England in war with three very powerful nations of Europe just at the time when the subjugation of America seemed more than probable? France saw that England could just then be humbled more by assisting America than in any other way, and sent a large and well-equipped fleet, bearing thousands of splendid soldiers to co-operate with Washington. But these would have availed little in securing American independence without the intelligent enthusiasm of our people, guided by the transcendent genius of "The Father of his Country."

Washington and Orange each entered into the defense of his native land endowed with large possessions—Orange in particular, and his estate finally became bankrupt. Neither received compensation for services, and Washington stipulated that his expenses only should be paid. Neither sought promotion, but greatness was thrust upon them, if it ever was thrust upon any. Both were vilely slandered while living and after their death. Both were eminent for piety. Both had undoubted courage, and neither shrunk from any personal sacrifices. Washington was never an eminent orator; but Orange's eloquence, oral or written, had almost boundless power over his countrymen. Both had generosity, self-denial which eluded rather than sought promotion, benevolence and fortitude, and all those noble qualities which elevate men in the estimation of one another. Both were unexcelled as statesmen in their day; Orange was the first commandant in Europe, and Washington the first in America. Neither could be bribed nor terrified into deserting the post of duty. Orange refused tempting offers to lay down his command, and Washington would not even receive a letter in which were "terms of accommodation." Washington was married, but left no children. Orange was married four times, and left twelve children. He was succeeded by his son Maurice, one of the most brilliant military commanders and statesmen in Europe; he, by his younger brother Frederick, stadtholder of the republic in its most palmy days; he, by his son William II. of Nassau; and this last, by William III., stadtholder of Holland and king of England.

But the last days of these notable men were very different. At the age of fifty, in the very height of his greatness and usefulness, Orange was assassinated by the order of Philip II. of Spain. As he fell he pleaded for the assassin, and exclaimed, “God pity this poor people." Washington, at the good ripe age of sixty-seven, påssed away at his own quiet home; and among his last words were, "I am dying, but I do not fear to die. I look to the event with perfect satisfaction. It is well."

GROTON, N. Y.

M.M. Baldwin

THE LAST TWELVE DAYS OF MAJOR JOHN ANDRÉ

(Continued from page 498)

Smith in his narrative says that he furnished the saddle and bridle. Arnold made some vague remarks to Smith about the military dress of André, and said it would be impossible for him to travel in his uniform, and requested Smith to loan him one of his coats, which he did. André then exchanged his uniform coat for the one borrowed of Smith, but made no other exchange of garments. The coat of André was left in a drawer in an upper room in Smith's house. André rode the horse provided by Arnold, which was of a dark brown color, marked on the near shoulder U. S. A. Smith rode another horse, and was accompanied by his colored servant, on horseback also. The distance from the house to King's Ferry was about two and a half miles, and they pursued the usual road.

On their way they overtook Major Burroughs about three-quarters of a mile from Stony Point. They halted, and Smith, turning his horse, talked about a minute, when the major rode up between the two, and then both rode off together pretty rapidly, leaving the major behind. At King's Ferry, on the Stony Point side, Smith halted, just as it was growing dark, at the tent of William Jameson. Captain Cooley and some of Colonel Livingston's officers were in the tent. André rode forward. André rode forward. A bowl from which they had been drinking was handed to Smith, and he was asked at the same time if he would not drink, and he said "yes"; but there was nothing in the bowl, and Smith, dismounting, desired the sutler to fill it with grog, which he did, and then Smith drank and joined in some jokes with the officers. Some of the ferrymen were at the tent, and Smith hurried them down, and André was at the ferry steps when Smith reached him. André was reticent and joined in none of their conversations. André and Smith and the negro, with the three horses, were all taken on the same boat. Smith was in the bow of the boat and André was on the side, and while they were crossing, Smith walked over to André and whispered a word or two to him, which was not heard by the others.

The coxswain was Cornelius Lambert, the boatmen were Henry Lambert, Lambert Lambert, and William Vanwort. Smith told them as they were crossing that he would give them something to revive their spirits if

VOL. XXII.- No. 1.-4

they would row across soon, and after they crossed he called the coxswain Cornelius Lambert into the hut of one Welsh and gave him an eight dollar bill.

Having reached the Westchester side of King's Ferry, the remains of which are yet visible, they remounted their horses, and André and the negro passed on, while Smith stopped at the marquee of Colonel Jas. Livingston, then in command of the American forces stationed at Verplank's Point, where he remained for a few moments. Livingston urged him to stop awhile and take supper or a drink of grog, but he informed the colonel that there was a gentleman waiting for him, who had just rode on, and who was in a hurry to get off. He then rode away and overtook the two, and they all passed up the old King's Ferry road to the Albany Post road, and then turned to the north and passed over that road to Peekskill. There they took the road now known as the Crompond road, leading from Peekskill to Crompond Corner, and continued upon it to a point near the house of Andreas Miller, where they were hailed by a sentinel near Miller's house, which stood a little east of the old Bailey place, on the south side of the road, about four miles from Peekskill. It was between eight and nine o'clock when they were hailed, and they were then eight miles from Verplank's Point.

