Washington having completed his inspection of the redoubts, reached Arnold's soon after his departure. Understanding that he had gone to West Point, after a hasty breakfast, Washington and suite followed. But what was his surprise to learn that Arnold had not been there. After a cursory view of the fortress, the party returned to Arnold's. Meanwhile, the messenger from Colonel Jameson, with Andre's papers, had arrived. Light was now shed upon the mystery. Arnold was a traitor, and had fled to the enemy. Measures were immediately taken to secure the fortress. An express was dispatched to Salem, with orders to have Andre conveyed to Arnold's house. Let us hasten to the conclusion. On the 29th of September, Washington ordered a Board of Inquiry, consisting of six major and eight brigadier generals. After a full hearing of the facts, the Board reported that Major Andre ought to be considered as a spy, and, according to the laws and usages of nations, to suffer death. The decision, though just, was painful--painful to Washington--to the Board--to the officers of the American army--but more painful, if possible, to Sir Henry Clinton and the companions of Andre in arms. Efforts, and such as did honor to Clinton, were made to reverse the doom of Andre. _Intimations_ were given from Washington, that upon one condition--the surrender of Arnold--Andre might be released; but to this, Clinton thought he could not in honor yield--while in the scale of affection, Andre would have outweighed a thousand traitors like Arnold. A deputation from Clinton repaired to Robinson's house under a flag, to urge the release of Andre, but no change could be effected in the mind of Washington. Sentence of execution issued, and five o'clock, of the 1st day of October, was appointed for carrying it into effect. On the morning of that day, Andre addressed a letter to Washington, requesting that he might be allowed a soldier's death. "_Tappan_, 1_st October_, 1780. "SIR: Buoyed above the terror of death, by the consciousness of a life devoted to honorable pursuits, and stained with no action that can give me remorse, I trust that the request I make to your excellency, at this serious period, and which is to soften my last moments, will not be rejected. "Sympathy towards a soldier will surely induce your excellency, and a military tribunal, to adapt the mode of my death to the feelings of a man of honor. "Let me hope, sir, that if aught in my character impresses you with esteem towards me--if aught in my misfortune marks me as the victim of policy, and not of resentment--I shall experience the operations of those feelings in your breast, by being informed that I am not to die on a gibbet. "I have the honor to be your excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, "JOHN ANDRE."