The Press., 1915-03-17
THE PATRIOT
 SPY
How General Washington Secured
 Important Information
By F. A. MITCHELL

| N. l., a house which General Wash ington while maneuvering against the British army at New York occupied as his headquarters. It is kept in ex- cellent repair by an association organ ized 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 private office.
 One spring morning in the year TIT a young man wearing the uniform of lieutenant of cavalry In the Continen- tai army passed the sentry before Washington'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 Woodville. In few moments the otti- cer was standing in Washington's presence. .....
 Be seated" said the commander. turning from his desk. .I have sent for you to do a more important work than any with which I have yet in trusted you. I wish you to go to New York and if possible learn the inten- tions of General Howe. I suspect that be is intending to move against Phila- I hn nft across New Jersey, where he will have to fight us, or go by sea- If he goes by land I desire to be advised of the time be moves, that may be prepared to intercept his passage. My main ob- feet is to so threaten him that he will not be able to send any more troops to assist Burgoyne. l deem it essential that you should understand the situa ton in order that you may act inteilf gently. How soon can you leave?"
 As soon as I can secure a disguise"
 "Very we'll. 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 Morristown down the road leading to Orange, where he stopped at the tavern-the building is still standing for dinner. thence to Newark. where he turned south toward Elizabethtown. He was now in territory within reach of the British at New York. and it be hooved him to keep a 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 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 nies in two parts. But he also heard from patriots" that Burgoyne was marching through a wild country, in which it was difficult to feed his army,
  Ing a junction with the force moving from the south he would be in crit lcal 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 it was especially essential that General Washington should know, so far as possible, just what Howe was doing in the matter. But Woodville 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. tavern kept by a Tory named Smith pn, who had a pretty daughter, Jen- nie. upon whom the young soldier looked with loving eyes. He desired 10 pay her visit in passing. but dare not do so. because If recognized by her father he would be betrayed to the British and hanged as a spy, so he went on to the Curtisses, where he was taken in and given a lodging.
 woodville noticed a number of ships lying at anchor in the river and that the boats going to them usually car lfed what appeared to be supplies. It looked as if they were preparing for \ voyage. but to what point did not appear. The spy was near the ferry and noticed soon after his arrival a British soldier disembark. mount his | horse and ride westward. A soldier | becomes used to the ways of soldiers. aud there was something in the mans | movements that indicated to Wood | vile that he was going somewhere | with an object. The most likely ob- | iect he could have was carrying a mes sage. The spy ran to the barn, got out his | horse and. mounting, started to follow the soldier Catching sight of him ascending the heights back of the riv- CT. he slowed his pace, riding only near enough to him to keep him in | right, The Rritisher took the road to
  the close of the day. and, passing the | Kings Arms tavern. he stopped, dis mounted and entered. Woodyille drew rein and considered the situation. He saw negro take the soldiers horse to the barn and | argued that the latter would stay to | supper and possibly all night. The American wished that he could catch | sight of Jennie Smithson without her | father seeing him. He waited till it | Sas dark; then. tying his horse to a | tree. stole up to the house to reconnoi- ter
 Looking through window, he Il saw the soldier standing before the | bar. while the landlord was behind it | In the act of serving Il mug of flip.