Captain Ebenezer Boyd, in his testimony at the trial of Joshua Hett Smith, made the following statement: "Last Friday, a week ago, I think it was the twenty-second of September last, between eight and nine o'clock, as near as I can recollect, at night, the sentry stopped Mr. Smith, the Prisoner, another person, and a negro with him. When the sentry hailed them, they answered 'Friends.' The sentry ordered one to dismount; Smith readily dismounted and spoke to the person who was with him to hold his horse, and Smith advanced till he came near the sentry; Smith asked who commanded the post; the sentry said Captain Boyd; upon that I was called for; what passed between Smith and the sentry I heard as I have related, being close by the sentry. Smith came to me upon my calling for him; I asked him who he was; he told me his name was Joshua Smith and that he had a pass from Arnold to pass all guards."

The captain asked him some other questions and desired to see the pass, and went into a house close by for a light, and found the pass correct. The captain then became inquisitive respecting their business and their movements, and advised them not to proceed further that night, but to put up there at Miller's house and to start as soon as it was light in the morning. Thereupon Smith went to André and conversed with him in low tones and told him it would be best to put up, for they might be inter

rupted, and they concluded to remain. Smith was willing to adopt Boyd's advice, but André was quite reluctant to do so, and desired to press forward.

Miller's house has long since disappeared, but it was located on the southerly side of the Crompond road in a little depression about one-third of a mile east of Hog lane, a road coming into the Crompond road from the north, and about one-half a mile west of the road leading from the Crompond road southerly to the Baptist church and the Croton dam in Yorktown.

They met with a welcome reception at Miller's house, which was small and the accommodations narrow. Smith and André were obliged to sleep in the same bed, and the tradition in the neighborhood was that André slept in his boots and passed a restless and uneasy night.

On the morning of the twenty-third the negro was called by André before it was light and ordered to bring out the horses, which he did, and the three rode off together on the Crompond road toward Crompond corner, after urging Miller in vain to accept compensation for their lodging. At the latter place they were saluted by a sentinel in the road and taken to Captain Ebenezer Foot, who had a guard there at that time. It was yet so early in the morning that Captain Foot could not read the pass without the aid of a lamp that was burning in his room. Smith made particular inquiry respecting the troops which were stationed below, and Captain Foot informed him that there were no troops on that line except the cavalry of Colonel Jameson some miles east of Pine's bridge. About that time they met Colonel Samuel B. Webb of the continental army, an acquaintance of André's, who stared at him, but failed to recognize him and passed on. Smith and André then proceeded on their journey to the eastward until they reached the road leading southerly to Pine's bridge, about half a mile east of Crompond corner. Taking that road they passed Mead's tavern, the house of Major Strang, the place occupied in later years by Robert P. Lee, and as Hunt's tavern. At the house of Major Strang they were observed by the inmates, who supposed them to be continental officers. During this portion of their journey, André seems to have been relieved from anxiety, and his tongue was unloosed and he poured forth a flood of animated and brilliant conversation.

Reaching the residence of Isaac Underhill, about two and a half miles from Pine's bridge, they paused to feed their horses and procure breakfast. Mrs. Underhill furnished a humble meal of supawn and milk, but was unable to provide provender for their horses. While Smith was eating, he informed André of his intention to proceed with him no further. Smith

paid for the breakfast and divided his stock of paper money with André, who betrayed some emotion, though they parted pleasantly. It is quite doubtful whether André entered the house. Smith, with the negro, returned on the same road to Peekskill, and on his way to Fishkill he took the road to the Robinson house, and dined with Arnold and gave him an account of his journey, with which Arnold was pleased. Continuing to Fishkill, he joined his family, and was arrested there on the night of the twenty-fifth and marched to the Robinson house, which he reached the next morning.

André, while at Underhill's house, appeared agitated and uneasy, and ate nothing. He walked backward and forward before the front door, and made many inquiries concerning the road. The Underhill house is now standing, and is about three and a half miles from Crompond corner. It is occupied by Charles Underhill,

After parting with Smith, André proceeded alone on his journey. He crossed Pine's bridge, which was located about half a mile further up the stream than the present bridge, without challenge or interruption, and turned to the right and followed down the southerly side of the river about one mile to Hog hill. Turning then to the left, he ascended the hill and came to Underhill's corners, where Henry Allen now resides, about three miles from the bridge, where he conversed with some Quakers. Taking the righthand road there, he proceeded down what was called Kipp street to the Hard Scrabble road, and down that to the house now owned and occupied by William Henry Brundage, where he watered his horse at the spring in front of that dwelling, on the east side of the road, and spoke to Mr. Brundage, the owner of the place. Then he proceeded in a southerly direction on that road, crossing the Sing Sing road about half a mile west of the Pleasantville station on the Harlem railroad, and reached the old Bedford road at the entrance of the private asylum of Dr. Choat. He continued on the Bedford road to Rossell's corners, now called Meekeel's corners, where he turned to the left, and passed along the Buttermilk hill road to the house of Staats Hammond, at Hammond's mill-pond, on the east side of the road, less than a mile from Unionville. That house has disappeared; but the dwelling of Floyd Powell now stands on the same site. Stopping there, he requested a drink of water, which was carried to him from the spring in a bowl by Sally Hammond, the daughter of Staats Hammond, then about twelve years of age. He spoke of the excellent quality of the water, and gave her a sixpence, which was retained in the family for many years. Turning to David Hammond, her brother, who was about fourteen, André held the following conversation: