It is known to the readers of American history that the three young men who captured Major André, near Tarrytown, were rewarded by the National Government by the presentation to each, of a silver medal, and an annual pension for

life, of $200 a year. The Continental Congress was stimulated to make that award by the facts of the case, and the following sentence in a letter written by Washington, to the President of that body: "Their conduct merits our warmest esteem; and I beg leave to add that I think the public would do well to allow them a gratuity. They have prevented, in all probability, our suffering one of the severest strokes that could have been meditated against us." The medal is of eliptical form. On one side is a shield, over which, on a ribbon is the word FIDELITY; on the other side is a wreath, and the words VINCIT AMOR PATRIA—“the love of our country conquers."

These three young men. were John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart or Wert and David Williams. The first was then twenty-two years of age; the second was twenty, and the third was twenty-six. They were all young farmers of West Chester county, and were then in the militia service as volunteers. The testimony of these young men before the court of inquiry, concerning the circumstances of the capture of André, perfectly agreed in essential matters. They were out watching for cattle drivers, to prevent their taking any to the enemy in New York, and to arrest any suspicious persons who might be passing in the vicinity of Tarrytown. There were at first, seven in the party; the other four had gone to watch another part of the road.

In 1817, Mr. Paulding asked Congress to increase the amount of his annuity. Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge was then a delegate in Congress, from Connecticut. He had been an active officer of dragoons in the Continental army, and at the time of the arrest of Major André, he belonged to Colonel Sheldon's corps of Light

Horsemen. He had charge of André, and commanded the escort that took the spy to West Point, and thence to Washington's headquarters at Tappan.

Tallmadge and André were nearly of the same age, the former being twentysix and the latter twenty-nine years old. He became much interested in his prisoner, who communicated with him freely. and who gave Major Tallmadge most unfavorable impressions concerning the character of his captors; impressions which were never effaced. When, therefore, the petition of Paulding came before Congress, Tallmadge vehemently opposed the granting of the prayer, alleging that the petitioners and his companions had been more than compensated for the real patriotism which they exercised on the occasion of making Major André a prisoner. The Major's statements impressed Tallmadge with the belief that the plunder of a well dressed traveller was their first incentive to arrest him, and that, could they have been certified of their prisoner's ability to perform his promises of large reward, which, they alleged, he made, if they would allow him to proceed, they would not have detained him. André solemnly asserted, Tallmadge said, that they first ripped up the housings of his saddle and the cape of his surtout, in search of money, but finding none, one of the party said: "He may have it [money] in his boots.' They ordered him to take them off, and the discovery of the papers concealed in them gave them the first hint that he might be a spy. Major André further told Major Tallmadge that it was his opinion that if he could have offered them a small sum in specie, they would have let him pass; he had only a small amount in Continental bills, which had been given him by Mr. Smith, at whose house he and Arnold had held a conference.

With such impressions Tallmadge opposed the granting of the prayer of Paulding's petition, and gave the statements of André as the reasons for his opposition. His course in this matter created much ex

of the attest, asking for their written opinions Of this correspondence, three htter are preserved in the collection of a entleman who his turnished comes of them for publication in the RECORD. They are here published in the order of There date merely historical cuposities. The Beat W written by Col Fallmadge From the seit of government to an known person, the wond, by hum, from For Summel Howman, and the 12 from 4 correpondent, and is in the cond letter. The tol-lv ༄---ར ༠༥-lvCts ce ;

Sir:

Washington, Feb. 27, 1817.

In the "Gleaner" of the 21st instant, which I have this day received, I noticed a paragraph relative to the capture of Major André, corroborated by a statement from an officer of the Massachusetts line. As the bare name of a revolutionary officer carries with it a title to my particular regard, I feel desirous to know the person who recollects scenes in which we were engaged, as correctly as you appear to do. Will you permit a Brother soldier, to ask of you the favor to state your recollections

