98 WINTER SKETCHES. 



a considerable time, and finally they told him 

 if he wrote, a party would be sent out and 

 take them, and then they should all be prison- 

 ers. They said they had concluded to take 

 him to the commanding officer in the lines. 

 They did so and retained the watch until Gen. 

 Washington sent for them to Tappan, when 

 the watch was restored to Maj. Andre. 



Thus, you see, had money been at command, 

 after the imprudent confession of Maj. Andre, 

 or any security given that the British would 

 have put confidence in, he might have passed 

 on to Sir Henry Clinton's headquarters with 

 all his papers and Arnold's pass into the bar- 

 gain. I do not recollect to have seen a true 

 statement of this business in any history that 

 has fallen into my hands. 



There is something infinitely touching in 

 the relations of these two young officers. The 

 heart of the Lieutenant was warmed with pity 

 and sympathy for his captive, and no one can 

 doubt from this recital and from what after- 

 wards transpired, that if honor had permitted 

 he would gladly have set him free. On the 

 other hand, the British officer, fully appreciat- 

 ing this sentiment and knowing that he was in 

 the keeping of a gentleman, gave no hint of a 

 readiness to purchase his liberty, as he had 



