The Capture of Andre by John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart, at Tarrytown, New York, September 23, 1780

In this scene from the American Revolutionary war, militiamen John Paulding, Isaac Van Wart, and David Williams search Major John Andre and discover papers in his boot that reveal him to be plotting with the commander of West Point, Major Benedict Arnold, to turn the fort over to the British for 20,000 pounds. In charge of British secret intelligence, Andre left Arnold and was separated from his ship "The Vulture" when American fire forced it down river. In civilian dress and using the name John Anderson, Andre rode south, until stopped at 9:00 AM on September 23 near Tarrytown, as shown here. He offered Arnold's pass, but was searched and the West Point papers found in his stocking. The militiamen refused a bribe, took Andre to Armonk, NY, then on to the American headquarters at Tappan where he was imprisoned in a local tavern. Lieutenant Colonel John Jameson, failing to grasp the full situation, initially decided to send Andre and the papers to Arnold at West Point but was blocked by American intelligence chief Major Benjamin Tallmadge. The forwarded papers tipped Arnold that he had been compromised and allowed him to escape capture. After an investigation and trial ordered by George Washingtion, an offer to trade Andre for Arnold was refused, and Andre was hanged at Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780. In 1821 his body was re-interred at Westminster Abbey in London.