The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-18
A HEROINE OF 1776.
How Lydia Darrac1 Saved Wash
ingtOn and His Army.

hutn Tile DIlbicn army a. PN
sion of Philadelphia General Howe's
headquarters were directly opposite
the old Loxley House, in which re-
sided William and Lydia Darrach,
members of the Society OF Friends.
A superior officer Of the British army
army fixed upon one of the barracks
back chambers for private conference.
About the I'd of December, 1IsG. the
officer told Lydia that ne would be in
the room that night and remain late.
but he wished the family to retire,
early, adding that when they were
going away he would call her to let
them out.
She accordingly sent her family to
bed, but as her curiosity had been ex-
cited, took off her shoes, put her ear
to the keyhole and overheard an or
der read for the British troops to
march out on the evening of the 4th
and attack Washington's army at
Whitemarsh. On hearing this start
ling information she went up to her
chamber and lay down. Soon after
the officer knocked at the door, but
she rose only at the third summons,
having feigned sleep, a condition IL
WAS 1UlDONSlDlG lOT AlGi W ASSUME tAAA
night, as she supposed it to be in her
power to save thousands of her eoun-
trymen. Her Imagination was o
rect, as had Washington been at
tackled at that period it
would have been fatal to the cause.
After some thought she determined
to make her way to the American line
and inform Washington.
The next morning, therefore, she
told her family she was in need of
flour, and that she would go out to
the Frankfort Mills that day in quest
oil some. Her husband suggested
that she should take the servant
maid, but, to his surprise, she refused.
Without trouble she obtained from
General Howe q pass through the
British lines. On the way to the mills
she encountered an American lieu
tenant. He knew her and inquired
where she was going. She answered
in quest of her son. an officer in the
American army, and prayed the Col
onel to alight and walk with her. He
did so, ordering his troops to keep in
sight. To him. it is said. she impaired
her information. Lydia returned
home with her flour. When the Bri-
fish returned to the city in a few days
the adjutant generalcalled to see Lydia
and requested her to walk ap to his
room. He inquired whether any of
her family were up Pm the last night
the officers met. She replied:-''They
all retired at eight O'clock" He OBJ
served:-"I know you were asleep, for
| knocked three times at your cham
Der door before you heard me. l am,
therefore, entirely at a loss to imagine
who gave General Washington in
of our intended attack, I'M
less the walls of your house could
When we arrived at White
marsh we found the enemy ready to
meet us, and We have marched back
like a parcel of fools"
Under the heading, THE British
Army at Chestnut Hill" Mr.. Boudinot
has written the following remarkable
story:-.'1n the autumn of 1916, the
American army lay for some time at
Whitemarsh. / was at that time Com
missary General of Prisoners, and
managed the intelligence of the army.
One day | was returning along the
lines, neal the city of Philadelphia,
intending to dine at a small out
post at the Rising Sun Inn, about
three miles from the city. After din
ner a little, poor-looking, insignificant
old woman came in soliciting leave to
go into the country to buy some flour.
While we were asking her some ques-
tions she walked up to me and put
into my hands a dirty old needle
book, with several small pockets in it.
at this, | told her to wait
and she would have her pass. On
opening the needle book | could not
find anything till | got to the last
pocket, where / found a piece of paper
rolled up in the shape of a pipe stem.
Unrolling it | found information that
General Howe was coming out the
next day with three thousand men,
thirteen pices of cannon, baggage
wagons and eleven boats on wagon
wheels. On comparing this with
other information just brought in, l
found it true. and Immediately rode
post haste to headquarters, accord
ing to orders received from General
Washington. l first related TO him
the facts without comment or opin-
He received them with much
thoughtfulness."
This account of Mr.. Boudinot's was
probably written shortly after the in
occurred; as he had no possible
reason for stating aught out facts
it is no doubt true. 1t eorrects
the original published account
regarding the meeting of Lydia
with Craig. of the Light Horse. The
most likely explanation of this part
OF the story is that Lydia did meet
Craig, who directed her TO the out
post at the old inn as the best place to
extend the information which she pos
sessed. Mr.. Wescott in commenting
upon this story makes the statement
that, as the British army moved out