(AMERICAN REVOLUTION NEW YORK) Huse Joseph A Report of the

Sale 2287 - Lot 77

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A LIST OF PRISONERS, THE DAY AFTER MAJOR ANDRÉ'S REMOVAL FOR TRIAL (AMERICAN REVOLUTION--NEW YORK.) Huse, Joseph. A Report of the Guards in the Garrison at West Point. Document Signed, 6 1/2 x 13 inches; 3 small dampstains, minor wear on left edge. (JMR) West Point, 29 September 1780

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This prison roll was created at a dramatic moment in West Point's history. Over the previous week, the British spy John André had been captured, Benedict Arnold's treason had been exposed, and he had fled to British lines. André had been jailed at West Point's Fort Putnam on 26 September, and was delivered to Tappan, NY for his trial on the morning of 28 September.
The day after André's departure, this list of the remaining prisoners at West Point was prepared by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Huse, officer of the day. In the height of post-treason paranoia, Lt. Col. Huse signed with a note that he had "visited the guards by day & found them alert on their posts and in good order." His report lists the 12 prisoners held at West Point (both in the garrison and at Fort Putnam), along with their regiment, by whom confined, date confined, and the charge against each. While none of the remaining prisoners had the importance of André, three of them were under sentence of death as convicted spies: William Burtis, Nathaniel Akerly, and Reuben Weeks. Joshua Newman was "supposed to be a spy," while the remainder were deserters. Two of the deserters had recently been committed by none other than General Benedict Arnold himself.