The human concept of war, no matter how justified or necessary it can be said to be, never fails to bring about the most evil and horrific aspects of our nature. Through war, people are displaced, lives are lost, and many are kept in captivity far away from those they love. During the era that included the American War of Independence, soldiers who were captured by the enemy were partially protected by certain rules of war and were supposed to be treated fairly. Spies, however, had no such protections, and under the existing international regulations, were allowed to be tried and executed for their activities. Nathan Hale was a spy for the Americans during the war, who was captured by the British, tried, and executed. He is famous for having said in his last words “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Although this was likely invented by the Americans to gain support for their cause, the death of Hale enraged Americans and rallied many people to support the independence movement. In the USA, Hale is remembered as a hero, but so too should another character of the American War of Independence. Today, I want to tell the story of a brave man who shared a similar story, whose loyalty was not to the Patriot cause but instead was to the opposing forces of the British Army.
Oct. 2, 2025 marked 245 years since the death of Major John André, a British officer who fought against the Americans in the American War of Independence. In 1750, André was born in London, England, before moving with his parents to Geneva. He was a star student, successfully learning and becoming fluent in several languages. At a young age, he became very fond of the arts, often writing poetry, stories and short plays. In addition, he was skilled at painting, drawing, and enjoyed singing and songwriting. At the age of 20, he joined the British Army and became a commissioned infantry officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
André was deployed to North America in 1774 during the preemptive stages of the war with the American colonists. In 1775, he was captured by American forces during their invasion of Quebec and transferred as a prisoner to Pennsylvania. The following year he was freed in a prisoner exchange and returned to his duties in the British Army, this time at the rank of Captain. As the war raged, André participated in several combat engagements, including the British capture of Philadelphia and the Battles at Brandywine and Germantown. He also participated in raids along the New England coast, including missions to New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Martha’s Vineyard. By 1779, André had been promoted to the rank of Major and was appointed Adjutant General of the British Army. This job entailed commanding all military intelligence activities of the British military in North America.
While living in Philadelphia, P.A., André lived in the house of Benjamin Franklin. André was a very active member of the community and acted in local plays. He became extremely popular and was known for his kindness and personability with those around them. Those he knew described him as being a very pleasant person with a very lively attitude. It was while living in Philly and managing British intelligence activities that he became connected with the true villain in this story – Benedict Arnold.
General Benedict Arnold served with the American forces during the initial portions of the war. Having been wounded twice in battle and having led American forces at the Battle of Saratoga, Arnold had gained a popular reputation and was considered to be an American hero. As time went on, however, his feelings towards the American cause grew colder. Driven by greed and a belief that he was not receiving the promotions he deserved, Arnold began to spy for the British and, therefore, started correspondence with André. The main point of contact between the two was actually Arnold’s wife, Peggy Shippen. Despite Arnold fighting for the American forces, his wife had many loyalist beliefs. Through this three-person spy ring, vital information about American military movements and strategies developed by George Washington was sent to the British. Arnold eventually developed an ultimate plan of betrayal. Slowly but surely, Arnold was able to network himself into a position as the commander of American military forces at fortifications in West Point, NY. Located on the Hudson River, West Point was a crucial strategic objective and was in close proximity to George Washington’s headquarters in Newburgh. The plan was to surrender the fortifications and all soldiers present to the British, and potentially allow British troops to capture George Washington himself. Had this occurred, the entire Independence cause would have likely been defeated, and the war would have soon ended in British victory. In exchange for his scheme, Arnold demanded a commission as an officer in the British Army and a sum of cash worth over $4.86 million in today’s value.
In order to make preparations for the plan, Arnold demanded that André meet him at a discreet location well behind American lines. This was a huge risk, as André could likely be captured or killed. Nonetheless, André bravely traveled by ship up the Hudson River and rowed to shore to meet with Arnold, who had secretly traveled several miles from the West Point fortifications. Nearby American forces spotted the ship and began firing cannons. The ship retreated, stranding André on the shores of the Hudson. Arnold returned to West Point, leaving André to return to safety by himself. In order to get back to British-held territory, André took off his red military uniform and decided to walk wearing civilian clothing as a way to disguise himself. On his person, he carried detailed plans for how the British would capture West Point, as well as a written pass that would hopefully allow André passage if he ran into any American checkpoints. The following day, André ran into three American men whom he mistook for loyalists. After admitting he was a British officer, the men detained André and searched him for any valuable items. Finding none, the men decided to turn him into American forces in hopes of receiving a financial reward. Once in the hands of the Americans, the papers detailing the plans were found, and André became a prisoner. In a twisted act of fate, the American soldiers were not convinced that Arnold had anything to do with the plot and sent a letter informing the General of what they found. This vital error allowed Aronold to quickly begin his escape before anyone knew what was going on. André was not as fortunate. Although André was a military officer, he was found behind enemy lines, with incriminating intelligence documents, while also in civilian clothing. Without even meaning to have committed such a crime, Andre stood red-handed as a spy. Thus began the trial that would determine André’s life or death.
