The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-02-28
General
:Washington's
Wedding Present
Ii Was Well Earned
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

After the battle of Bunker Hin Ne,v
York and New Jersey became tho
principal Revolutionary backgrounds
though the final issue was decided i,
Virginia. New Jersey was the central
state, and it was there for a grea, no.
don Of the struggle the commando in
chief. General Washington, was nros
ent in person.
one morning-it was the winter aft
er the one In which the Americans .,,f
fered so severely at Valley Forge a,,5
the cause of American independent
was ut its Sloomiest point-a yo,l,.r
soldier stepped up to the sentry paci,,,
before the door of the Norrisfov.,
headquarters. and, being stopped nv
the sentry, he said that he had haen
ordered to report in person to the com.
mander in CHEZ. Passing into tho
house he was directed TO little roam
in the rear of the building used nv
the general for his office. Entering tho
room. he found Washington writing NJ
bis desk. The general turned m,
YOUNG man saluted. stood at attention
and said:
General. | am Private George Mar
cey."
All! You are the man Captain liam.
ilton tells me is familiar with every
hill and dale in this region have 4
mission for you, but one on which
cannot order you, for you will have 10
60 In disguise and If captured will be
hanged for spy. Are you ready 10
assume the risk"
Il am. general"
Very well. There is in Elizabeth
town Tory named Tracy His dapgb
ter, Catherine. is staurh patriot
She has given me valuable inforrua-
ton Of the enemy's movements hat
for month past nothing has come
from her | am anxious Ia know If
any trouble has befallcn her aud il
is important that continue to receive
the Information she has been scnafne
ne 60 TO EllZabcthtown. fnd Miss
Tracy and bring me whatever word
She may have to send me Take tire
road from here TO Orange and from
there proceed due south to Elizabeth.
town You will find the Tracg hnnr
on the outskirts of the town ia thr
direction Of your approach You win
lid no great force of British troops at
Euzahcthtown, but they doubtless
have outposts from New York there
60, and success attend your efforts
That the general realized The dan
ger into which he was sending the
young soldier was manifest. So he
grasped his hand at the final words
Then Marcy left his commander. who
resumed his work
An hour later Private Marcy, dress.
Ell as countryman and carrying a
basket of winter vegetables on his
arm, was passed out of the American
lines 10y Captain Alexander Hamilton
of Washington's staff and proceeded
on his journey. Reaching a point now
called Summit, from which he conld
look down on the lower ground. he
paused to view the scene before him,
then descended to Orange. where he
obtained refreshments at the tavern.
Meanwhile violent snowstorm had
set in, and travel being INSTRUCTED.
De resolved to await its abatement
That night bowling wind piled the
snow in drifts and rendered progress
doubly difficult.
The next morning the wind had
ceased and the sun came out, though
without warmth. Marcy struck out
lor Elizabethtown, but few miles
distant reaching the outskirts about
Il o'clock Approaching the Tracy
mousse, the young man Knocked mt thr
door \ negro servant answered thc
summons. and Marcy asked II aht
one would buy his vegetables Mar
cey seeing young lady in a living
room, pushed in there and BEGAN a.
soleit trade When the negro weHt
~ 4 70 the kitchen Marcy asked L
NE girl was Catherine Tracy and be-
MS Informed that she was made have
self known.
MISS Tracy till then had not bad aeI
information for the general since hey
HsI communication. But the night be-
'ore some British officers were stop
phS ut her fathers house, and SHE
Aad heard them asking about the roads
ana distances to Trenton. From these
inquiries and other data dropped 10y
'le officers she judged that consider
ape force was to be moved from New
iork to some point southwark prob
ably Philadelphia.
Now, If Marcy had returned imme-
a4alely to General Washington with
'His Information all would have been
vel The region round about Eliza
oe'u'own was not occupied either by 4,
sue british or Americans, and he would
ua'e had no gantlet TO run. His treH {
we was be found Miss Tracy SO attrae- [
:, r'e mat he was loath to part with her $
ne made an excuse TO himself for not !
AlFrTlnv amav no was ;