THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 33 1 



it was his lot to die," he said, " there was still a choice in the mode 

 which would make a material difference to his feelings, and he would 

 be happy, if possible, to be indulged with a professional death ; and he 

 seems to have at once verbally petitioned, probably through Hamilton, 

 that Washington would consent to his being shot probably anticipating 

 no refusal to his request he retained for some time a tranquility of spirit 

 approaching even to cheerfulness. 



On the morning of the day originally fixed for his death Andre made a 

 moving appeal for a change of its mode. 



ANDRE TO WASHINGTON. 



Tappan, 1st Octobee, 1780. 

 Sir : — Buoy'd above the terror of death by the consciousness of a life devoted 

 to honorable pursuits and stained with no action that can give me remorse, I 

 trust that the request I make to your excellency at this serious period, and which 

 is to soften my last moments, will not be rejected. 



Sympathy towards a soldier will surely induce your excellency and a military 

 tribunal to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings of a man of honor. Let 

 me hope, Sir, that if aught in my character impresses you with esteem toward 

 me, if aught in my misfortunes marks me the victim of policy and not of resent- 

 ment, I shall experience the operation of those feelings in your heart by being 

 informed that I am not to die on the gibbet ; I have the honor to be your ex- 

 cellency's most obedient and most humble servant, 



John Ahdre, Adj. -Gen. to the British Army. 



"This was probably the second and last letter written by Andre to 

 Washington ; the latter being unable to grant the request was unwilling 

 to wound the writer by a refusal, therefore did not reply. 



Letters of farewell to his mother and his nearest friends were written, 

 and the condemned man's calmness was still evinced in the exercise of his 

 pen. On this same evening he sketched from memory, as a memento for a 

 friend in New York, the striking view of the North River that had pre- 

 sented itself to him as he looked from the window of Smith's house, and 

 figured the position of the Vulture as she rode at anchor beyond his 

 reach. Tradition also assigns to this occasion the composition of some 

 last verses, that were long cherished on the lips of the common people. 

 The morning of Tuesday, October the 2d, 1780, found him with his 

 mortal duties all performed and not afraid to die. 



The prisoner's board was supplied from Washington's own table; on 

 this day his breakfast was sent him as usual, from the General's quarters. 

 He ate with entire composure, and then proceeded to shave and dress 

 with particular care. He v/as fully arrayed in the habits of his rank and 

 profession, with the exception of sash and spurs, sword and yorget. The 

 toilet completed, he laid his hat on the table and cheerfully said to the 