of any circumstances relating to the capture, detention and execution of Major André, together with the prevailing impression at that time, respecting the character, motives and conduct of his captors in bringing him up to our lines, &c., &c. It is not my present intention to make any publication to rebut the slanderous remarks in which some newspaper editors have indulged on the occasion; but I am very happy to find, whenever I have heard any remarks from officers of the Revolution, who were with the army at the time. of André's capture, and Arnold's defection, that their impressions are similar to my own. I have this day received a letter from a highly meritorious officer of the Revolution, who was a prisoner with the enemy, when Major André was taken. Being wounded, as we supposed mortally, I left him at Kingstract, in West Chester County, when he was soon paroled by the enemy. While there, between the lines, he says he frequently saw the thieves (who were called Cow-boys and Skinners) from above and below, meet on the most friendly terms, and afterwards separate, and when at a proper distance pretend to fire at each other. He further remarks that when he was sufficiently recovered, he surrendered himself to Col. Delancey, who commanded the nearest British post. While there, he remarks, he was informed by an officer with whom he was well acquainted, that the captors of Major André, with others, carried on a clandestine intercourse with the enemy. That they, with two others, had made an agreement with an agent of Col. Delancey, to procure a favorite horse for the Colonel, then back in the country, for which they were to receive two hundred guineas. He farther added that their only object in going to the place where they apprehended André, was to meet Col. Delancey's agent, to close the contract about the horse, &c. I hope you will excuse the liberty I am thus taking, and if leisure will permit, that you will favor me with a line, enclosing a certificate of the facts by you recollected, relative to the subject above mentioned. As I expect to set out for home next week, please to direct to me at Litchfield, Conn.,

I feel very much obliged by your communication of the 29th ult., the manner as well as the substance of which renews my recollection of the scenes which took place in our revolutionary struggle, and serves greatly to endear to my heart the few remaining fellow soldiers of that eventful era. The statement which you have given, so far as comes within my knowledge, I know to be true, and all of it was matter of public notoriety. Indeed there were few events of the war which made so deep an impression on my mind as the capture, detention and execution of Major André ; whom tho' an enemy in arms, I loved like a brother. Indeed, his whole deportment, after he declared who he was, indicated the polite gentleman, the man of honour and the scholar, to a degree almost unequalled by anything I had ever before witnessed. I can most heartily accord in your opinion of Major André's sincerity and regard for truth. In fact life seemed not, in his opinion, to be worth preserving by the sacrifice of honour, sincerity and truth. When the occasion lately presented, which gave rise to so many strictures and editorial abuse, nothing but a sense of duty compelled me to make the statement which I did in the House of Representatives, and altho' I well knew many facts which would have placed the captors of André in a very unpleasant light, yet my sincere wish was not to detract from the estimation in which that

deed was held by the public, but to prevent the Legislature from being imposed on. I thank Heaven that my patriotism is not of so pliant a make as to surrender the interest of my country to party clamour; neither thro' fear or by flattery to refrain from doing that which I conceive to be my duty. Since I returned home from

OLD POWDER MAGAZINE.

Early in the late civil war, the Editor of the RECORD received from a correspondent in Nashville, Tennessee, a pencil sketch of the Old Powder Magazine, on Cumberland street, Charleston, which was built for the purpose before the old war for Independence. It was accompanied by the following letter:

"When Fort Sumter fell into the hands of the Confederates, and South Carolina soil was becoming too hot for the foot of a 'Yankee,' I left Charleston, passed through Virginia, over the mountains into East Tennessee, and so on to this place where I am sojourning temporarily. A few days before I left, a friend handed me the inclosed sketch and a copy of a letter written by Peter Manigault, a patriotic Huguenot, concerning an event connected with the old magazine. I send you both for use in some of your historical productions."

An engraving from the sketch is above given, and subjoined is Mr. Manigault's letter:

"I was satisfied, at least a fortnight before the surrender, that Charleston could not hold out long against the siege, and I advised General Lincoln to secure in some way, from destruction or from the clutches of the invaders, the gunpowder then in the magazine. He was hopeful until two or three days before he was. compelled to surrender. Then he acted on my advice. There were about 100,000 pounds of gunpowder in the magazine. General Lincoln had it conveyed to the crypt or vaults of the Custom-house, where it was walled up in a dry place. It remained there until the British evacuated the city, when it was brought out for our use again."

That

When the news of the skirmish at Lexington reached Charleston, the patriots there felt that forbearance was no longer a virtue, and resolved to take the risks of overt acts of rebellion. General Gadsden was the chief leader. He organized an expedition for seizing the powder then in this old magazine and elsewhere. feat was accomplished, and the gunpowder was delivered to General Gadsden. They were not so successful at other places of deposit. The public Receiver and Keeper of the powder of the merchants, was friendly to the Whig cause; they removed the powder a few yards from its depository, in one place, and hid it in the bushes. He told the merchants that he was sorry to say that the magazine had been broken open. Of course they held him and his sureties responsible for the value of the merchandise. He directed them to make out their bills. These were presented to Henry Laurens, a leader in the rebellious movements and Chairman of the Committee of Safety, who instantly paid the full amount to the owners, and the powder was delivered to Gadsden. So did the

patriots secure ammunition for immediate use wherewith to begin the great struggle.