Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-30
The Female Spy.

We" ork, tnere was, In neigh boring town of
New Jersey, young lady--a young girl, we
might say, for she could not have seen more
than sixteen summers-who was eminently dis
tlngulshed for her beauty, talents, wit, vivacity
aud all those striking characteristics which. in
female, please and fascinate the opposite sex,
aud win her admirers among the old and young.
she was the daughter of Major Moncrieife,
OF the British Engineer Corps and her gifted
mind gave evidence of the lavish expenditure
which his affection had induced him to make
to secure to her brilliant education. The
occupation of Staten Island necessarily brought
the war into her immediate vicinity, and the
nelghborlng towns on the Jersey shore having
become unsafe as place of residence, she
ADOPTED the plan of appealing to General
Putnam for protection. The General sent
for her under his own individual guardianship,
and while ne remained in New York she con-
tlnued to be member of his family.
Here she passed the time, in company with
Mrs. Putnam and her daughters in spinning
and weaving clothing for American soldiers
The battle of Long Island, and the subsequent
retreat OF Washington and his army from the
city, caused change in the aspect of affairs.
and We find her soon afterward at the house
of MIR. Wood, near Peekskill, on the Hudson
River. The advent of such an accomplished
and beautiful creature as Miss Moncrieffe
could not be otherwise than subject of in
! tereSt TO the residents of Peekskil and its
Vicinity, and she soon became the centre of
attraction Of brilliant circle of beaux. among
whom were number of the officers attached
TO the American army in the neighborhood.
Although at heart bitter uncompromising
| RoyaliSt, Miss Moncrieffe managed so ad-
4 mi Niy to hot
about her to believe that she entertained the
warmest feelings Of interest in and earnest
desire for, the success OF the American cause.
that none hesitated to converse before her
regarding the plans aud operations of Ameri-
cans without the last reserve. She took ad-
vantage of this fact to get hold of important
information, which she was in the habit of
! transmitting to General Howe through the
means of 8 poor wretch who served as a con-
renient instrument in her nefarious plans.
Being splendid equestrienne, it was customary
with her to ride along the banks of the Hudson
in pleasant weather; aud she seized these op-
portunties to communicate with her messenger
aud, through him, with the British commander.
At regular intervals she would ride down the
road, and, at spot where it passed through
wood, she would stop, as though upon some
agreed upon. In moment after the head.
followed by the shoulders and body of man.
would emerge from the dense uuderbush and
while, he pushed back the leaves with one
hand, the other was held out to receive the
miSsive which he knew was prepared for him.
In this way the English General received much
valuable information, and 50 secretly and dis
Greet was it managed that the Americans never
once suspected that their fair enchantress was
the spy to whose activity aud efficiency they
owed the Illustration of many of their plans.
Accident at length unveiled her duplicity aud
crime. On one occasion, as she was taking
her accustomed ride down the road, her horse
was startled at the barking of Q dog which |
darted ont from yard which she was passing. /
and shyed to the opposite side SO suddenly
as to throw her TO the ground with violence /
The females in the house, who had witnessed
the accident ran out, took her tenderly up in |
their arms, and conveyed her within doors. /
while the man went in pursuit of horse I
The force with which she had fallen had reR- !
dered her nsenSible, anu she was laid upon a /
bed, while every means at the command of
her nurses was used for her reSuScitation. /
Anxious 70 give her freer respiration. one !
of them opened the front of her riding habit, /
and, as she did so. letter dropped from that /
receptacle upon the floor. 1t was picked up
and placed upon the table without exciting
curiosity. At this moment the man returned /
TO the house, and in few moments the youpg
Lady began to recuTer her Consciousness Upon .
being fully restored and seeing strange faces
a5oat her. she started up aud sc zei the open
laps OF her vest, while horror and disnav were
strongly depicted upon her cOuutenance as
she discover that the niSSiFe il had held
was gone. In tone which gave evidence Of
the most excited feelings, she asked for the
letter. One OF the females took il u3 and
was about TO hand il TO her, when the man.
whose suspicious were aroused by hcr man
Ter, took it from her, and finding that il was
directed 10 New York De refused TO let her hare
IT, Her earnest eltreatieS o1ly served 10
strengthen his doubts that all was not right,
sud, notwithstanding hsr threats aud offers of .
rewards, be re>olutelv determined lot de- {
liver up the important document Finding I.
al her Efforts for It's recoyery unavailable, the 4
y0uRg woman readiusted her drsss, mounted her .
horse, and returned 70 Mr., Weeds, where she 1
made immediate preparations 10 take her de-
parrGre for the city. Fate was against her, how
ever. ss the farmer had FASTENED With the /
sEspiaoGs miSsiye 10 headquarters patty Of i
soldiers rode up 10 the house soon after, and .
the offcer in command informed her that she .
was psisoaer. Without giving her tine TO 1
destroy Or secretc her papers, she as removed j
10 the opposite side Of the river, where she was 1
securely guarded until her case eould receive /
the sttehtioa Of higher authority Meanwhile, /
her trunks and effects were carefully searched .
aud gave the strongest evideGce Of her guilt .
Several papers relating 20 military matters .
were found, and the letter which bad caused 4
her arrest proved 10 coasa;n inportaa; istor-
nauoa relative TO tie Increment Of tie |
American arnr And. as Il 20 place her COG
r.-.Sn, h--n-I rs-sSr.-.--- - $4,000 I