The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-07-12

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 trifiing 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 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 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,
lie 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
that quite concealed her features at
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 l 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 a 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 cityT' said the lady, but still
with a 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 1 think
will tell thee what have to say, which
is a secret would not like to have any
other persons hear"
B Tho coInpa1 accanta6 ond ,.fdfpcr lao oh
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 short time
she maintained deep silence, with her
face averted, 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
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 &c
mystrfy thee. friend, and that thee may
attach all due Importance to this infOr
nation, l will now inform thee that
Lydia Darrah overheard an order reaC
between two high officers TO the effec
of what / have stated. Thee must alsS
know that the man called Genera
Howe has come to abide in the hous,
opposite my husbands, and that 70,
some reason, to us unknown, two men
one Of whom is supposed to be called
the adjumnt general, have come owe
to William Darrah's several times, ant
held private conferences in one of thu
e back rooms of our dwelling. Last nigh
b these two men came again and one o
them told me he wanted all my famil,
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
e out.
D well, Friend Craig, l sent the Who'll
family early to bed, as requested to dc
l. but myself felt very anxious to know
what was going on of so much import
I ance and so l did what l never did be
fore-took off my shoes, walked on til
d toe TO the door Of the room where thes
Y men were, put my ear to the key-hol'
i and listened, and heard what 1 have IL
d formed thee off,