Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-04-03
THE PATRIOT
SPY
How General Washington Secured
Important information
By P. A. mitchell

INSTRUMENTATION -t-h%.k&++*%&@+
There is still standing in Morristown,
N. j., a house which General Wash
ington while maneuvering against the
British army at New York occupied
as his headquarters. 1t is kept in ex-
cellent repair by an association organ
lied for the purpose and contains a
great many relics connected with the
Father Of His Country. In the kitchen
is the same enormous fireplace, with
cooking paraphernalia, as was used in
Revolutionary times. To some the most
interesting room is one on the ground
floor, In the rear of the building, that
was used by Washington as a private
Office.
One spring morning In the year 17T7
a young man wearing the uniform of a
tai army passed the sentry before
iWashington's headquarters at Morris
town, returned the mans salute and
entered the main hall There he was
met by the generals orderly, whom he
told to announce Lieutenant John
iWoodville. In few moments the off,
Ger was standing In Washington's
presence.
BE seated" said the commander,
turning from his desk. II have sent
for you to do a more important work
than any with which l have yet in
trusted you. wish you to go to New
York and If possible learn the inten-
tons Of General Howe. suspect that
he is intending to move against Phila-
delphia. II 80 he must either march
across New Jersey, where he will have
to fight us, or go by sea. If he goes by
land desire to be advised Of the time
he moves, that may be prepared to
intercept his passage. My main OBJ
ject Is to 80 threaten him that he will
not be able to send any more troops to
assist Burgoyne. deem It essential
that you should understand the situa-
ton in order that you may act intelli-
gently. How soon can you leaveT
"As soon as can secure disguise"
very well. Go, and remember that
our cause may depend upon your sue
cess"
Lieutenant Woodville left his com
.mander and within an hour, in the
garb Of a young countryman, rode out
Of Morrlstown down the road leading
to Orange, where he stopped at the
.tavern-the building Is still standing
for dinner, thence to Newark, where
ne turned south toward Elizabethtown
He was now in territory within reach
Of the British at New York, and It be-
hooved him to keep sharp lookout
not only to conceal his mission, but for
indications of the movements Of the
enemy.
Woodville pretended to be Tory to
Tory sympathizers and found those OF
that persuasion jubilant at the pros
pect OF ending the war and re-estab-
fishing the authority Of the king. They
told him that the troops from Canada
were to be met near the mouth of the
Mohawk river by troops from the
south and the line Of communication
by way of the Hudson and Lake
Champlain would soon be open to the
British, cutting the cOnfederated colo
MES In two parts. But he also heard
from patriots" that Burgoyne was
marching through a wild country, In
which 1t was difficult to feed his army,
and unless he were successful In form
ing a junction with the force moving
from the south he would be In a crit
zeal position.
This indicated to the young lieuten-
ant that what Howe did in the way
of sending troops TO support Bur
goyne was Of great Importance to the
cause, and IL was especially essential
that General Washington should know,
80 far as possible, just what Howe was
doing In the matter. But Woodvllle
was not near enough to the British
headquarters to learn much about the
matter, so he determined to move on
to the west bank OF the Hudson,
where Jersey City now stands. A
family OF patriots Of the name OF
Curtiss lived there, to whom he was
known and on whom he could rely. On
his way he passed the Kings Arms. a
tavern kept by "A Tory named Smith
son, who had n pretty daughter, Jen-
ME, upon whom the young soldier
looked with loving eyes. He desired
to pay her visit in passing, but dare
not do 80, because II recognized by
her father he would be betrayed to the
British and hanged Ms spy, so he
went on to the Curtisses. where he
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