. The history of our country from its discovery by Columbus to the celebration of the centennial anniversary of its declaration of independence ... an, most likely a deserter, had passed over the lines toward NewYork. He asked Lee for an order to send a body of mounted mento arrest him. Lee made all the delay he possibly could. He fearedthe brave sergeant might be killed in the pursuit, but in order tokeep up appearances, he was obliged to send the detachment afterhim. The flight and pursuit were a hot one. Champe was in im-mediate danger of being taken by his fellow soldiers, when after abrea
. The history of our country from its discovery by Columbus to the celebration of the centennial anniversary of its declaration of independence ... an, most likely a deserter, had passed over the lines toward NewYork. He asked Lee for an order to send a body of mounted mento arrest him. Lee made all the delay he possibly could. He fearedthe brave sergeant might be killed in the pursuit, but in order tokeep up appearances, he was obliged to send the detachment afterhim. The flight and pursuit were a hot one. Champe was in im-mediate danger of being taken by his fellow soldiers, when after abreak-neck ride he reached the bank of the Hudson, where someBritish galleys lay in full sight. He leaped into the river, andswam for the galleys, hailing them as a deserter ; they approached,took him on board, and sailed with him to New York. Champes comrades on the bank discharged after him their rifles,captured his horse, and returned sadly to camp. When Lee sawthem approaching with the riderless horse, he was dumb with anxi-ety as to the fate of Champe, but when he learned that he was safe,concealed his joy, and went to report to TREASON OF BENEDICT ARNOLD. 259 But the plan failed. The action of the court was so rapid that itgave no time in which to carry out Arnolds capture. While Wash-ington and Lee were eagerly waiting news from Champe, the courthad fixed on the immediate execution of Andres sentence, andWashington was forced to consent to it. It is said that his handcould hardly command the pen when he signed this death warrant. Andre met death like a brave gentleman. He hoped to the lastto be shot, and when he entered the field of execution and saw thegallows, he gave an involuntary start. I am reconciled to death,he said, but I detest the mode. While waiting near the gallows, said an eye-witness of thescene, I saw some degree of trepidation, a choking in his throat,as if he attempted to swallow. So soon as he j)erceived all thingswere ready, however, he stepp
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