The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-07-11
MORGAN THE SPY

/
at bis own chateau III France. to the
/ American historian. DR. Jared Sparks
During the frstweek # August.
/ 1851. Lord COruwaiIis. 1T the head
/ Of about eight thousand British troops.
/ after marching and fighting eleven
hundred miles. without tents and with
little baggage. took post at Yorktown,
| where he was protected by fleet. con
si-tiEg in all Of sixty vessels: most OF
/ which, however. were of small tonnage
and bat slightly armed. lie began to
Intreleh there. and ordered the inhab
! ltants Of the vicinity to come within
| bis lines. He was q vieilant and able
| general. whose movements it was as
difficult as it was desirable to forsee
Lafayette was then posted upon
Malvern Hill, eleven miles south east
| Richmond with something less than
two thousand effective troops. Geuer
81 Greene was actively engaged in
South Carolina, three nHnired miles
away: and General Washington. with
taa French and American armies. was
still aGcamped at and near DOhb's
Felly on the Hudson River For five
weeks it deyolyej alone upon Lafay-
cite and his little band to watch Corn
wallis, and If possible prevent his re
treat into North Carlina; whence he
woHld probably have been able to get
to Charleston, and find winter quarters
both comfortable and safe
An army cannot BE on both sides OF
4 ~. ss+ : 7 2
matching and investing C0rnwalHs at
Yorktown, Lafayette was on the right
-jJe Of the broad river james bat for
the purpose Of preventing his escape
INTO Carolina, he was on tho wrong
side, and he did hot possess the means
Of pnttIug his army across the river
with sufficient rapidity. In these cir
cun-talccs ne resolved to try the If
feet Of strategem upon the mind Of
the British general. He endeayored
to make him think that his force was
more powerful than it really was, and
that he had boats enough 10 ferry
them ell over the river at once.
Lafayette had one advantage over
other generals Of the revolution in al
ways having some hard money in hand
for the purpose Of paying and employ
ing spies and paving their expenses
in the enemy's country. He had spies
in New York when Arnold was mcdi
tatlug his treason, and the traitor ask
81 hmm toIntIust him with their names
Most fortunately, Lafayette declined
to % 50, and thus doubtless saved
them from tho hangman. At this
time Cornwaliis's own servant was In
the pay OF Lafayette and hr had been
IN the habit Of sending information,
until the lines We're drawn 50 closely
about Yorktown as to make it too DIFF
tlcult. This interesting fact we learn
fIom one Of Lafayotte's own letters OF
1881 to General Washington. The
servant tried q inspect his masters
papers. Bat. a. Lafayette saws.
Ills Iordship is so shy Of his
papers that my honest friend says be
cannot set at them"
Lafayette now determined 10 send
another spy into the camp Of Corn
wallis, and proposed this service to a
soldier named Morgan, OF a New Jor
eCv regiment, strongly recommended
for tao purpose by Colonel Barber.
Lafayette asked him to pretend to la
-ert, 20 within the British lines, and
regularly enlist i'll their army.
After much hesitation. he seii he
wo,tl3 undertake the service, If tho
general would engage to explain the
matter to Is comrades, his family and
the people Of New Jersey, provided
any misfortune sh0ald happen to linn.
Lafayette gave him the required pro
mise, and Morgan prepared to start.
The general told him that he left all
To LIS own discretion, but lie particu
LARRY wished theimpresSiou to bemadc
upon tIc mind Of the English com
maal-r that the Americans had be4t-
enough to transport thrir army across
the James without delay.
Morgan departed and made his way
to Yorktown, where he Joined the Brit
i-u army. assumed the uniform. and
took ll- turn Of duty in his company.
| Before he had been long at Yorktown
CORVALLIS sent for him. and question
"a him 1T length respecting the state
of things in the camp Of General La
fayette Finally be asked:
How many boats has General La
.aEnttc on the river2'
10 not know the exact numhor."
replied Morgan; .'but | have beentold
thero are enough to carry over all the
army at a moments warning
General Iartleton was present du''-
;fsas +lf. conversation T1Irniptr A.