The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-08-17

. Margaret COrDln acllOn DIT TOT
Washington was no less heroic thar
Molly Pitchar's." Margaret's hus
! band, John Corbin, also was an artil
! leryman. Like Molly, she was allowed
/ to accompany her husband to the
front But unlike Molly, she was
rather shy and of a retiring dlsposlt
ion.
! In the Hessians' attack upon For
Washington Corbin was shot through
the head while serving his gun. His
wife, who was near him at the time
was half crazed with grief. The Cor
bins were known as very affection
ate couple, and had been married bu
a few years. Margaret was p.
There was no one to take Corbin's
place at the gun, and the commander
| gave orders that it be drawn back ou
of the way. Suddenly a young wo
man, her hair flying, weeping anc
! hysterical, rushed up and begged hin
! not to remove the gun.
! Il know all about it," she said
Jack has shown me. Let me fire it.
/ The officer consented. The weep
ing ceased Immediately, and with 6
GOODNESS that surprised her comrades
Margaret served the gun for severa
! hours. Then she was carried to the
rear, severely wounded. The WOUND
disabled her for life She never mar,
ried again and died when 49 years old
Less spectacular but of greater i'm
portance was the service of Lydia
Darrah a demure little Quaker wo
man. 1t was in the winter of 1777
when the British General Howe haC
his headquarters in Philadelphia
Howe's adjutant was staying with
William and Lydia Darrah, who from
their religious views were non-com-
batants The husband was a school,
teacher and took no part in the con
troversy. Lydia was a strong parti-
san of the patriotic cause, but, like
her people, said little.
There was a large rear room near
the suite occupied by the British ad-
jutant which was used by the staff OF
the British cOmmander-in-chief when
entire secrecy was desired.
Later one afternoon in December
1177, Mistress Lydia's ledger knocked
at her door and said:
Madam, you will see to it that the
back room is put in order for a meet
ing of myself and some of my friends
tonight. We are apt to be kept rather
late. And, madam, you will see to it
that your family are all put to bed at
an early hour, and | will call you to
put out the fire and candles"
He spoke seriously and his injunc-
ton that the family must retire early
led Mrs. Darrah to ponder. She knew
that the patriot army was in sore
LoI al
poorly fed, at Whitemarsh. AS she
went about her work she continued
wondering what the conference could
mean.
About o'clock that night the
British officers began arriving. Lydia
admitted them and showed them up to
the meeting room. The family was
all in bed but herself. And when the
officers all had gathered, the adjutant
said:
You may go to bed now, Mistress
Darrah, and | will rap on your door
when my guests are ready to co.
1t shall be done as thee says" the
little Quakeress answered, as she left
for her bedroom.
She could not sleep. She was GER
tain that something was taking place
which was Of importance to the Amer
lean cause. Finally she could not
bear the suspense. She got up from
the bed, on which she had lain down
without undressing, tiptoed to the
door of the meeting room and put
one ear to the keyhOle. She was just
in time to hear Sir William Howe
reading an order for the British troops
to quit the city secretly the next night,
march out and capture the American
Army at Whitemarsh.
Lydia hurried back to her own room.
Probably no one knows the mental
struggle which must have taken place
in her mind She had been guilty of
eavesdrOpping. If she warned the
Americans she would betray the trust
the adjutant had placed in her, be-
cause of her religion. Yet the little
American Army, taken by surprise
and Washington captured, meant fall
ure of the Revolution.
Soon there was a rap at her door.
She remained quiet. Again the rap
sounded. Then again and impatient.
Slowly and sleepily she opened the
door sleepily returned the adjutant's
good night" then locked the doors
and put out the candles.
The next morning Mrs. Darrah in
formed her husband that their flour
was all gone and that she would have
to go to Franklin, about five mixes
away, to get more. She often made
trips to the mill.
1T is WE'LL" her husband said.
Take a servant with thee"
But Lydia Darrah went alone. She
got a permit to pass through the Brit
ish lines to the grist mill at Franklin
from General Howe's headquarters,
and soon was tramping through the
snow toward the mill. When she
reached there she left her bag to be
filled and went on, until halted by the
American outposts by a sentinel.
An officer was called. He dis
mounted from his horse and walked
with her, while she told him what she
! had overheard. Then she hurried
back to the mill and got her bag OF
| -four. Her absence from home had
created no suspicion.
! From her window that night she
watched the departure of the British
Army. She listened to the sound OF
their footsteps and the trampling OF
horses until they died away in the
distance.
When the British reached White
marsh they found Washington's for
ces drawn up for battle. Sir William
Howe did not want that kind of a
fight. For two or three days he lay