The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-08-23
THE SPY OF YORKTOWN.
Prom a Soldiers Journal.

n Yorktown, is from the journal of
I soldier. long since deceased, who dis
). tinguished himself BIZ his coolness an,
: biayery during the war of the Reyolu
s tion.
III Yorktown, at that period, was quite
d Furnishing little village, containing SOM
Il sixty houses, several of which wer
: elegant dwellings. Il was and is situ
$ ated on the right or south bank If York
: river, some twelve miles from The juno
ton of the latter with Chesapeake Bay
!, This river, which might properly b.
: termed an arnl of the sea, is mile wide
e for considerable distance above anc
: below the town, and will admi, vessel:
Of the largest draught. Opposite YORK,
town is the village Of Gloucester.
Both Of these places were occupied by
British troops-the main body Of the
? army, some seven thousand strong,
, Lord CORVALLIS commanding in person,
being guartered at the former-and a
regiment Of infantry, and Tarieton's ia
nous legion, at the latter.
When the allied army, under Gener-
| al Washington. numbering twelve
thousand, exclusive Of some four thous-
and Virginia militia, sat down before
the town, with the American right rest
ing on the river below the place, and
the French left on the river above, Lord
Cornwallis was caught as in a tIap-for
i French blockading fleet, which had
sometime previously taken its station at
the mouth of the York river, gave him
no outlet to the ocean, and now lie could
not escape by land. 1t was fight or
surrender, and time proved it was both.
Although it may be said that the
allied army had invested the town as
early as the 28th of September, yet not
till the 9th of October did our batteries
fairly open upon the devoted place
interval being employed in digging
trenches, throwing up redoubts, and
getting our heavy guns into position.
One night, while at work upon a re-
loubt, which was pretty well advanced
.oNard he British lines, | was called
rom my labor and told that my captain
Wished to see me.
found him slowly pacing to and fro
JUS beyond ear-shot OF the men and I
approached him with uneasiness, not
moving if my reception would be pleas
ant, though un ,ble to think of anyth ng
1 nad done to merit other treatmen . !
dis first words relieved me of all appre
tension, but reused my curiosity to the
highest.
Philip" he said in kind and feeling |
tone, 1--WE have seen long and hard SER
vice together"
"We both remember Valley Forge, |
captain !" replied l touching my c.p.
philip, it grieves me to offer to try
fou as few men are tried but the truth |
), l have been asked for brave, in'el
igent man, to go on a secret service,
md have ventured to name you
hough beg you to understan at once,
hat you will not be ssat on this service
if not voluntary Gu your part, You
an return to your duty, and no hard
fee ings between US.
Name the service, captain" said /.
Il Is no less than desertion to the
en2my. to play the part Of spy IN his
ca np."
Iilstinc lively shudIered, but strove
o appear calm.
"W ho has asked for this service p |
inquired, in as Indifferent tone as l
,)uId assume.
"Our great aud noble commander,
General Washington"
81 do not fear death so much as dis
grace" / repIieI. 81 have name
lmong my comrades. that this one act
IF my life will cover with infamy yet,
0 serve my country and our beloved
ommauder-in-chief, l will make the
sacrifice"
"God bless you, Phillip~ he said,
lgain grasping my hand Il felt
,ould rely on you. Follow me !"
He led me back about a hundred
yards, to where three men stood grouped |
,ogether. As we approached, one of
hese stepped forward.
Dark as it was, | recognized that COM
handing form. 1t was the great Gen
sral Washington himself.
"Well?" he said.
eHe is ready to serve our country
lnd your excellency," replied the cap
tain, with military salute.
'Young man." said General Wash
ngton, placing his hand on my sholder
With fatherly tenderness, permit me to
thank you in advance. in behalf of our
country! The task you have accepted
is one of peril. without the soldiers in
sentive of glory. Should your purpose
be discovered, you will never return
md while absent to say the least, your
lame will be word of reproach. All
this suppose you have considered p +
Il have, your excellency."
''It only remains for me to add, then,
that you must escape tonight, in what
manner you think best, 50 that your
secret is revealed to none. When with
in the enemy's lines, observe all that
axes place, ascertain the general feel
ing, as far as you can. among officers
and soldiers and, if you discover
snything of great importance for US to
know, endeavor to return and report.
Ii arrested within our lines as a deserter,
you can say you had instructions from
me, and demand that your case be
brought before me. May Heaven pros
per you'll Adieu!"
With this General Washington with
drew, and I returned to my labors,
! prouder and happier man, yet feel
ing the weight of somewhat oppres-
sive responsibility.
Some two hours after this, while at
work upon the exterior Of the redoubt, !
found an opportunity to crawl along a
bank of earth. till some yards from my
companions, when walked boldly off
toward our line of pickets, concealed BY
the dense darkness.
As / drew near the outer line of SEN
tries, / got down on my hands and
knees, and crawled slowly and cautious
y forward, wa ching my opportunity,
IS the nearest paced back and forth, to ,
cross his beat behind bin. I,
This I succeeded in doing without be- +,
ng perceived but as again rose to my / {
ieet and attempted to hurry forward. I
on the uneven ground and :
ell.
Tne noise attracted the attention Of /