Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-09-30
CAoits giterature,
The Silver Bullet.
STORY OF A REVOLUTIONARY SPY.

STORY OF A REVOLUTIONARY SPY.
In the summer and autumn of l777, while |
Sir William Howe, with a feet and part of
the royal army. was lying at New York, Gen.
Gurgoyne with his army, were advancing
from Canada to Albany. The object and
design of the enemy was to possess them
selves of Lake Champiain, with the whole OF
l the Hudson; and tnerebyste cut off all intes=
course and communicated between the Eas-
tern and Southern states. For the purpose
| of watching the motions and annoying the
| operations of the hostile armies, General
! Washington had hired small bodies of troops
to be placed at Fishkill, Red Hook, Green
bush and several other places on the east side
OF the river between Albany and New York,
with strict orders to examine all strangers
travelling up and down the river, either by
land or water, and if detected in the espion
age or employed in communicating informa-
ton between the British armies, to be pun
ished according to the rules of war.
b. About the lst of September. a pedestrian
passing northwardly. was hailed and stopped
by sentinel of the guard placed at Red Hook
and commanded by Capt. John Mansfield, of
Connecticut. The man was about thirty
years of age, and clothed in the habit of a
farmer lie was conducted to the guard
house; Captain Mansfield inquired of him
his name, the place of his residence as well
as that to which he was going, his business
there, &c.
He replied by giving name, and stated
that he belonged to u place above Red Hook
and was a farmer, that he was now on his
way to the next town above, with view tc
purchase a pair of oxen from farmer OF his
acquaintance. He was asked whether he mad
about him any letter or communication from
n 4 n -
Lord Howe or any other British Ohcer al
New York, addressed to Burgoyne or any
officer in the army to which he promptly an
swered in the negative.
Can't. M, then told him that such were the
orders of his superior officer that it became
his duty to search the person of every travel
er under similar circumstances, to which he
replied he had no objections to being search
ed. Capt. NJ. then directed two or three
the Guard to take off his coat and examine
his pockets, folds, lining and every othe
mart critically. While this was doing, on
of the guard observed the prisoner to pass hi
hand with quick motion from his vest pock
ct to bis mouth.
The search however, continued and wa
finished without any discovery which woul'
Justify the further detention OF the prisoner
Cant. M. was then informed of the suspicion
circumstances noticed by the guard. Wha
was to De done! olrOnS SuSplcloH I'd
|, attached itself to the stranger, but no posltiy
proof had yet appeared against him.
An expedient soon suggested itself to tf
ready thoughts of our Yankee Captain. Il
observed to the prisoner, we have detaine
3 YOU on your journey for some length of tim
and subjected you to pretty strict examn
8 ton. feel bound by the rules of civility
t treat you to bowl of toddy before you pr,
0 ceed on, and you shall be welcome II
f man was pleased with the invitation al
readily agreed to accept it. The CAPITA
9 took upon himself the Office Of bar keeper, al
: soon prepared the toddy. To make it gen
4 inc. and t., answer the purpose for which
y wanted it, he stirred in good dose of tart
le emetic. Our stranger being thirsty and son
N what fatigued by travelling. drank very fire,
ell Of the beverage, while the Captain and 9TH
at present barely tasted and passed it round
ne A free conversation soon commenced
re tween the stranger and his new acquai
tn ances. He inquired of Capt. NJ. the mum
rs, of men under his command, and at the
In ferent military stations above Red He
ch whether they were furnished with field pie
er- or anv kind of cannon what number of 1
we tineIs we're placed on the watch at a tim
t q how often. and what time of the night t
but were relieved, &c.
,uc- About twelve or fftssn minutes after