The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-12

night she told her husband that she
would use her, pass to SO to see her
children and get flour for the family
WhtcI he wanted her to take n maid she
positively declined. Starting early the
next morning, and going in the drec-
ton named In her pass, and leaving her
bag the mill, she soon changed her
course, and after IL long and weary
walk through the snow, came near the
American camp.
She called an officer approaching on
horseback. who proved to be Colonel
Craig, whom she knew. He was great
~ surprised TO see her and asked:
why, Mrs. Darragh. what are you
doing so far away from homer"
She asked him to walk beside her,
which he did, leading his horse. In
low tones she told him the important
intelligence which she had risked so
much TO bring. and he at once rode
with II 10 headquarters. Lydia then
returned home, carrying the bag of
twenty-five pounds of -four all the way
from Frankford and telling no one
the real object of her errund to the
country. Little did her husband know
OF the part his wife played in the
drama OF that dreadful night. She
feared the least suspicion OF his hav-
ing taken information out OF the city
might cndangcr his life, ana so kept
, her secret. That night she sat at a
| front window, wrapped in a cloak. and
watched the soldiers march by on their
| way 10 attack Washington The next
| day she spent in an agony OF fear for
evtn when the troops returned she was
uncertain of the result
! Late III the evening an officer called
| her into the council chamber and locked
The door. She was so faint she would
have fallen had he not offered her n
chair. Then he inquired if ANY of her
n lHsI
their last meeting. She replied no.
| They were all in bed and asleep"
Then he said: II need not ask Won
| for We had great difficulty in waking
you To fastcn up the house after us
hut cc'e thing is certain, the enemy
her notice OF our coming, were pre-
pared for us ana we walked back like
a parcel Of d--n fools. The walls
must have had ears"
l never told lie about It, Lydia
would say. | could answer all his uues-
| tons without that
After the war General Washington
visited Lydia to thank her for her time
~ ana. telling her he considered her
The greatest woman heroine OF the war
ana offering her n service of silver MS
| q token or his regard and the high
place she occupied in the hearts of her
| cnuntrymen.
She declined the silver saying she
could take no reward for the service she
ana tor her country.
These facts were related mo hv my.
mother. who had the story from her
grandmother, the daughter of Lydia,
and she was told the story by Lydin
herself so caCl vouch for the anthem
ticity But l would like to read you an
IDEAL sketch by Thomas, Jarnicr--how
lhis episode appealed to the artists
fancy.
The sketch Is taken from n little
story of II young artist who painted
The picture for II prize exhibition. hop
ing to win by 1t not only the prize, but
n wife.
Tie scene has n roadway In n dark
wood; the foreground I'M deep shadow.
i5cheath the arching branches was
seen q, misty valley, ,shimmering in the
cool. crisp light OF early day. The
nearly level sunbcams striking bril-
llantly upon the white tents of the
camp and seen under the lowering
trees. but little beyond them. in the
iull light, was single figure brought
into strong relief against the dark
niis, lying IN shadow on the valleys
farther side.
The figure was that Of a woman In
quaker dress, the sole browns ana gray
OF her shawl acld gown. In tone with the
deeper browns ana grays Of the fore
ground, and of the misty valley be-
You'd: n good, high light on the white
kcrchicr folded :rcroSs her breast
She was kneelinG: her shawl had
fallen back, showing her beautiful head
and facc-bcautiful with the beauty not
of youth-but of scrIne holiness. 60,
which Ehe sun shone full. Her eyes
moist with tears, were full OF glad
thankfulncss. and through all the lines
i.of the face and figure was an express
sion OF great Joy, humblcd by devout
gratitude TO Him who had brought her
safely u her journeys end, and so had
gwen her the victory. The title, "Sav-
| ing WaShington's Camp at White
Marsh" gave the key to the story
| The woman WAS Lydia Darragh, who
went out from Philadelphia and gave
warning that enabled the Continental
Army to repulsc the assault of General
| Howe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RATTLE. OF
GREAT BRIDGE.
| The following paper was read by Mrs.
| PHILIP Edward Ncatmam:
Grea'. Bridge. in the days of Lord
Dunmorc's government in Virginia, was