Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-04-19
ruMALE pATRIoTIsnE.

the new Philadelphia Quarterly. The
review OF American Biography, fiom
which this is taken contains number OF
Interesting incidents and characters.
| When the British army held posses
sion OF Philadelphia, Gen. Hewe's head
quarters were in Second Street, the
fourth door below Spruce, in house
which was before occupied by General
CadwalIader. Directly opposite, resid-
ed William and Lydia Darrah, members
of the Society of Friends. A superior
officer Of the British army, believed to
be the adjutant general, fixed upon one
of their chambers, back room for pri-
vate conference; and two of them fire.
quenGy met there with fire and candles
in close consultation. About the I'd OF
December, the adjutant general told Ly-
dia that they would be ia the room a, 7
o'clock, and remain late; and that they
wished the family to retire TO bed; adj
ding, that wien they were going away
they would call her to let them oat, and
extingush 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 OF
| her shoes, and put her ear to the key
hole Of the conclaye, and overheard nm
order read Tor all the British troops to
march out late in the evening of the
fourth, and attack Gen. Washington's
army, thea encamped at White Marsh.
On hearing this she returned to her
! chamber, aud laid down. Soon after
| the officers knocked at the door, but she
rose only at the third summons, having
seigned herself asleep. Her mind was
so much sgitated, that from this moment
she could neither eat nor sleep; suppos-
ing it to be in her power to save the lives
Of thousands of her fellow country men;
but not know ing how she was to convey
the information to Gen. Warrington, not
daring to cnnfae il TO her husband. She
| quickly determined to make her way, as
i soon as possible, To the American out
posts. She informed her family, that
as she was IN want OF -four, she would
GO to Frankfort for some; her husband
insisted that she should take the ssryan,
maid with her, butte his surprise she
positively refused. She got access to
Gen. Howe, and solicited, what he rea.
4 Oily granted, a'pass through the British
TROOPS on the line. Leaving her bag at
the mill, she fastened towards the Amer
lean lines, and encountered on her
way an American Lieut. Colonel { Craig
of the light horae, who with some of his
!. men, was oa the look out for informa.
ton. He knew her, and enquired where
4 she was going? She answered in quest
, of her son, an Officer in the American
army, and prayed the Col.to alight anG
walk with her He did SC, ordering his
troops to keep in sight go him she
disclosed her secret, after having OBJ
tanned from him solemn promise never
to bstray her individually, as her life
might be at stake with The British
4 He conducted her to house u ear at
!, hand, directed something for her to eat,
, and hastened TO head quarters where he
; brought Gen. Washington acquainted
with what be had heard. Washington
, made of course, all preparation for baf-
fling the meditated surprise. Lydia re-
t turned home with her -four, sat up alone
to watch the movement ,of tie British
5 troops; heard their footsteps, but when
they returned, in a few days after, did
not dare to ask q question, though So
llicitoas to learn the event, The next
evening, the Adjutan! General came in,
, and requested her to walk up to his
; room as he wished to put some ques-
, tons. She followed him in terror; and
when he locked the door and begged
! her with an air OF mystery to be seated,
! she WAS sure that she was either suspec-
5 ted or hadbeen betrayed. He inquired
earnestly whether any Of her family
+ were up the last night he and the other
: officer met; she told him that they all
retired at eight o'clock. He observed,
Il Il know you were asleep, Tor knocked
at your chamber door three times be-
fore y on heard me; am entirely at g
: loss to imagine who gave Gen. Wash.
; ington information Of our intended at.
!. tack, unless she walls of the house
could speak. when we arrived near
White Marsh, we found all their can
} non mounted, and the troops prepared
: to receive US, and we have marched
!, back like a parcel of FOOLS
t Woman.-We were much amused with