Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1831-09-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
,REvoLUTIoNARY ADVENTURE

REVOLUTIONARY ADVENTURE.
The leading events of the War of Indepen-
dence are familiar to every American but
many incidents, full of interest and adventure,
vet remain to be disclosed. There are those
yet living who remember the following story.
The American authorities found much diff
hdulty in disposing of their prisoners. They
had no post regularly fitted for the purpose;
and they could suggest no better means for
securing them, than to place them under guard
in thickly settled part of the country, where
the inhabitants were most decidedly hostile to
the English. The town of Lancaster, in Penn
sylyania, was Of those selected for this pur-
pose. The prisoners were confined in bar
racks, enclosed with stockade and vigilantly
guarded. But in spite of all precautions, they
often disappeared in an unaccountable manner,
and nothing was heard of them till they had
resumed their place in the British Army. Ma
ny and various were the conjectures as to the
means of their escape; the officers inquired
and investigated in valn the country was ex-
plored to no purpose; the soldiers shook their
heads, and told Of fortune-tellers, pedlars and
such characters, who had been seen at inter-
walls and sundry Of the more credulous could
think of nothing but supernatural agency; but
whether man or spirit was the conspirator, the
mystery was unbroken,
When this became known to Washington,
he sent General Hazen to take the responsible
charge. This energetic officer. after exhaust
ing all resources, resorted to stratagem. lie
was convinced that, as the nearest British post
was more than a hundred miles distant, the
prisoners must be aided by Americans, but
where the suspicion should fall, he could moi
even conjecture; the reproach of Toryism be.
sing almost unknown i'll that region. Having
been trained to meet exigencies of this kind II
distinguished career, as colonel in the British
army, his plan was formed ut once, and com
municated to an officer of his own, upon who's
talent he relied for it's successful execution
This was Captain Lee, whose courage ant
ability fully justified the selection.
The secret plan concerted between them wa
this. 1t was to be given out that Lee was alb
sent on;furlough or command. He, meantime
was to assume the dress of British prisoner
and, having provided himself with iniormatio
and a story of his capture, was to be throw
into the barracks. where he might gain the cor
hdence of the soldiers, and join them IN pla
of escape. How we'll Captain Lee sustaine
his part may be inferred from the fact thu
when he had disappeared and placed himse
among the prisoners, his own officers and so
diers saw him every day without the least SUI
picion. The person to whom | am indebte
for most of these particulars was the 1ntendal
of the prisoners. and familiar with Lee bu
though compelled to see him often in the di
charge of his duty, he never penetrated Il
disguise. Well it was for Lee that his di
suise was SO complete. Had his ASSOCIATE
suspected his purpose to betray them, his hi
tory would have been embraced In the proven
'dead men tell no tales
For many DAYS he remained i'll this situatio
making no discoveries whatever. He thong
he perceived at times, signs of intelligence
tween the prisoners and an old woman, WI
was allowed to bring fruit for sale within I
enclosure. She was known to be deaf al
half-witted, and was therefore no object
suspicion. 1t was known that her son n
been disgraced and punished.in the Americ
army, but she had never betrayed any mali
on that occount, and no one dreamed that S
could have had the power to do injury IT S
possessed the will. Lee watched her close
but saw nothing to confirm his suspicious. Il
dwelling was about mile distant, in wild
treat, where she shared her miserable quartz
with dog and cat, the former of which mou
ed guard over her mansion, while the lat
encouraged superstitious fears which were
uually eifectual in keeping visitors away.
al One dark, stormy night in autumn, he v
living awake at midnight. meditating on
enterprise he had undertaken. which, thor
in the beginning it had recommended itself
his romantic disposition, had now lost all
charms. 1t was one of those tempests, VIII