GENERAL KING'S LETTER. 95 



was a spacious yard before the door which he 

 desired he might be permitted to walk in with 

 me. 



I accordingly disposed of my guard in such 

 manner as to prevent an escape. While walk- 

 ing together, he observed, he must make a con- 

 fidant of somebody, and he knew not a more 

 proper person than myself, as I had appeared 

 to befriend a stranger in distress. After set- 

 tling the point between ourselves, he told me 

 who he was, and gave me a short account of 

 himself from the time he was taken at St, 

 Johns in 1775 to that time. He requested 

 pen and ink, and wrote immediately to Gen. 

 Washington, declaring who he was. About 

 midnight the express returned with orders 

 from Gen. Washington to Col. Sheldon to 

 send Maj. Andre immediately to headquarters. 



I started with him, and before I got to 

 North Salem meeting-house met another ex- 

 press with a letter directed to the officer 

 who had Maj. Andre in charge, and which 

 letter directed a circuitous route to head- 

 quarters for fear of recapture, and gave an 

 account of Arnold's desertion, etc., with direc- 

 tions to forward the letter to Col. Sheldon. I 

 did so, and before I got to .the end of my 

 journey I was joined by Capt. Hoodgers first, 

 and after by Maj. Talmadge and Capt. Rogers. 

 Having given you this clew, I proceed with 

 the Major's own story. He said he came up 

 the North River in the sloop of war Vtdturey 



