The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-03-21
Il TR UE HEROINE.
AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.

AN INCIDENT OF THE REVOLUTION.
While the British army had possession
of Philadelphia, and Washington's army
was encamped about the city, the following
incident took place
The English Adjutant General made his
headquarters at the house of a man named
William Darrah. This mans wife was a
true friend and patriot, true 20 her friends
and country.
The house was in secluded part of the
city and the English officers often held
their private meetings there. On one of
these occasions the Adjutant General or
dered Mrs. Darrah to have the upper back
room made ready for the reception of the
officers.
''be sure that all your family are in bed by
o'clock"
Fearing to disobey, Mrs. Darrah had
everything ready, and her entire family in
bed by o'clock, when the officers came
As the Generals order had been very
emphatic, higher impulse than mere curl
osity prompted Mrs. Darrah to become
listener. Accordingly when all was quiet,
she slipped out of her room into the hall
The room where the officers were holding
their meeting was at the other end of the
hall. Quickly and quietly she ran to that
part of the hall, and, placing her ear to the
keyhole of the room door, listened. AS she
did so, she heard one of the officers read an
order from General Howe, commanding
the British army to move against Wash
/ ington's camp.
! This was enough. After hearing this,
Mrs. Darrah hurried back to her room and
entered, locking the door. Soon she heard
a rap on her door. She knew what it
meant, but she did not get up till after
! three successive knocks. Then she got up
/ and let the Adjutant General and his friends
| depart.
The next morning Mrs. Darrah was up
/ bright and early. Flour was needed for
the family, and, taking the bag, she wen.
to the mill, three miles distant. But she
1 did not go for the flour alone. She had a
/ great secret which she intended to make
known to Washington.
After leaving her bag at the mill to be
! filed with flour, she hurried on toward
! WashiDgton's camp.
On her way she met Lieutenant Craig,
one of Washing toms officers, to whom she
( told her secret. She then buried home,
/ stopping at the min for her bag of flour.
On that cold, starry night she saw the
English soldiers leave the city for the at
tack on Washington's camp. A few hours
later she saw the same troops return to the
city.
The Adjutant General soon reached his
headquarters, and, summoning Mrs. Oar
rah to his room, he said to her:
Lydia, were all your family to bed at s
o'clock last night?"
''rhey were," replied Mrs. Darrab,
quickly.
'Its strange" unused the officer. awe
have certainly been betrayed by somebody
You, know, were fast asleep when rap.
ped on your door, for I knocked three
times before [ aroused you. When we ar.
rived at General Washington's camp, we
found his cannon all mounted and his
troops under arms. So we were obliged tc
march back to the city, without making
the attack, like parcel of fools.
Mrs. Darrah entreated Lieutenant Craig
not to give her name, for she feared the
fury of the enemy.
But the English ne YER found out who be
trayed them on the night that they march
ed against Washing.on's camp.