The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-12

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| FEMALE PATRIoTIsM.- When the British
army held possession Of Philadelphia, General
1owe's head quarters were in Second street.-the
| fourth door below Spr ce in II house which wns
before occupied by Gen CadwaInder. Directly
opposite, resided William and Lydia Darrah,
members OF tho society Of Friends. A superior
officer of the British army believed TO he The
ndJulant General, hxed upon one of their cham
bers, back room, for private conference and
TWO or them frequently met there with fire and
candles in close consultation. About the Cd of
December, the adjutant general told Lydia that
he would be in the room at o'clock, and re-
main late and they wished the family 10 retire
early TO bed adding, that when they were 90.
ing away they would call her to let them ont to
extlngush their ERE and candles. She accord
ngy sent all the family to bed but rs the Off.
Ger had been so particular, her curiosity was ex-
cited. She took off her shoes and put her enr
TO the key hole of the conclave, and overheard
an order read for all the British troops to march
ont late on the evening of the fourth, and at
tack Gen. Wnshingtons army, then encamped
at White Marsh On hearing this she returned
to her chamber, and lay down. Soon after, the
officer knocked at the door, but she rose only at
the third summons, having feigned herselfasleep
Her mind was so much agitated. that from this
moment she could neither eat nor sleep sup
posing it to be in her power to save the lives of
thousands OF her countrymen but not knowing
how she was 10 convey the information to Gen
Washington, not daring TO confide it to her hus
band She quickly determined to make her
way as soon rs possible to the American outposts
She informed her family, that, as she was in
want of flour, she would go to Frankford for
some her husband insisted that she should
take the servant maid with her, but to his sur
prise she positively refused. She got across to
Gen. Howe, and solicited, what he readily grant
ed, pass through the British troops on: the |
lines. Leaving her bag at the MILL she hasten
ed towards the American lines and encountered
on her way an American lieutenant colonel
Craig of the light horse, who, with some of his
men was ON the look out for information. He
knew her. and inquired where she was going 2
She answered in quest OF her son, an officer in
the American army. and prayed The colonel to
alight and walk with her. He did so, ordering
his troops TO keep in sight. To him she dis
closed her secret, after having Obtained from
him solemn promise never to betray her iudi-
vidualIy, as her life might be at stake with the
British.
He conducted her 10 a house near at hand.
directed something for her to eat and FASTENED
TO head quarters, when he made Gen. Washing
ton acquainted with what he had heard WASH
lngton made of course, all preparation for baff
ing the meditated surprise. Lydia returned
nome win her hour sat up alone to watch the
movement of the British troops; heard their
footsteps but when they returned, in n few
lays after, did not dare to ask question though
sohcitous to learn the event. The next evening
Inc AdJutant General came in and requested her
to walk up to his room, as he wished to nut
some questions 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 suspected or had been '
betrayed. He inquired earnestly whether any i
Of her family were up the last night he and the
other officer met she told him that they all /
retired at 8 o'clock. He observed, 81 know you I.
we're asleeptor knocked at your chamber door I
hree times before YOU heard me- Il ap, M +,
oss to imagine who gave Gen. Washington IN
of our ntended attack, un less the
walls OF the house could speak. When we ar :
wed near White Marsh, we found all their .
cannon mounted, and the troops prepared to re- !
'eiVe u.s. and we have marched back like par It.
eel OF foos."-D4merfcam Quarterly Reuie,o. !,
POTATOES RAISED FROM CUTr1NGs.-An En- =
y'ish farmer, MIR Cotsell of Stapeton, near Brs. t