Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-10-27
A Revolutionary Spy.

Enoch Crosby, who is generally believ-
ed to be the original of Harvey Birch,
the hero of Coopers famous novel, was
born at Harwich, Mass, Jan. 4, 1850.
When the Revolution was fairly be-
gun, the colony of New York organized a
provincial congress-" which was the
recognized government. a committee of
safety was appointed, consisting of John
Jay, Zethaniah Platt, William Duer and
John Sackett, whose duty it was to
counteract the plans and intrigues of the
| Tories, who abounded and embraced
many men Of high standing and influence.
| Resolving to enter again the service Of
his country, Crosby shouldered his KNAPP
| sack and took his way to the headquar-
tiers of the American army.
While on his lonely walk through
| Westminster county he fell in with n
Tory, who supposed Crosby to be one al
so, on his way to join the British, and
the stranger cautioned him as to the dan
| gers OF the way, "as rebels were on the
alert" Crosby, with affected concern,
| inquired what course would be best to
pursue and was advised to go with him
to his home and go down to the British
with company then forming. Seeing
| Ill llllS very opportunity W
strike Il blow for his country, he accepted
| the invitation and was soon introduced
to a number of men who were bitterly
hostile to the friends of liberty.
| In three days he had made himself
master of all the information they could
communicate, and pretending to be impa-
tient to join the enemy and despite many
| warnings he took his leave and was soon
| out of sight on the road to New York.
| Fastening rs quickly as possible to the
| house OF Mr.. Young, well known pa
| triot, they went together to White Plains,
| where the committee Of safety was then
| sitting, and were soon In the presence Of
| Judge John Jay and his associates. Cros-
| by was instructed to go rs guide to a
company of rangers, and the result was
that the whole of the Tory gang were
arrested.
Judge Jay, seeing his peculiar ability,
| urged him to serve his country as a Sc
cret agent, and to this he agreed, only
STIMULATING that in case of his death they
should do justice to his memory. He re-
ceived a pass, which he was instructed
never to show except in a case of dire
necessity. In any battle or skirmsh he
was to run the risk of being killed or
wounded, but it was expressly under
|
committee would furnish means for his
| escape. His real adventures would make
a volume far larger than the famous nov
ell that purports to relate them.
| Equipped with peddler's pack con-
| tanning q complete set of shoemaker
| tools he sailed out on his dangerous mis-
| sion and soon found n company of Tories
| about to join the British and resolved to
be one of them. Gaining the confidence
| of the leader, he was conducted to the
| hiding place of the company, which was
in the interior of an immense haystack.
| While the rest were asleep Crosby has
tened to White Plains and, informing
| the committee, returned Immediately be-
fore his comrades had learned of his alb
sence. The result was the capture of the
entire company, Crosby among the rest.
After examination the prisoners were re-
turned to the church in Fishkill, which
was their temporary prison, but Crosby
was secretly informed that n certain win
| dow was left unfastened. AS soon as
darkness came he awaited himself of his
information, leaped from the window,
and, although fired upon by the senti-
nels, he was again at large in a region
where he knew the roads perfectly.
Captain Townsend, who commanded
| lhc NolipuHt Hllll, WIS
much chagrined at his escape, rs he was
considered by all except the committee a
very dangerous Tory. His next exploit
was the discovery of another company,
which was recruited by British officer
and had their rendezvous in the high
lands on the west of the Hudson river.
He soon found means to send word to the
committee, who quickly dispatched Cap
tain Townsend with his company Of ran
gers. In the skirmish that ensued the
whole band was captured, and Captain
| Townsend was oyerjoyed to find among
them the prisoner who had escaped him
at Fishkil "Well met, old comrade,' -
said Townsend, with n smile of tri-
umph. "You showed us a light pair of
heels Mt Fishkill but If l do not see
them made heavy this time may never
be major"
Mr.. Duer, one of the committee, who
was present. inquired innocentIy, "Who
is he?" "Enoch, the patriarch" return
ed Townsend, "who disappeared from
the church at Fishkill almost as mystic
riously as his ancient namesake did from
the earth"
Crosby and all the rest were taken to
Fishkill, but while the others were con-
fined in the church Crosby was taken to
house where Captain Townsend had
his quarters and who was fully determin-
ed that he should not escape again and,
to make sure, had him confined in a
room strongly fastened. with a guard at
the door. The committee were at first in
doubt how to effect his escape, but finally
they procured n quantity of laudanum,
and this having been mixed with a suita-
Bile quantity of New England rum and
molasses the guard was literally treated
with the mixture. Its effect was soon
apparent the door was carefully unlock
ed, and EnOch Crosby was soon at large
with fresh instructions.
When morning came, and Captain
Townsend came early, eager to conduct
his prisoner to condign punishment, what
was his amazement to find the room
empty and the prisoner flown! The guard
was questioned; but, like the soldiers
who guarded St. Peter, they could tell
nothing" and finally, after long debate
1t was concluded that he must have
crawled up the chimney. His numerous
escapes finally made the Tories sus
picious, and an attempt was made to as
Sassinate him, which came near being
observation-disclosures.
a .uuV