The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-09-04
AN INCIDENT OF =.
THE REVOLUTION.
WHILE Gen. Howe, with his Brit
wv ish army, held possession of Phil

M
wv ish army, held possession of Phil
adelphia, and Gen.. Washington, with
the few half-starved troops under his
immediate command, was encamped at
a place called White Marsh, a few miles
distant from the city, an incident oc
CURED which, though seemingly tri-
fling in itself, may have had an inn
portant bearing upon the destiny of the
whole country.
Lieut.. Col. Craig, commanding de-
tachment of light horse, was ordered to
approach the enemy's lines and hover
near them, IN the capacity of videttes,
to pick up any intelligence that might
be of value to the army. While en-
gagged in this important duty one cold,
raw day in December, an orderly called
his attention to woman who was COM
Ing up the road. s,,-,-s..-
The officer watched her as she as
cended the hill, and when he perceived,
by her stopping and looking frightened,
that she had discovered his command,
he rode forward and called out, in reas-
surfing tone:
advance, madam-you have nothing
to fear from true soldiers"
The lady, who was well wrapped up
In plain, warm garments, with hood
that quite concealed her features at a
short distance, now. came. forward,
without hesitation, to meet the colonel,
as if satisfied from his language and
appearance she had nothing to fear.
When near enough for him to distin-
guish the features that were turned
full upon him, he exclaimed, in tone
of surprise:
MRS. Darrah, as live! Why, what
on earth can have brought you, all
alone and unprotected, into this dam
gerous locality?"
'Thee knows, friend" she replied, in
the Quaker style, II have son in the
American army-who is, like myself,
an officer under George Washington
and mothers heart yearns toward
her offspring, even though he has de-
parted from the ways of his fathers"
"You were going then to seek him?"
81 was; but perhaps thee would carry
a message for me, and let me turn back
to the city?" said the lady, but still with
q cautious. hesitating air.
1T will afford me great pleasure to
oblige Lydia Darrah in any way!"
bowed the gallant colonel.
THANK thee, friend-thee is very
kind. If thee will dismount then and
walk with me a little way think will
tell thee what 1 have to say, which is a
secret would not like to have any
other persons hear"
The colonel assented, and, riding back
to his men, gave his horse in charge OF
one of them and ordered them to keep
in sight of him; but not to approach
near enough to overhear an ordinary
conversation. He then returned to the
lady and they began their walk down
the road, in an opposite direction to
that which she had come. For a short
time she maintained deep silence
with her face averted, and, as the officer
fancied, with her whole frame trem-
bling with secret emotion.
Friend Craig" she at length began
with something like sigh, and speak
ing in the rapid, earnest manner Of
one communicating some startling fact
'thee must hasten at once to George
Washington and tell him thee has Ger
tain information that, on tomorrow
night, large body of British soldiers
will secretly march out of the city fol
the purpose of surprising and captur
ing him and all his men. Not to mys
tify thee, friend, and that thee may
attach all due Importance to this in
formation, / will now inform thee thai
], Lydia Darrah, overheard an ordel
read between two high officers to tn,
effect Of what have stated. Thee mus
also know that the man called Gen
Howe has come to abide in the hous,
opposite my husbands, and that fol
some reason, to us unknown, two men
one of whom is supposed to be called
the adjutant general, have come ovel
ia William Darrah's several times. anf
1nld privntn conferences In ono Of TIL