Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-02
4 QUAKER HEROINE
Explicit Of a Woman During
the Revolutionary
War.
The Good Work OF Lydia OAR
rach tor the American
Cause.
Learning Lord Howe's Plans
She Warns Washington
of Danger.

Lydia Darrach, Herolne"-uhat is
he way the makers OF that species OF
literature known as biographical die
!, ti0na1ieS write her down for the know
ing and reading Of all men. But the dis
tinctiOn of such an appellation applied
to herself, probably never entered the
little Quaker WomanS head as she set
herself energetically to work to serve
her country and to save her country
men in the long aga. And the idea Of
: the distinction of having a heroine as
} one OF the mothers of Philadelphia back
i'll revolutionary times has pretty gen
orally dropped out of the consciousness
of the present generation OF dweIlers
in the good old Quaker town.
1t was uSt one hundred and fifteen
: years ago this December that Lydia
Darrach earned for hersen the title be-
slowed upon her in the books which
devote themselves to keeping green the
memories OF departed worthless, says
the Philadelphia Times. The curious
part OF the tale is that whereas the
Helens the GATHERINGS, the Marys and
the various madameS celebrated in song
and story have most of them earned
their distinction by stirring up strife
and bringing about wars and rup2ors Of
wars, this little Quaker woman, rlend
Lydia, distinguished herself by prevent
ing a battle, or at least by doing what
might be called reducing a military en-
counter to the lowest terms.
Early school training has impressed
upon the mind Of the American youth
the TACT that the winter Of 1777-7S was,
in the textbook phrase, the gloomiest
period OF the Revolutionary War" The
fortunes OF the little Continental army
struggling to make good the daring as
reo,,: IONS OF the revered ''DecIara ton
ihoa tao, r,,,, from brilliant. Liberty
seemed about to be crushed, ~ 'nu e ei--
in the very cradle in which if hed ~,
poih' a1u great were the apprehensions
that the principles Of government
would be deprived Of the American col
,onies as a vantage ground from which
to work.
The main actors of the military dra-
ma were gathered almost within the
present confines of Philadelphia. Howe
and CORVALLIS on one side and Wash
.mgton Lafayette ad Pulaski on the 9TH
er, We're in such near neighbOrhOOdS
that it they had had the advantage
OF modern railway facilities half
hours ride would have enabled them to
exchange calls between the inlmical
encampments.
But the British had decidedly the
best of the bargain. AS strangers and
visitors they would have been entitled
to this under ordinary circumstances
but i'll the case in point they had walked
i'll and helped themselves. Ia military
phrase their army, under Lord Howe,
had occupied Philadelphia" and that
ia the face Of decided though inetfect-
ual objections on the part of the Amer
itan residents and armed forces The
main body of the stranger troops was
located at Germantown. The remain
der made themselves merry in the so
ciaI life of what was then the heart
OF the city. Old st. Georges church,
On Fourth street was turned into Il lid
ing school Tor the pleasure OF the red
coated captors of the town and the de
vOut Methodist congregation sent to
fraternize with their Baptist brethren
in 2 neighboring church until such time
as it pleased the visitors to render their
house of worship to them again Balls
and routs. dinners and dances, kept the
British officers going until shreWd old
Dr.. Franklin dTyly remarked one day
hat Howe had not taken Philadelphia
so much as Philadelphia had taken
Howe"
Meanwhile, Washington and his it'll
poverished followers We're shivering lii
their encampment out at White Marsh.
beyond Chestnut Hill. They were poor
and Wretched, but their spirit was IN
,conquerahle, and the result was the
long list Of stilall engagements in and
around Philadelphia which distinguished
the revolutionary campaign in Pennsyl-
, vania for that year. The British were
good soldiers as well as jolly fellows.
. Their social procIivities but seldom i'll
telfered with their business of war.
They kept a Watchful eye on the wary
American General and never missed an
opportunity to harass his diminished ar
my.
In the earie' part Of December, l'u,
the time to direct another blow at the
Colonial forces seemed to the EngliSh
leaders to have arrived, and the plans
were laid which led up to the engage
ment OF Edge HILL The affair was too
slight to be set down in history as one
of the eventul stepping stones OF the
War Of independence. Only local his
torlans, or those whose care for exact
ness has transcribed any vulgar am
bition to be handled and read by the
multitude have taken the time and
space to speak Of the Edge Hill Skin
failed of fuIfilIment and that Edge Hill
ington, Lafayette and Pulaski on the 9th
. as a name Or almost rs great import
in the American as in the English sto-
: Y is due to the judicious action OF Lydia
| Darrach.
, Lydia was the wife of William OAR
rach. teacher Of some reputation in
, Colonial times. With her family she
the wintTy winds which whistIed around
. lived in the ''LoXley House at III
, South Second street. just where little
lock street. The Loxley House was Of
good age even then. and from its curl
ms old front nor,gh which WaS n sort of