astonishment and grief when early the
next morning he received a note from Greene stating that Washington's
opinion and decision were unchanged, and the prisoner would be
executed that day.

"Sir Henry Clinton wrote to Washington, offering some important
prisoners in exchange; but it was too late.

"Andre showed no fear of death, but was very solicitous to be shot
rather than hanged. He pleaded for that with touching but manly
earnestness, importuning Washington in a letter written the day before
his death. It was, however, contrary to the customs of war, and
Washington, kind-hearted as he was, could not grant his request.

"Major Andre was executed at Tappan on the 2d of October, 1780, at
twelve o'clock. A large detachment of troops was paraded; there was an
immense concourse of people present; excepting Washington and his
staff, almost all the field officers were there on horseback. There
was a strong feeling of pity for the young man, and the whole scene
was very affecting. I suppose the general feeling was that he was
suffering the punishment that ought, if possible, to have been meted
out to Arnold--the traitor."

"I think history says that Andre went through it all very bravely;
does it not, captain?" asked Sydney.

"Yes; there was a smile on his countenance as he walked from the
stone-house where he had been confined, to the place of execution, and
he bowed politely to several officers whom he knew, they returning it
respectfully. He had hoped to be shot rather than hanged, and when he
suddenly came in view of the gallows he started backward and made a
pause. An officer by his side asked, 'Why this emotion, sir?' Andre
instantly recovered his composure, and answered, 'I am reconciled to
my death, but I detest the mode,' Tears came into the eyes of many of
the spectators as they saw him take off his hat and stock, and bandage
his own eyes. He slipped the noose over his head, and adjusted it to
his neck with perfect firmness. He was then told that he had an
opportunity to speak if he wished to do so. At that he raised the
handkerchief from his eyes, and said, 'I pray you to bear me witness
that I meet my fate like a brave man.' He had said of the manner of
his death, 'It will be but a momentary pang,' and so it proved, as, on
the removal of the wagon on which he stood, he expired almost
instantly. The body was placed in an ordinary coffin, and buried at
the foot of the gallows. And the spot was consecrated b