on most important business, and must not be detained for a moment. To his intense alarm, the men now declared themselves to be Americans, and pronounced him their prisoner. Andre did all in his power to retrieve his error. He laughed, and said that, in a delicate matter like that in which he was engaged, expedients of all kinds were necessary; that he was an American officer proceeding to Dobbs' ferry in search of information. At the same time he produced Arnold's pass. His captors were not, however, common "Skinners," but intelligent and honest yeomen of the vicinity, members of a body organized to revenge and prevent the recurrence of outrages committed by the "Cow Boys." The coat which their leader wore, had come to him from a tory partisan who had stolen his own. They refused to be satisfied with Andre's explanation, without a search, and that revealed fatal evidence that he was a spy, in the presence of the plans concealed in his stocking. Thus discovered, he attempted to bribe his captors. He would give his horse, saddle, bridle, and one hundred guineas, and send them to any place which might be designated. One of the men asked him if he would not give more, when he promised any reward that might be named, in return for liberty to pursue his journey. At this John Paulding, leader of the little guard, said: "If you would give ten thousand guineas, you should not stir one step."

Every effort failing, Andre was compelled to submit, and was taken across the country with one man at his bridle rein, and one on either side, to the nearest American post-that at North Castle, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Jameson. This officer very carefully examined the papers captured, and, discovering their dangerous character, forwarded them by an express to General Washington at Hartford. Andre desiring that the commandant at West Point be notified of the arrest and detention of Mr. John Anderson, in spite of his pass, Jameson wrote Arnold an account of the whole affair, told him that the papers found upon Andre had been sent to Washington, and forwarded letter and prisoner toward West Point under the same guard. Soon after the escort set out, Major Tallmadge, second in command, arrived at the post, and having somewhat more common sense than had Jameson, succeeded in inducing the latter to recall Andre, but, with stubborn insistence, the letter was still sent forward. A little consideration would have secured the capture of Arnold, which this warning prevented. Had Tallmadge not come, Arnold and Andre would have laughed over the matter at a British mess table. Upon Andre's return to North Castle, Major Tallmadge was more than ever certain that his prisoner was a military man, and one of consequence, hence he advised his removal to the more secure post at Lower Salem, under command of Colonel Sheldon, and Jameson adopted his advice. Learning that his papers had been sent to

Washington, Andre requested and received the privilege of writing to him, and hastily penned the following lines:

"I beg your Excellency will be persuaded, that no alteration in the temper of my mind, or apprehension for ny safety, induces me to take the step of addressing you; but that it is to secure myself from the imputation of having assumed a mean character, for treacherous purposes or self interest. It is to vindicate my fame that I speak, and not to solicit security. The person in your possession is Major John Andre, adjutant-general of 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 Clinton. To favor it I agreed to meet, upon ground not within the posts of either army, a person who was to give me intelligence. I came up in the Vulture, man-of-war, for this effect, and was fetched from the shore to the beach. Being there, I was told that the appoach of day would prevent my return, and that I must be concealed until the next night. I was in my regimentals and had fairly risked my person. Against my stipulation, my intention, and without my knowledge. beforehand, I was conducted within one of your posts. Thus was I betrayed into the vile condition of an enemy, 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 made to your Excellency, and I am conscious that 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 dishonorable; as no motive could be mine, but the service of my king, and as I was involuntarily an imposter."

Having made this explanation, Andre seemed completely to regain his equanimity. He chatted and joked with his guards, establishing himself completely in their good graces, and drew a most amusing caricature of himself, as he appeared upon his enforced march to his place of confinement. The gaunt shadow of the gibbet was even then across his path, but he saw it not. Andre was, by order of Washington, removed successively to the Robinson house, to West Point, and to headquarters at Tappan. There, on the 29th, convened the board of general officers, appointed to inquire into the circumstances of his detection and arrest. This consisted of Majorgenerals Greene, Stirling, St. Clair, Lafayette, R. Howe and Steuben, and Brigadier-generals Parsons, James Clinton, Knox, Glover, Paterson, Hood, Huntingdon and Stark. General Greene was made president of the board, and Colonel John Lawrence, judge advocate general. Andre was brought before this board, and treated with the greatest consideration. No questions which could embarrass him, were pressed; no witnesses, save himself, were examined. He made his own statement without any reservation, save that