Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-05-23
"When did you last see Enoch Crosby ?"

lDQulfeus
sin his extreme old age. He was called
as a witness in a court held at our City
| Hall about 1897, think. The newspapers
had already coupled his namess with that o
Harvey Birch. An old gentleman who wal
in the courtroom and had known Crosby
quite intimately, but supposed he was
dead, recognized him before the opening ol
tie court, and they had mutual greetings.
After Crosby had testified his old friend in
troduced him to the audience as the origi-
nal of Harvey Birch. Crosby was instantly
made famous, for the newspapers mention
ed this incident in the courtroom"
"Cooper's Spy," continued Mr.. NJ
''had lately been dramatized. The mana
ger of one of the theaters invited Mr..
Crosby to attend performance two even
ings afterward. when The Spy was speci-
ally presented for that occasion. Notice
had been given that the real spy would be
present, The house was crowded. MIR.
Crosby was introduced to the audience as
Harvey Birch, when he was saluted with
rounds of applause and the waving of hand
kerchiefs."
well do l remember the scene" said
DR.. Francis, ''for l was present. Greatly
interested, called on Crosby the next day
at Washington Hall, on the corner of
Broadway and Chambers street, when he
told me that he recognized in the play
some of his own performances nearly fifty
years before. He then seemed to be in
robust health. His figure was nearly six
feet in height and erect, his shoulders were
broad and his mind was vigorous. He told
me he was eighty-one years of age"
Mr.. M related several stirring Incl
dents in the career of Enoch Crosby as a
spy not mentioned by Barnum. l bade him
adieu at ten O'Clock, much gratified and
edited by the interview.
Enoch Crosby's adventures as recorded
in the third person by Captain Barnum
were related by his own lips to the COM
piler. can give here only brief account
of few of them.
Crosby was native of Massachusetts. s.-
When he was little child his parents set
tied in the southeastern part OF (present)
Putnam county, N. Y. His father was a
staunch Wing, and as Enoch grew to young
manhood his patriotism was stimulated by
the events which Immediately preceded the
old War for Independence. He was lusty
youth; learned the trade of shoemaker,
and when the war broke out he entered the
army destined to invade Canada in 1775.-
| He sickened on Lake Champlain and went
no further.
Westchester county abounded with Tories,
and in time became a neutral ground
scourged by marauders from both armies
When his health was restored Crosby left
his home to join detachment of the army
at Verplanck's Point. In a lonely place
Just toward dusk on a warm day in Sep
tember he fell in with an apparent gentle.
man, whom he soon discovered to be a
Tory. Crosby Immediately conceived a
plan for the benefit of his country. He
pretended to be a loyalist on his way tC
| Join the British army at New York. The
gentleman invited him to tarry all night al
his house, saying several of his neighbors
were nearly ready to "go down." and that
| it would be safer for him to 70 with then
than alone. Crosby readily assented. The
next day he was introduced to several o.
these young Tories, and met large num-
ber of them at their usual rendezvous thai
night. He learned their names, residences
and plans. Pretending to be anxious tC
reach New York speedily, he departed
alone, went to White Plains and revealed
his discoveries to the Committee 9f Safety
sitting there-Messrs. Jay, Platt, Duer and
Sackett. At their request he piloted g
party of Rangers to the nest of Tories
which hs had just left, by whom they were
all arrested and taken to White Plains
Jail.
The Committee perceiving how usefu
Crosby might bo as an informer, employed
him as secret agent for the discovery o
Tories and their plans, agreeing to do al
in their power to protect him from harm
Equipping himself with pedler's pacI
filled with shoemaker's "kit," he started
out on his perilous quest IN the disguise O.
mechanic seeking work.
Crosby's first adventure was not fal
away. just at sunset he was at the dool
of farmhouse craving entertainment fo
the night. The farmers wife, suspicious
of everybody in those troublesome times
hesitated. Inquiring what was in his pack
Crosby told her he was shoemaker, wher
she said he might stay long enough Il
make her John pair of shoes. Crosby
shrewdly suspecting he was among Tories
told her he was on his way to the British
army to make shoes for the soldiers, ant
that they were then approaching Whit,
Plains. She was delighted, and when he
husband came in she told him the goot