Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-24

the American commander Howe on the 2I Of
December, communicated orders to the adu.
tsnt general for all the troops to march OFT of
the city on the evening Of the 4th, aud attack
Washington by surprise. The maneuvre was
intended to be bold one and had its success
been complete, the results are painful to con-
template.
At the hour appointed the adutant general
accompanied by two officers, took possession
of their room. In short time afterwards,
Lydia succeeded in getting her family off to
bed but herown curiosity being naturally ex-
cited, she framed some excuse to her husband
for her absence about the house and left him.
Being now alone, she took off her shoes, and,
with the utmost caution crept softly up the
stairs to the door Of the room in which we're
the officers, and putting her ear TO the key
hole, heard the adjutant general read the order
from Lord Howe for the night attack upon the
camp of Washington. She could scarcely con-
tain herself, such was her agitation; and her
heart beat so loudly the meanwhile, that she
was compelled for moment to sustain her.
self by the easing of the door, lest in her
trepidation, she should fall, and thereby bring
ruin upon her family by an untimely discov-
cry of her position by those within. AS it
uwas, she but narrowly escaped detection; for
in her confusion and alarm she had touched
the latch Of the door, the noise Of which had
attracted the notice of one of the adiutants
companions, who called his attention to it,
Then she was obliged to listen to the follow
ing conversation; for to move at this juncture
would have been indeed critical.
"Harkl" says the officer referred TO. eve
are overheard, for I'm sure there's some one
listening at the door"
81 think not, Colonel replied the adjutant
general ait is only the wind which you know
sometimes plays merrily with the door latches
in this miserable country"
"Some finger, differen: from the winds tip
ped the latch Of the door even now," said the
Colonel 81 would not for hundred sover-
eigns that we had been overheard"
Nor for a thousand" said the adjutant
general. The family are trustworthy, and can
be depended upon, | assure you"
Nevertheless" commenced the Colonel.
Nevertheless" )" resumed the adjutant gen.
eral, "ify you are suspicious will open the
door to convince you; but if there be a listen
er, woe be TO him."
These words increased the agitation of Ly
da; and she had scarcely strength left tc
screen herself behind large chest that stooC
near the door, before it was opened, and th'
ad jutant general and his friend the colone
stepped forth to reconnoitre They examined
the hall pretty thoroughly, looked down the
stairway, and in ever nook except behind lh'
chest, and satisfied at length that their secre
was safe, and that the coonel's ears mus
have deceived him, they again retired to thel
room, and closed the door. The situation o
Lydia during these few minutes was mos
: painful and twice or thrice so near had the
come to her, that she was about THROWN!
: herself upon their mercy and avowing tn
whole. But the danger passed and she retlr
ed noselessly to her own room, 10 await thei
departure from the house, before she shoui
} determine what step she should take in refer
ence to the information she possessed. a
she departed from the door she heard the az
), jutant general laughing at the colo for b
suspicious; and the remarks which fohowe
convinced her tha; those suspicious were allal
r ed.
81 She had not been by the side Of her hu'
y band, who was asleep, more than an hou
le when she heard the officers descending tn
ar stairs-one of them pausing at the door an
rs knocking. Fegning to be asleep, she did nj
p answer the first summons, nor the second; an
v not until three or four knocks were made, di
ID she arise with tardiness, as though just awi
e. kened This summons was by pre-co1cert,
~ order that, as they left she might extingus
RS tie fire and lights in their room, and secur
ST le house after their retreat Great was he
ie relief, of course, when they had departed
y but she was so much agitated by wha she ha
IN heard, and at the prospect of the destructio
In of Washington and his camp, that, on her r'
ke firing to bed she could not sleep, but lay to-
at sing in restless anxiety till morning
lg When SHE arose to the performance of he
on next days duties, she went wandering abol
: the house in the most miserable suspense, an
Ill with her mind in SO abstracted state as
o. attract the attention of her husband. who
ar vain ondeavored to ascertain the cause of hC
g unusual depression. Turning his question
with evasive answers, she tried TO distract he
by thoughts from the revelation OF the precedin
ad evening"; but to no purpose were her efforts
~. and, as last resort, she began to think OF som
e- method 10 make available the information sI
tie had so clandestinely obtained. At length 81
a" determined, if possible to convey her INTEL
a gence to Washington; but then the risk
lis trusting what she alone knew, to the honest
he and judgment of others made her hesitat
ah until finally she resolved to be the bearer
ee her own intelligence, and thus secure by wei
an timed movement, the hopes and fortunes
the American army. Her next tho't was
mt frame some excuse for leaving the house,
ey she intended that even her own family shou
n remain ignorant of her movements. AT leng
re she hit upon this expedient.
n Ascertaining that they were in want
! -four, she informed her hasbaud that she wou
he 90 TO Frankfort for some This he tried
y persuade her from doing, or offered to go hin
Its self in her stead; but finally, when he saw h
ir- determination, he insisted that she should
ed accompanied by the servant maid This q
at so. to his surprise, she refused, alleging th
er- there was no necessity foF her to have con
No. panon, and that the route was perfectly FRI
ed from danger Thus seeing her determinatit
no to proceed alone at any rate. he ceased furt
'c- er expostulation, and she was left to carry o.
ch her plans without opposition. Getting evel
IL r A