Van Wart, Alexander, 1799-1890
John M. McDonald interview — 1846-10-23
Alexander Van Wart (1799-1890) was a son of Isaac Van Wart (1758-1828), one of the three American militiamen who captured British Major John André in 1780. It appears that this segment is not an interview, but the contents of a letter that Van Wart wrote to John Macdonald. Van Wart notes that Andre realized the gravity of the situation when he was captured. Van Wart also discusses the Battle of Youngs’ House, which took place on February 3, 1780. He notes that Captain Moses Roberts, an officer of the 15th Massachusetts Regiment who was mortally wounded in the battle, had a premonition of his death.
Manuscript page facsimiles
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Transcription
238 427 85 PARIS October 23rd Joseph Coles: Sam from Oyster Bay where the whale boat men plundered and robbed us in the Revolu tionary war. Fredk. Donaldson was one of the most noted. They received a commt from New York and Connecticut and crossed Rye, Sawpitts and Horseneck &c
October 23 Alexander Van Wart: I will furnish you with a written account of what I have heard from my father in relation to the capture of Andre, and the attack on Young's house.
[margin: * Andre was so cast down that he said to his captors: "I wish you had shot me dead!" and when they got the papers he said: "Ah, you may now stop - I am ruined. You have now got all!"]
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428 241 86 PARIS A column of British advanced upon the house from each side of the road. The west column 200 yards from the road cut off my father and three or four volunteers who were firing upon the British. The cavalry advanced by the north road, I believe. Captain Roberts prognosticates his death shortly before the attack, ob serving to my father "My grand father was killed in the old French war, and I shall fall in this." He was shot through the body but lived some hours afterwards. Address Alexander Van Wart of Mt Pt P. O. Tarrytown.