News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-30
WOMEN HEROINES
OF REVOLUTION
Two Whose Efforts Are Worthy
OF a Place in the Pages
of History.

the tragic story of Major Andre, the
young officer sent by the British to me-
gotiate the treason of Benedict Arnold,
who was captured when the plot was
| frustrated and hanged as a spy. But
| only very few are aware Of the fact
| that indirectly the capture of Andre
| was due to woman's intuition.
During the operations of the Amer
lean army in the vicinity of the Hud-
| son, Lieut.. John Webb, an aid on
Washington's staff, was frequent WIS.,
itor at the mansion of Gerard G.. Beck
man, at Peekskill One day Lieuten-
ant Webb left valise containing an
amount Of gold and one of his uni
forms with Mrs. Beekman, asking her
not to give it to anyone without a
written request from himself or his
brother Samuel.
Some two weeks later a neighbor
named Joshua Hett Smith came rid
ing up for the lieutenant's grip and
talked so convincingly that Mr. Beck
man was about to give it to him, when
his wife interfered. Smith got i'm
patient
"Why, Mrs. Beekman." he said "you
know me very we'll. Jack didn't give
me that request for his valise. because
he was in a hurry and didn't have
time to write it. But now he needs
his uniform right away and must have
it. 1t isn't as if you were giving the
valise to stranger
But Cornelia Beekman's feminine
sixth sense told her that something
was wrong.
1T is true that I know you very
we'll, Smith," she rejoined, sternly.
"Too we'll to let you have Sans prop
erty!"
Mr. Beekman himself was inclined
to side with Smith, but his wife re-
mained firm and finally the visitor
rode off disgruntled
Smith called for Lieutenant Webb's
valise on the very day of Andres
flight Andre himself was in hiding
in Smiths house. Smith, it seems,
had heard Lieutenant Webb tell about
the grip and its contents that after
noon at the tavern, and knowing that
Webb and Andre were both of the
same size had determined to get the |
patriot officers uniform for the Brit
ish spy.
Had Andre made his dash for New |
York disguised as an aid of the CON-
mander in chief himself there is no
doubt that the American outposts
would have facilitated instead of
hindered his progress, and that he
would have reached the British lines |
scot-free That he did not get Webb's
uniform is due solely to the keenness
and determination of an American ma
iron.
Other deeds of individual hardihood
and even heroism were performed by
women without number There, for
instance, is the story of Mrs. Jane
Thomas, mother of seven Continental
soldiers, who learned that the tories
were going to surprise a small pa.
triot force at Cedar Spring, S. c.,
and who rode 60 miles in one night to
apprise them, with the result that
NHeH the lOIleS IlduS tHelr dIIdCh lu0y
found themselves ambushed.
There also Is the story of similar
service performed by Lydia Darrah,
with results of far more moment to
he patriot cause. Mrs. Darrah was
/ Quakeress with whom a number of
British officers were quartered during
he occupation of Philadelphia The
)arrah house was opposite the head
quarters of Lord Howe, and for that
eason was sometimes used for the
eading of general orders to the Off
ers.
On one occasion Mrs Darrah was
ortunate enough to overhear an or
er read for the troops to make a
light attack on Washington's army,
7hich was then encamped at White
Harsh. Lydia ran the British lines
nd apprised the Americans, so that
hen the British came up they found
heir enemy with his cannon mount
d, his troops under arms and so pre-
AIRED at every point to receive the at
lck that they had to fall back with
ut striking a blow. Had the attack
cen successful Washington's army,
lie flower of the Continental forces,
ould have been scattered and the
ar very possibly terminated.