twelve o'clock
`` André showed no fear of death , but was very solicitous to be shot rather than hanged . He pleaded for that with touching but manly earnestness , importuning Washington in a letter written the day before his death . It was , however , contrary to the customs of war , and Washington , kind-hearted as he was , could not grant his request . `` Major André was executed at Tappan on the 2d of October , 1780 , at twelve o'clock . A large detachment of troops was paraded ; there was an immense concourse of people present ; excepting Washington and his staff , almost all the field officers were there on horseback . There was a strong feeling of pity for the young man , and the whole scene was very affecting . I suppose the general feeling was that he was suffering the punishment that ought , if possible , to have been meted out to Arnold -- the traitor . ''