The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-03-15

The following aneedoteisquoted froh the
new Philadelphia Quarterly. The review
of American Biography, from winch thls Is
taken, containsa number of interesting lncl-
dents and characters.
When the British army had possession OF
Philadelphia, Gen. Howe's headquarters
were in Second d-street, the fourth door below
Spruce in house which was before occupi-
ed by Gen. Cadwallader Directly oppo-
site, resided William and Lydia Darrah,
members of the society of Friends. A supe-
rlor officer of the British Army, believed to
be the adjutant General, fixed upon one OF
their chambers, a back room, for private
conference and two Of them frequently met
there, with fire and candles in close consul
taton. About the ID Of December, the adj
iutant general told Lydia that they would be
in the room at o'clock, and remain late;
and that they wished the family to retire
early to bed; adding that when they were
going away they would call her to let them
out, and extinsuish their fire and candles.
She accordingly sent all the family to bed;
but as the officer had been SO particular, her
curiosity was excited.
She took off her shoes. and put her ear to
the key -holc of the conclave, and overheard
an order read for all the British troops to
march out late in the evening of the fourth,
and attack General Washngton's army,
then encamped at White Marsh. On hear
ing this she returned to her chamber, and
laid down. Soon after, the officers knock ed
at the door, but She rose only at the third
summons, having teigned herself asleep.
Her mind was SO much agitated, that from
this moment. she could neither ca. nor sleep;
supposlng it to be III her power to save the
lives of thousands of her fellow countrymcn;
but not knowing how She was to convey the
Information to General Washington. not
dating to confdc il to her husband. The time
left, however, was short. She quickly de-
termned to make her way, as soon as posi-
Bile, to the American outposts. She inform
ed her family, that as she was in want Of
-four She would so to Franktord for some;
her husband insisted that she should take
the servant maid with her, but to his sur
prise she positively refused. She got acces.
70 General Howe, and solicited, what he
readily granted, apass through the British
troops on the lines. Leaving her bag at the
null, she FASTENED towards the American
lines, and encountered on her way an A.
merican lieutenant colonel (Craiy) OF the
light horse, who, with some OF his men, was
~ the look out for information. He knew
her, and inquired where she was going, She
answered, in quest Of her son, an officer in
the American army, and praying the colonel
% alisht and walk with her. He did so, or
derlng his troops to keep in sight. 10 him
She disclosed he, secret, after ha, ing obtain
ed from him solemn promise never To be-
tray her individually, as her life might be 1T
stake with the British.
He conducted hen To house near at hand,
directed something for her to eat, and has
tened 70 head quarters. when he brought
General Washington acquainted with what
he had heard. Washington made, Of course,
all preparation for battling the medtatetl sur
prise. LHdlA returned home With her flour;
sat up alone to watch the tnovtrnt nts If the
I'ritlsl. troops; heard their footsteps; but
when they returned in a few hours after, did
not dare TO ask QUESTION, though s0licitous
to know the event. The next evening the
Adlntant General came in, and requested
her 70 walk up to his room, AS he wished to
put some questions, She followed him in
terror; when he locked the door and begged
her, With an air Of mystery, to be seated
She va, sure she was either suspected or
hetrayed.-He inquired earnestly, whether
any Of her family were up the last night lie
and the other officer met; she told him thai
they all retired at O'Clock. lie Observed,
"l know you were asleep for | knocked al
your chamber door three times before Won
heard me: ! am entirely at loss to imagine
who gave Gen. WASHINGTON information Of
cur intended attack, unless the walls of the
house could speak.-Whcn we arrived near
White Marsh, we found all their cannon
mounted, and the troops prepared TO receive
US, and We have marched back like par
eel CT FOOLS