Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-06-14
General
Washingt0n's
Spy
A Story of the British Oc-
cupanCy of New York.
By F. A. Mitchell

belonging to Petrus Stuyvesant, the
last Of the Dutch governors Of the prov
ince of New Amsterdam. At the time
the English came ashore and took the
town away from the Dutch the name
New Amsterdam was changed to New
York. BY the time the American war
for independcnce came the BOWery haG
become a street, and st. Marks place
where Governor Stuyvesants manor
house stood, had begun to be occupied
by dwellings.
Recently some wOrkmen engaged IN
pulling down one Of these dwellings
came upon a space closed by an iron
door within which was a body, Or.
rather, a skeleton Of man. There was
enough Of the clothing left to indicate
that it was a soldiers uniform, and,
the coat being or having been of a red
color, there was no doubt that the
man had been in the British army.
Judging by the trimmings and buttons
and side arms, he must have been an
officer In his pockets were found
number Of letters, some Of which were
signed Katherine, some Kate, some K
and some Katherine Ten Brock
The find was turned over to certain
persons who were interested in the
early history Of New York, ana through
the letters a story came to light that
had been buried in oblivion for more
than a hundred years.
During the Revolutionary war the
mansion in question was occupied by a
family of Tories named ThrOckmOrtOn.
The British occupied New York, their
Outposts extending to Westminster
county, where they confronted the
American fOrceS-a thin line-under
Colonel Aaron Burr
There was a time when Washington
made his headquarters at Dobbs Ferry,
settlement some twenty miles from
New York. While there he used what
ever means within his power to gain
information Of what was going on in
General Howes army in the city. There
was a family of Ten Brooks living near
the house occupied by the general, and
one day, when he was sitting in the
room he used for an office, his orderly
announced to him that a girl was with
out who desired to give him certain in
formation Of the enemy Washington
directed that she be admitted.
She gave her name as Katherine Ten
Brock and said that she had been to
NeW York and while there had kept
her eyes open to the extent and arma-
ment of the British forces occupying
the city. Washington asked her a
great many questions, and her replies
showed such intelligent observation
that the general proposed to her that
she make another trip with a view to
bringing him other information which
he very much desired. She consented,
and he asked her to discover if posi-
BILE whether General Howe was medi-
tating move southwark through New
Jersey and Pennsylvania There were
two methods of obtaining this infOrma-
ton, the one by noticing the accumula-
ton Of supplies and means of trans
portation, the other by learning froin
some person who knew what was to
be done
There was no difficulty in getting
into New York, for Washington could
give pass for the purpose. AS to re-
turning. that was another matter.
General Howe at this time had inten-
lions that he did not wish disclosed to
his enemy and was loath to permit any
one going to the American lines.
Armed with Washingtons pass,
Katherine Ten Brock rode from
Dobbs Ferry to a point not far south
of YOnkers, where she found Colonel
BurrS regiment Here she left her
conveyance and proceeded on foot to
the north side of the Harlem river,
where she found the British pickets
Mistress Ten Brock. who. as her
name indicated, had descended from
the Dutch settlers of New York. had q
pair Of mild blue eyes. abundant locks.
extremely light in color. and a com
pleXion of pink and white When she
came to the British pickets she asked
the officer of the picket post to pass
her through, saying that she wished t.
go to New York to do some shopping.
Il can pass you through our lines"
said the officer noticing her mildnesS.
which appeared not only in he"
physique, but in her voice. but my or
ders are to pass no one going north.
If you go in YOU will have to stay III.
You can't get back home again"
katherine feigned to hesitate at Thu
She looked much disappointed. Sh"
told the officer that there was to be q
dance in YonkerS and she had nothing
to wear. If she could not go to the
city she must remain away from the
dance. She looked so innocent and
was so pretty that the officer took pity
on her and, taking from his pocket a
letter, tore off a part free from ink,
wrote something on it and handed it
TO her. 1t was a request to an officer
of Howe's staff to pass her back after
she had finished her purchases.