André’s defense contributed that he truly did not mean to be behind enemy lines, and that it was within his right to try and escape in civilian clothing. Throughout André’s trial, many American officers became highly opposed to convicting him. Arguably, the most notable of these men was none other than Alexander Hamilton. In letters remembering André, Hamilton wrote fondly of the man, describing how he “united a peculiar elegance of mind and manners, and the advantage of a pleasing person.” Many of George Washington’s men admired André for his willingness to cooperate and kind behavior. It is most definite that over the several days André was in captivity, these soldiers who were once enemies with André had become his friends.
As the trial progressed, it became increasingly controversial. Not only did the military court deliberate on the case, but the dilemma itself also posed a major issue for Washington. If André were to be executed, Washington would risk creating a British martyr and inciting potential retaliation. At the same time, he was pressured with a high demand to avenge the death of Nathan Hale. In the end, André was found guilty of being a spy and sentenced to death. André’s last hope came with an offer by Washington to the British Army to conduct an exchange of André for Arnold, who had safely made it to the British. This offer was refused, and thus the treacherous Arnold had officially condemned his accomplice to the gallows.
On the morning of his execution, André conducted himself with great courage, going about his daily routine as if it were any other day. André’s breakfast came from the personal cooks of George Washington, as it had since he was captured. It was this same morning that André’s servant came to visit him from across enemy lines. Upon entering the room and seeing André, the servant began to cry, as this would be the last time he would see his master. André, who wished for those he cared for not to be overcome with grief, ordered the servant to “Leave me till you can show yourself more manly!” Following his breakfast and subsequent final meal, André enthusiastically turned to several of Washington’s staff and said, “I am ready at any moment, gentlemen, to wait on you.” Without physical constraints or any use of force by those escorting him, André began the walk to his doom. When at last André’s sentence was ready to be carried out, he spoke his final words- “I pray you to bear me witness, that I meet my fate like a brave man.” The large crowd that had gathered to witness André’s death was filled with teary eyes and crying. General Marquis de Lafayette, another member of Washington’s staff who had wished to spare André, was present and is said to have wept loudly throughout the sentencing. André died swiftly and without suffering. He was just 30 years old. In the words of Alexander Hamilton- “never perhaps did any man suffer death with more justice, or deserve it less.”
The very men that André waged war against mourned his death. Following the American War of Independence, Congress sought to reward the captors of John André for their service. Benjamin Tallmage, a member of Congress and a former officer who had been assigned to guard André during his imprisonment, despised the idea. Having grown very fond of André during the short time he had known him, Tallmage challenged the plan and changed the narrative of André’s death to that of a tragedy of war rather than a victory. Although we will never know if Washington ever came to regret his decision not to save André, we do know he felt a sense of remorse for his death, writing, “he was more unfortunate than criminal: an accomplished man and a gallant officer.” There stands today in Tappen, N.Y., a small grey monument at the spot where André lost his life. Although it has been vandalized several times since its creation, it still stands as a memorial to a brave man who was honored by those he fought against.
André was killed to atone for the crimes of Arnold and as revenge for the death of Hale. In the end, he did not bring closure to these things, and instead was mourned by those who had sentenced him. Today, the story of André is a reminder that in war, the majority of those who suffer are the innocent. André was an opponent of the United States and, nonetheless, one of the most cherished and honorable individuals ever to obtain that title. He did not love war by any means, nor was he driven by greed or power. André loved the beautiful aspects of life, like the arts, kindness, friends and family, like the one he was never able to return to. In Britain, he was martyred and mourned as a hero to his country. Having lost his life in the way he did, André has become an American hero as well.
For sources, please email me at cesieb212@stlawu.edu.