Editing Isaac Van Wart (section)

== American Revolution ==
A yeoman farmer, Van Wart joined the volunteer militia when New York was a battle zone of the [[American Revolution]]. Overnight on 22–23 September 1780, he joined [[John Paulding]] and [[David Williams (soldier)|David Williams]] in an armed patrol of the area.<ref name="Raymond11-17">Raymond, pp. 11–17</ref><ref name="Cray371-397">Cray, pp. 371–397</ref> The three men seized a traveling British officer, Major [[John André]], in [[Tarrytown, New York]], at a site now called [[Patriot's Park]]. Holding him in custody, they discovered documents of André's secret communication with [[Benedict Arnold]]. The militiamen, all yeomen farmers, refused André's considerable bribe and delivered him to Continental Army headquarters.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ez1BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jrcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3667,1477841&dq=andre+benjamin-tallmadge&hl=en]"Vindication." From ''New York Courier''; reprinted in ''American & Commercial Advertiser'', February 22, 1817. Account of capture of Andre, in rebuttal to criticism by Rep. Tallmadge. Depositions by Isaac van Wart and his neighbors, intended to refute allegations he and his companions were bandits or "Cow-boys"; Retrieved July 25, 2011</ref> Arnold's plans to surrender [[West Point]] to the British were revealed and foiled, and André was hanged as a spy.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:FidelityMedallion.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Fidelity Medallion]], the first military decoration of the United States of America.]] -->
With George Washington's personal recommendation, the United States Congress awarded Van Wart, Paulding and Williams the first military decoration of the United States, the silver medal known as the [[Fidelity Medallion]]. Each of the three also received federal pensions of $200 a year, and prestigious farms awarded by [[New York State]].