David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ No incident of the war made such a painful impression in England as the execution of André, and none left behind it such bitter and lasting memories; while to have spared his life would have at once been acknowledged as an act of clemency, would have appealed to all that was noblest in the English character, and would have done more than any other conceivable event to bring about a speedy and complete reconciliation between the two hostile branches of the British race. ”

“ No gallows could attach a felon’s shame to the brave young soldier, acting under the orders of his chief and in the service of his country; and his doom, instead of covering him with infamy and striking terror into the breasts of others, only excited a storm of mingled pity and indignation. It was a cruel, because it was a wholly useless, piece of severity. Such, at least, was the opinion of Hamilton.” — P. 87.
↑ “The Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton, Aide-de-Camp, Secretary and Minister of General Washington.” ”

“ No one acquainted with the benevolence of Washington’s character can doubt that it must have cost him many a pang, not only to leave André to his fate, but to refuse him even his last request. He acted on the conviction that it was necessary to make an example Nor can it be disputed that he was justified in what he did, by the established principles of military law. ”