Holbrook argus. (Holbrook, Ariz.) 1900-1913, 1901-08-31
701 HILE General Howe, with his
of Philadelphia, and General

| WNW British army, held possession
of Philadelphia, and General
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 occurred, which,
though seemingly trihing in itself, may
have had an important bearing upon
the destiny of the whole country.
Lieutenant Colonel Craig, command
ing a detachment of light horse, was
ordered to approach the eIemy'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 engaged in this important duty
one cold, raw day in December, an or
derby called his attention to a woman
who was coming up the road.
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 re-
assuring tone:
Advance, madam-you have nothing
to fear from true soldiers"
The lady, who was well wrapped up
In plain, warm garments, with a 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 a tone of
surprise:
Mrs. Darrah, as live! Why, what
on earth can have brought you, all
alone and unprotected, into this dan
gerous locality?"
"Thee knows, friend" she replied, in
the Quaker style, 81 have a son in the
American army-who is, like myself,
an officer under George Washington
and q mothers heart yearns toward her
offspring, even though he has depart
ed from the ways of his fathers"
you were going then to seek himT'
81 was; but perhaps thee would carry
a message for me, and let me turn back
to the city,? said the lady, but still
Will IL CdullOuS. ueSlGllluS dlT.
at will afford me great pleasure to
oblige Lydia Darrah in any wayw
bowed the gallant colonel.
THANK thee, friend-thee is very
kind. If thee will dismount then and
walk with me little way 1 think 1
will tell thee what 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 md 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 ayerted, and, as the officer fan
cied, with her whole frame trembling
with secret emotion.
Friend Craig" she at length began,
, with something like a sigh, and speak
, Ing in the rapid, earnest manner of one
4 communicating some startling fact
= thee must hasten at once to George
: Washington and tell him thee has Ger
tain Information that, on tomorrow
: night, a large body of British soldiers
will secretly march out of the city fol
the purpose Of surprising and captur
, ing him and all of his men. Not tc
: mystify thee, friend, and that thee may
e attach all due Importance to this infor
I will i,of1 no. fhof
= Lydia Darrah, overheard an order read
between two high officers to the effect
: of what 1 have stated. Thee must also
D know that the man called Genera
Howe has come to abide in the house
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
to William Darrah's several times, an(
e held private conferences In one Of tn,
back rooms of our dwelling. Last nigh
: these two men came again and one o.
: them told me he wanted all my family
to go to bed early, and that when the!
should get ready to leave, which nigh
be late, they would call me to let then
out.
, "Well, Friend Craig, sent the who'll
> family early to bed, as requested to dc
but myself felt very anxious to know
n what was going on Of 80 much import
ance, and SO did what 1 never did be
,r fore-took off my shoes, walked on tip
toe to the door Of the room where thes
5 men were, put my ear to the key-hole
and listened, and heard what 1 have in
ID formed thee Of"
"God bless you, Lydia Darrah, for
noble woman!' said the colonel, wit
r. excited warmth; perhaps you hav
L saved our countrywide knows? Flo
g had this plan succeeded, which we wi
ID now defeat, and General Washingto
been taken prisoner, L much fear GU
E cause would have been hopeless
IN 81 will make haste to finish my story
ID for thee must ride fast to George Wasf
ington. After hearing what 1 hav
& said, stole back to my room, tremblin
at the Importance Of what had hear(
When the men, soon after, knocked O
my door for me to get up and let thel