The Two Spies: Nathan Hale and John AndréLossing, Benson John
History
The Two Spies: Nathan Hale and John André
Lossing, Benson John
André, John, 1751-1780; Hale, Nathan, 1755-1776
"The landing-place was the Old Fort, a little to the southward of the
town,[17] fronting the building prepared for the reception of the
company, about four hundred yards from the water by a gentle ascent. As
soon as the general's barge was seen to push for the shore, a salute of
seventeen guns was fired from the _Roebuck_, and, after some interval,
by the same number by the _Vigilant_. The company, as they disembarked,
arranged themselves into a line of procession, and advanced through an
avenue formed by the two files of grenadiers, and a line of light horse
supporting each file. This avenue led to a square lawn of two hundred
and fifty yards on each side, lined with troops, and properly prepared
for the exhibition of a tilt and tournament, according to the customs
and ordinances of ancient chivalry. We proceeded through the center of
the square. The music, consisting of all the bands of the army, moved
in front. The managers, with favors of white and blue ribbons on their
breasts, followed next in order. The general, admiral, and the rest of
the company, succeeded promiscuously.
"In front of the building, bounding the view through a vista formed by
two triumphal arches, erected at proper intervals in a line with the
landing-place, two pavilions, with rows of benches rising one above
another, and serving as the wings of the first triumphal arch, received
the ladies, while the gentlemen ranged themselves in convenient order
on each side. On the front seat of each pavilion were placed seven of
the principal young ladies of the country, dressed in Turkish habits,
and wearing on their turbans the favors with which they meant to
reward the several knights who were to contend in their honor. These
arrangements were scarcely made, when the sound of trumpets was heard
at a distance; and a band of knights, dressed in ancient habits of
white and red silk, and mounted on gray horses, richly caparisoned in
trappings of the same colors, entered the lists, attended by their
esquires on foot, in suitable apparel, in the following order:
"Four trumpeters, properly habited, their trumpets decorated with small
pendent banners. A herald in his robes of ceremony; on his tunic was
the device of his band, two roses intertwined, with the motto--'_We
droop when separated_.'
"Lord Cathcart, superbly mounted on a managed horse, appeared as chief
of these knights; two young black slaves, with sashes and drawers of
blue and white silk, wearing large silver clasps round their necks and
arms, their breasts and shoulders bare, held his stirrups. On his right
hand walked Captain Harard, and on his left Captain Brownlow, and his
two esquires, the one bearing his lance, the other his shield. His
device was Cupid riding on a lion; the motto--'_Surmounted by Love_.'
His lordship appeared in honor of Miss Auchmuty.[18]
"Then came in order the knights of his band, each attended by his
'squire, bearing his lance and shield.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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