Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-02-22
August. 1916, General Howe and
General Washington confronted
each other on Long Island. Wash

each other on Long Island wash
ington, being outnumbered. made
a skillful retreat at night across the
East river and occupied Harlem
heights. Howe a few days later occu-
pied New York
At that time, just as in the civil war
Of 1SG1-5, great many young men be-
longing to the first families were pri-
Yates in the American army. At call
from Washington for volunteer for
secret service one of them, Blocker Ten
Eyck, Il young cavalry private. re-
sponded.
II wish" said the general, "for some
one to go to the city with a view to
discovering if possible General Howe's
Intentions
IL will undertake the task. general.
think l can enter New York and re-
turn. My father is there and Tory.
A week ago ran away from home to
enlist in your army. No one at home
yet knows Of my Intention. l may
still play Tory"
That night Ten Eyck, in citizens
dress, made his way westward to the
Hudson river, where, procuring boat.
he pulled downstream and landed at
| the foot of Kings about that time
| changed to Liberty street. Going to
! his fathers home. in Greenwich street
not far from the Battery Uhcn really
| n foru. he found his home occupied by
several officers of General Howe's
staff. Young Ten Eyck invented
cock and bull story that he had been
| impressed by the Americans and had
| escaped His father welcomed him
home and promised to use his influence
with General Howe to obtain for him
q commission i'll the British army.
Blocker Ten Eyck saw plainly that it
was not intended that the British
troops should rest after crossing to
New York. but he had no idea what
move they would make. Nor was there
probably much time TO find out. His
| cousin Katherine Aubrey. was pa
triot, and to her B,ceker contidod his
secret. Captain Laurence Fairchild. Il
member of Ilowe's staff, WAS paying
her attention, and she promised Ten
Eycl to do everything il her power TO
gain the desired information.
Katherine Aubrey induced her father
to invite Captain Fairchid to take up
his abode with him, and he was glad
enough to do so. Once there, Rather
inc commenced system of wheedling
and spying with view to finding out
General uOwe's intentions. The Brit
Usher was too good man and soldier
to give away the secret, but Katherine
when he was away from the house
ransacked his room for some clew to
the desired information.
If there Is any one on the staff of q
general who is handy with the pencil
to him falls the making or copying of
such drawings or maps as the general
requires. 1t happened that Captain
Fairchild was very facile in such mat
tiers. and to him had been committed
the making up from various sketches
Of a map of the roads to Harlem and of
the contour of the heights. He made
two or three copies before he achieved
one to suit him. doing his work in his
room at the Aubreys'. When finished
he tore into bits all except the copy for
his general and threw them into II
wastebasket. Probably he would have
burned them: but. the weather being
hot, there was no fire in his room, and
matches had not then been invented.
Captain Fairchld had scarcely left
his room to carry his map to General
Howe when Katherine Aubrey entered