George Canning Hill

“ From that moment he was himself again : lively, cheerful, talkative, and winning. Those who had him in charge never forgot to their dying day the impressions his engaging manners and conversation made upon their hearts.
Washington set out from Hartford on his return to the Hudson two or three days earlier than he had intended, owing to a disappointment in relation to the operations of the French fleet, about which he had gone on to confer with the French commander. ”

“ Colonel Jameson had written him respecting the capture of André, in which he also stated that the papers found in the prisoner's boot had been sent on to Washington at Hartford.
Arnold took the letter and broke the seal in the presence of the company. It was all he could do to suppress his agitation, as he eagerly read its contents. Few men could have gone through what he went through in that single moment, and not betrayed themselves. He immediately rose from the table, went to Mrs. Arnold's chamber, and thence sent a servant down to call her up to him. ”

“ They had come within a mile of the Robinson House, when Washington was observed, instead of keeping on the road, to turn his horse's head down a cross-road leading to the river. Lafayette spoke to him, and told him that he was on the wrong road, adding that they had best keep along, for Mrs. Arnold would be waiting breakfast. "Ah! you young men are all in love with Mrs. Arnold!" said Washington in reply. " I see you are eager to be with her as soon as possible. ”

“ Presently one of the young men, who were with me, said, "There comes a gentlemanlike-looking man, who appears to be well dressed, and has boots on, and whom you had better step out and stop, if you don't know him." ”

“ Mr. Paulding answered, ' No; if you would give us ten thousand guineas, you should not stir one step.' I then asked the person, who had called himself John Anderson, if he would not get away if it lay in his power. He answered, ' Yes, I would.' I told him I did not intend he should. While taking him along we asked him a few questions, and we stopped under a shade. He begged us not to ask him questions, and said when he came to any commander he would reveal all. ”

“ On the same evening he was taken over to West Point, and remained there till the morning of the 28th, when he was carried in a boat down to Stony Point, and thence under an escort to Tappan.
Joshua H. Smith was likewise arrested on the night of the 25th, at Fishkill, and taken to the same place. Washington gave directions to have them kept in separate houses, and on no account to be allowed to see one another. "I would wish," said he, "the room for Mr. André to be a decent one, and that he may be treated with civility." ”

“ The order reached Jameson at midnight, and André was at once apprised of its nature; he started out of bed and prepared to obey the summons promptly. Before he left, he offered his thanks to the gentlemen around him for their kindness, and assured them that he never could meet them anywhere again as enemies. It was a dark and rainy night, and the travelling was difficult. They reached the Robinson House the next morning, the 26th. Washington would not see the prisoner, however, and did not see him from first to last. ”

“ If a person was friendly to the cause of the Americans, the Cow Boys plundered him; and if he declined expressing his sentiments from motives of prudence, the Skinners stripped him on account of his want of patriotism. ”