Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-04-28
LYDIA DARRAH.

| / ne superior officers of the British army,
were accustomed to hold their consultations
| on all subjects Of Importance at the house oil
William and Lydia Darrah. members of the
Society Of Friends, Immediately Opposite Ia
the quarters Of the COMMANDMENT chief, in
Second street. 1t was in December, in the
year that they occupied the city. tina, the Ad.
jntant General Of the army desired Lydia Ia
| have an apartment prepared for the reception
| Of himself and friends, and to order her family
early to bed, adding, whes ready TO depart,
| notice shall be given TO yon to let US out, and
| 10 exiinguish the fire and candles. The man
| ner Of delivering this order. especially tina,
part Of il which commanded the early retire
'nent Of her family, strongly exci.eI Lydia's
curiosity, and determined her, if possible, Ia
discover the mystery Of their meeting. Ap.
|proaching without shoes, the room in which
the conference was held. and placing her ear
TO the key-hole. she heard the order read for
the troops to quit the city on the night Of the
4th. TO attack the American army encamped al,
White Marsh. Returning Immediately to her
room, she laid herself down, but in little
while, a loud knocking at the door, which for
some time she pretended not 10 hear, proclaim
ed the intention Of the party to retire.
Having let them out. she again sought her
bed, but not TO sleep; the agitation Of mind
precuded the possibility Of enjoying it. She
thought only of the dangers that threatened
the lives Of thousands Of her coun,rymen, and
believing it to be in her power to avert the
evil, determined at all hazards 10 apprZe Gen.
Washington Of his danger. Telling her hns-
hand, at early dawn, that funr was waning
for domestic purposes, and that she shonld go
10 Frankfort to obtain it, she repaired TO Head
Quarters, go, access to General Howe, aud
obtained permission to pass the British lines.
Leaving her bag at the mill, Lydia now press
ed forward towards the American army. and
meeting Captain Allen M'Lean, an officer.
from his superior intelligence and activity. Sc
lec,ed by General Washington to gain in,elii.
gence, discovered to him the important secret,
obtaining his promise not to jeopasdize her
safety by telling from whom he had obtained
it. Captain M'Lean, with all speed. inform
ed the COMMANDMENT Chief Of his danger,
who. of course, took every necessary step TO
battle the contemplated enterprise, and 10 show
the enemy that the was prepared TO receive
them. Lydia returned home with her -four.
secretly watched the movements OF the British
army, and saw them depart. Her anxiety du.
ring their absence was excessive, nor was II
lessened when 90 their return. the Adjntant
General summoning her 10 his apartment, and
locking The door with an air Of mystery, de-
taanded. - Whether any Of the family We're
up on the ,,lot,t ttns lie had received company
at he. house - She told him, :" that without
an exception, they had all retired at o'clock
" You, / know, Lydia, were asleep, for
knocked at your door three times before you
heard me VET although am at a loss TO con-
ce,ve who gave the information Of our intend
ed attack to General Washington, il is certain
that we were betrayed; for, on arriving near
his encampmen,. we found his cannon mount
,ed-his troops under arms, and at every point
so perfectly prepared to receive Us. that we
were compelled, like fools, to make retro
orade movement, without iDficiing on our enc
INV any manner Of injury whatsoever"