4I
to make to your Excellency, and I am conscious I address myself well, is, that in any
rigor policy may dictate, a decency of conduct may mark that, though unfortunate, I am
branded with nothing dishonorable, as no motive could be mine but the service of my
king, and as I was involuntarily an impostor. Another request is, that I may be
permitted to write an open letter to Sir Henry Clinton, and another to a friend for
clothes and linen.
I take the liberty to mention the condition of some gentlemen at Charleston, who,
being either on parole or under protection, were engaged in a conspiracy against us.
Though their situation is not similar, they are objects who may be set in exchange for
me, or are persons whom the treatment I receive might affect. It is no less, Sir, in a
confidence of the generosity of your mind, than on account of your superior station, that
I have chosen to importune you with this letter.
I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant,
John AndrS, Adjutant General.
While those at South Salem are waiting to hear from Washington, we
may return to Smith and Arnold.
While Jameson's second messenger was riding towards the Robinson
House, Smith, all unconscious of the important events of Saturday and Sunday,
was dining at Fishkill, in Washington's company. Before the messenger arrived
Lieutenant Allen had reached headquarters, at about nine on Monday morning.
On the way from Fishkill—Monday—Washington and his staff stopped
to examine some fortifications. The Chief sent Hamilton and Major Samuel
Shaw,1 Third Continental Artillery (or Major James McHenry),2 to notify
Arnold of the cause of delay—the party being expected to breakfast with him.
Washington's servant had already started on the same errand, and so
arrived first, just after Allen had delivered Jameson's letter.
Hven at the tremendous news of Andre's arrest, the wonderful self-
command Arnold had so often manifested did not forsake him. Though
evincing some emotion3 he did not give way to any great degree, but telling
Allen not to say anything about the letter,4 he returned to the breakfast room,
1 Samuel Shaw was born in Boston, October 2, 1754. He joined the patriot army January 1, 1776, and served
throughout the Revolution, becoming Captain in the Third Artillery. From 1784 to 1794 he was engaged
in mercantile pursuits in Canton, China, where he was U. S. Consul (the first) from 1786 to 1790. In 1794
ill-health obliged him to leave China, and he took passage on a ship bound for Boston, but died on the
voyage, May 30, 1794, and was buried at sea, while the vessel was off the Cape of Good Hope.
2 James McHenry was born in Ballymena, Ireland, in November, 1753, and died in Baltimore, May 3, 1816. He
came to America in 1771, and began the study of medicine, in Philadelphia, under the celebrated Dr. Rush.
In July, 1775, he was appointed an assistant surgeon in the army, then at Cambridge. In 1776 we find him
Surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion, Colonel Robert Magaw. Taken prisoner with him at Fort
Washington, he was not exchanged until March, 1778. In May he became Washington's secretary, and
Surgeon to the Flying Camp Hospital. In August, 1780, he was appointed Aid to Lafayette. From 1796
to 1800 he was Secretary of War.
Thacher and Lafayette agree that he — not Hamilton — went with Shaw, and as he was Lafayette's Aid, this
would seem conclusive, unless Lafayette's memory in 1824 had become untrustworthy. He also says
McHenry was at breakfast with the others when Allen arrived.—(Letter to Luzerne, Memoirs, vol. I.,
p. 3<>7-)
8 See Washington's letter, page 52.
4 Franks' testimony at his court martial.
