The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-07-22
BRAVE RYMEHkA DE N
How New Utrecht Girl saved the Aync,
icnn Army -

$500 ~ wa 1fSFNStsah~ L-FatS 3 ~ - 4
How New Utrecht Girl Saved the Amer r.
lean Army. ~ &
HcTe*is a good story that. was
enacted in 1875, but just discoveries
by the writer who in his researches
among the manuscripts of the Long
Island Historical library and the
New Utrecht library found in the
daily reports of Colonel Jaqus Crop
sey reference to the following his
toric facts:
1t was hard times in the colonies
in August, 1776. Disaster had fol-
lowed the fortunes of the American
armies, and this fact was well known
TO the English generals. Orders
had been issued to give decisive
blow, which it was expected would
annihilate the patriots. e
General Washington was called
hurriedly to New York and calls
were issued for recruits from all
parts of the colonies, as it was ex-
pected determined battle would be-
fought on the westerly end of Long
Island. For weeks each side was
gathering its cohorts for what
was believed would be the final
struggle. The English, under Lord
Howe, brought their troops in ves-
sells, which were anchored in Graves
end bay, and the arrival of additions
to the fleet were of almost daily &C.
Currence.
General Washington was prepar-
ing for meeting the enemy and had
in pursuance of a well arranged
plan erected defenses extending
from Wallabout to Bay Ridge.
During this time four farmers,
Gerrit De Nyse of Kings Highway,
Tunis Cropsey, Abram Bennett and
Cornelius Lott of Bay Ridge, owned
a fishing net and boats and had
small building or hut on the Van
Brunt farm, just where Avoca Villa
now stands, in which they kept
their nets and oars and had beds for
use when they occasionally staid
over night. They fished nearly
every day. They were patriots, and
with the arrival of the English fleet
saw their opportunities gone for
fishing, but not for long, because
the English fleet needed fish and
squad of marines had soon found
the owners and they were pressed
into service to furnish fish for the
fleet. They met at the hut and de-
'cided to be willing workers, but
with the secret intent of making
daily report of what they might see
and hear to the officers in command
of the patriot forces, and thus they
fished, received the British gold,
made themselves friendly TO the
English and each evening the results
of their observations were given to
Rymeicka De Nyse, tho youngest
daughter of Gerrit De Nyse, and
she carried the news the next morn
ing to Washington's headquarters
That this information was desirable
and important goes without saying
and the patriot fishermen were in
structed to pursue their plan and on
the first knowledge of move on
the part of the English they were
to get word to General Washington.
The day the fact of start was
learned fishing had never been bet
ter, and the largest load was taken
to the admiral's ship, and the finest
fish were for his table. Every move
ment of the fishermen was delayed
to give all the time possible to look
and talk, and when the quartet met
at the hut at dusk it was with the
satisfaction of having done a good
days work for the patriotic cause.
They gave to Rymeicka full details
of the British plans, and no maiden
ever bore message of more import
to the world than that carried that
night by Rymeicka De Nyse to Gen.
eral Washington. 1t gave him the
knowledge that enabled him to meet
the attack of the British and to re-
treat successfully and thus avoid
the defeat that surely would have
been the result had it not been for
the faithful services of Gerrit De
Nyse, Tunis Cropsey, Abraham Ben
nett and Cornelius Lott, not forget
ting Rymeicka De Nyse. The soil
on which stands Avoca Villa should
be sacred spot to all lovers of the
United States of America.
Rymeicka made the acquaintance
of the officer of the guard at Gen
eral Washington's headquarters,
Lieutenant John Walker of Rhode
Island, to whom she was married at
the close Of the war. Their descend
ants are the Walkers of Providence.
Brooklyn Eagle.
"