The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-04-03
Washington Spy
He Had a Unique Way Of Getting
Information.
By F. A. Mitchell

While visiting one of the historic
houses in northern New Jersey-and
there are a number OF such houses
still standing-l noticed among other
relics of bygone times n Of those
quaint, old fashioned clocks standing
some six or seven feet high. One may
see a clock Of this kind frequently in
these days. either an antique or made
to look antique. 50 that there was moth
ing especially peculiar about this one
except that it was a very large one.
My host, noticing me looking at it, told
me- q story about the timepiece.
"All the antique furniture in this
house." he said. has been here since
1766. though some Of it is earlier than
that. There 10 q bed upstairs In which
General Washington slept when he
passed through this place when he
vas going to make his headquarters
1T Morristown. My great-grandmoth-
q, then q girl of seventeen. was here
1t the time and has left an account
q the nutter in the family occasioned
By the presence of the commander in
chief and a description of him.
washington passed on up to Morris
town, from where he kept in touch
with all the region between New York
and Philadelphia. He learned much
from the patriots living hereabout, but
his principal ire Of information
was spies. whom he sent in different
directions.
Zone of these eMiSsaries was q Lieu
tenant Rogers. a fearless youngster.
but so gallant that he vas very liable
to spend more time with the girls than
in looking after the movements of he
enemy. Nevertheless he seemed to
rex up more information than any Of
the other spies. and for this reason
Washington relied much upon him.
Though his commander did not know
it. the secret Of Rogers success was
that he had a way Of getting news
from girls in whose homes British Off
GERS had been Quartered and who had
heard their talk. What they said
Rogers usually wormed out Of the
girls. With the patriot girls he had
no trouble: with the Tories he sue.
ceeded by making love to them.
Zone day the young officer came
through, here on his way to New York.
where he vas going to gather informa-
ton Of Howe's army. then occupying
that city. My OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
n l was telling you about-was the
only one of the family who sympathiz-
ed with the royalists. Tie reason for
this was that she had been at school
In England and had returned but a
short time before the Revolution broke
out. Rogers, instead Of going to New
York, dallied here. My great-grand.
mother-Catherine was her name-was
sweet on him. and perhaps the reason
he stayed was that he was getting
more out OF her about the British
plans than he was likely to get In New
York. Anyway, Howe and q party OF
his officers had been here only a day
or two before.
Rogers could have got out of Cath
crime all she knew-so / should sup
pose-within q week, although It may
have taken o lovemaking thar
could be done within that time to dc
the job. But he stayed two weeks
Most Of this time he was sitting up t.
my great-grandmOther-I mean Cath
srine-and whether be vas doing thu
business Of his general Or making love
1or the fun Of It l don't know. But
enc evening his counting or Spy work,
- whatever It was, came to a sudden
Ud It was II o'clock at night. ar
hour which In those days found every
body IN bed. but Rogers and my great