THE TOWN OF GREENBURGH. 335 



■deed, a shocking sight to behold. There were at this time standing at 

 the foot of the coffin, two young men, of uncommon short stature ; I 

 should think not more than four feet high. Their dress was the most 

 gaudy that I ever beheld. One of them had the clothes, just taken 

 from Andre, hanging on his arm. I took particular pains to learn who 

 they were, and was informed that they were his servants sent up from 

 New York to take his clothes; but what other business I did not learn. 

 I now turned to take a view of the executioner, who was still stand- 

 ing by one of the posts of the gallows. I walked nigh enough to him to 

 have laid my hand upon his shoulder, and looked him directly in the 

 face. He appeared to be about twenty-five years of age, his beard of 

 two or three weeks growth, and his whole face covered with what appeared 

 to me to be blacking taken from the outside of a greasy pot. A more 

 frightful looking being I never beheld ; his whole countenance bespoke 

 him to be a fit instrument for the business he had been doing. Wishing 

 to see the closing of the whole business, I remained upon the spot until 

 scarce twenty persons were left; but the coffin was still beside the grave, 

 which had previously been dug. I now returned to my tent, with my 

 mind deeply imbued with the shocking scene I had been called to wit- 

 ness.'" 



Every authentic account that we have, shows how much our officers 

 regretted the necessity of Andre's death, and how amply they fulfilled 

 his parting adjuration. " The tears of thousands," says Thacher, "fell on 

 the spot where he lay, and no one refrained from proclaiming his sympathy. 

 Many wept openly as he died ; among whom, it is recorded, (apparently 

 on the testimony of Laune) was La Fayette. Certainly the marquis 

 bore witness to the infinite regret with which the fate of such a noble 

 and magnanimous character inspired him. It was believed in the army 

 that Washington's soul revolted at the task, and that he could scarcely 

 command the pen when he subscribed the fatal warrant. An American 

 officer who was present, and who brought the news to Burgoyne's troops 

 detained at Winchester, asserted that our General shed tears on the 

 execution, and would fain have changed its mode. 



The sorrow and indignation of Andre's friends gave occasion to many 

 unfounded charges. At Southampton, where his family connections ex- 

 tended, it was reported that Clinton solicited " as a singular favor," after 

 his dear friend and companion should be hung, the body might be sent 

 to him. But Washington refused. Clinton then sent again, that since? 

 the sentence was to bury the body under the gallows, it might be taken 

 up and brought to New York, there to be interred with the military 

 honors due to so brave and accomplished a young man. This, Washing- 

 ton also refused. 



This silly tale is sufficiently exposed by Sir Henry's own statement 

 that he knew not of his Adjutant's being hanged till the arrival of Laune 



