Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-07-24
A Story of the Revolution.

Moses Harris was born in Dutchess
county, New York, in l749, but his
father moved to Washington, and at
the outbreak of the Revolutionary war,
was living on the Brayton farm about
a mile south of Fort Ann village, and
remained there until the spring of 17777,
when the advance of Burgoyne COM
PEELED him TO remove back to Dutchess
county. The son was staunch patriot,
but was in the habit of visiting tory
uncle named Gilbert Harris, who lived
on farm in the town of kingshurv,
known as ''the thousand appletree
farm, now owned by Thomas Owens.
1t so happened that both Schuyler and
Burgoyne wished to procure the SER
vices of confidential messenger. Har-
ris was recommended TO Schuyler, and
was employed by him. He was also
sent for by his Tory uncle and at mid
night was aroused by him, and asked if
he wanted TO engage in the service of
the King. Harris responded in the
affirmative and followed his uncle to
the barn, where secret passage dis
closed Il room to the centre of the hay
NOW. Here he was introduced to the
British officers, and engaged by them to
act as messenger between the armies Of
Gen. Clinton and Gen. BurgOyne.
Pausing long enough to make canteen
with three heads to secure greater
safety for his dispatches, he went to
Burgoyne's headquarters, and that
general ratifying the acts of his subor-
dinate officers, Harris was entrusted
with dispatches to be conveyed to Gen.
Clinton. On reaching Fort Edward he
had an interview with Schuyler, who
read and altered the dispatches SO as to
mislead Clinton and delay his advance
towards Albany; and on his return the
dispatches were again opened and
changed so as to completely puzzle Bur-
goyne. The usual custom of Harris,
however, on his way south would be to
stop over in Easton with a Mr.. Fish,
who would take the papers to Schuyler's
headquarters, where they were copied,
altered and returned to the spy, and by
him taken to Albany. Here they were
delivered to one William Shepherd,
who forwarded them to New York,
giving Harris in return dispatches for
Burgoyne from Clinton, which on the
way back would, as usual, be subject to
the inspection of Schuyler. He had
many adventures, being subject to sus-
picion on both sides. Shepherd tried to
poison him. He was once arrested at
Tripoli by the Tories and taken to the
big swamp east of Sandy Hill, where
they attempted to hang him. He was
Mason and gave the great hailing sign
of distress of the order, and the captain
of the troop that was to hang him at
once recognized him and let him down.
This caused the wings to suspect him,
and one Jacob Benson lay in ambush
all night for him, and threatened ''t.
put ball through the cussed Tory
He was, however, warned by friend,
and taking another road, escaped. Once
he was wounded and compelled to swim
the Hudson at Fort Miller, just above
the falls, and, arriving at the residence
of Noah Paine, was taken in and con-
cealed by that gentleman. He was
thrown into prison by command of
Schuyler, but was restored to liberty as
soon as public attention was called off
from him. Once he was arrested at St.
Johns by the British, who suspected
HIM of being spy. He feigned such
Indignation at the charge, and desired
so earnestly to be shot at once rather
than be suspected of disloyalty to the
King. that he was discharged. He
made tracks out OF the camp at once,
but hardly had he departed before the