GENERAL KING'S LETTER. 93 



after Andre's arrest he was brought to the 

 quarters of a young lieutenant of the Second 

 Regiment of Light Dragoons, under Col. Shel- 

 don. Lieut. King, at that time scarcely of 

 age, appears to have conducted himself with 

 remarkable discretion and to have shown his 

 good breeding as a gentleman. He after- 

 wards became a general, and served with 

 honor through the war. 



'' In the year 1817," says Mr. Teller, writing 

 in 1877, *' Gen. King was written to by a friend 

 who desired to know the exact facts in relation 

 to Maj. Andre's capture, etc. The following 

 letter was written by Gen. King in reply, and, 

 although previously solicited for publication, 

 is no\v for the first time given to the public": 



RiDGEFIELD, /?^;;^ 17, 1817. 



Dear Sir: 



Yours of the 9th is before me. 

 The facts, so far as I am acquainted with 

 them, I will state to the best of my ability or 

 recollection. Paulding, Willianfis, and Van 

 Wort I never saw before or sLiice that event. 

 I know nothing about them. The tim.e and 

 the place where they stopped Maj. Andr^ 

 seems to justify the character you have drawn 

 of them. The truth is, to the imprudence of 

 the man and not the patriotism of any one is 



