The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-29

tenants commission was granted me.
but for no especially gallant service
General Washington must have near
" finished breakfast when | arrived
that morning. for scarcely had I taken
the last sip of coffee when he entered
He seemed strangely sad in counte-
nance. but spoke most kindly and with
some warmth and cheer in his words:
.Lieutenant Rogers l have already
thanked you for your efforts during the
mission from which yon returned some
two weeks ago, but now, sir, there is a
greater service which you may be able
to do for your country and fer mel 1t
is an undertaking of great danger, and
so make no demand. You shall decide
whether or not you care to take it upon
your shoulders. You are native OF
New York, are you not:'
.Of Greenwich village, yet I know
every corner of the island Of Manhat-
tan. or did up to a year and a half ago,
when left to join the army.
.sThat is well. But before take your
time ard mine to lay plans before you
will ask if you are willing to 80 as a
spy into the city, starting within day
or two-perhaps today? There will be
more for you to risk than for one who
is not known there, but your knowl-
edge Of the lay Of the land will afford
advantages which one not knowing the
place could i'll afford to be without, and
especially in the event of danger. ask
again, will you go?'
"Certainly, sir, and gladly I longed
to be active again. Camp life was not
suited to my tastes, but thought of
all this so quickly that the conversation
was not interrupted, and without wait
ing for his excellency to unfold details
Iasked boldly enough, 'What, if [ may
ask, are your plans? q
..For month past I have been in
communication with certain persons
who are loyal to our cause and who re-
side on the island. Although Clinton
has gone to the south, there are rumors
afloat to the effect that Knyphausen,
who has been left in command, desiring
no doubt to win fame for himself, is
considering plans for an attack. Up to
a week ago thought little of this, as
his force is weak, but his men are be-
coming uneasy. and he may deem it
wise to strike q blow at almost any
time The service which desire of you
is to reach New York and then, By
using caution, learn Of the British in
tentions have thought it advisable
for the man who undertakes this work
to carry false dispatches to Knyphausen
They will purport to come from a
friend, one Alexander McLair of Phila-
delphia, and will contain supposed in
formation with respect to patriot plans
and in return will request from him
similar disclosures respecting the much
talked about attacks on the American
forces. A pass from me should carry
you to the vicinity of Elizabethtown or
beyond, but should you use the name OF
McLair too soon there will be no great
harm done, as in that case you would
be brought back here. The papers which
I desire to send will be ready in an
hour, and could you arrange to leave SO
quickly you might start this morning
and could, I think, reach Paulus Hoeck
by nigbtfall. The road in that direction
is good one. and by noon tomorrow,
even if you are required to wait for
some hours, you could be ready to take
your leave of Knyphausen and then re-
turn here as quickly as seems wise. :
81 shall never be more ready for the
start than now, general" I replied
knowing nothing more to say.
"Wait, then, until Colonel Hamilton
has done with preparing the documents,
and you can be off. and. SO saying
Washington bowed, took my hand,
shook it vigorously and then was cut Of
the door, suppose to the lines, which
he inspected in person every morning.
Colonel Hamilton must have worked
with haste. but trust had been in no
way careless, for he entered the room
in less time than his excellency had in
dicated. Nothing beyond the salutes
passed between us. Taking my coat and
hat from their peg in the hail and stow
ing the papers away, I left headquar-
tiers and after brisk walk was soon at
my cabin again. An hour was required
for me to arrange matters and to don a
suit of gray homespun, the same which
r had worn to Albany. McLair, as l
have indicated, was civilian and could
hardly be expected to possess military
messenger. and also it would be easier
for me to get beyond the American
lines thus attired, even though 1 had a
pass, than try attired as British Off
Ger, as I would at some point on my re-
turn be compelled to take the road lead
ing toward Morristown.
The orderly succeeded in borrowing
a saddle Of pattern unlike that used
in the cavalry, and before 8 o'clock l
had dashed past headquarters and was
on the main road to Newark. I need
not describe this ride. because it would
seem tame compared with the events
which befell me before the midnight
hour. Indeed I fear as I think Of it
even now and smile sometimes that /
might have met death before morning.
It was toward 4 clock and the sun
well down when drew rein in front of
one Of the several Hoeck taverns With
much stamping of feet I went into the
place and found cheerful room, with
q blazing fire on the hearth. This room,
I should have said, was not the one
where grog was served. but back Of it
-. 4l,.. c:do-of tho dtua1liu0 Tha