Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1917-07-20
General
Spy
A Story of the British 0c-
cupancy Of New York.
By F. A. mitchell

What is now known as the Bowery.
m New York, was originally garden
belonging to Petrus Stuyvesant, the
last of the Dutch governors of the prov
inee 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 independence came the Bowery had
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
loor within which was body, or,
rather a skeleton Of a man. There was
enough Of the clothing left to indicate
that Il was a soldiers uniform, and.
the coat being or havNg been OF 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 q
number Of letters. some Of which were
signed Katherine, some Kate, some X
and some Katherine Ten Brock.
The find was turned over to certain
persons who were interested in the
carly history Of New York, and through
the letters 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 westchester
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,
a 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 Howe's 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
ont 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
great many questions, and her replies
showed such intelligent observation
that the general proposed to her that
she make another tgip with a view to
bringing him other information which
he very much desired She consented,
and he asked her to discover II pOssi-
BILE whether General Howe was medi-
tating a move southwark through New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. There were
two methods Of obtaining this iRforma-
tion, the one by noticing the accumula-
tion of supplies and means of trans
portation. the other by learning from
some person who knew what was to
be done.
There was no difficulty in getting
into New York, for Washington could
give a pass for the purpose. As to re-
turning, that was another matter.
General Howe at this time had inten-
tions that he did not wish disclosed to
his enemy and was loath to permit any
=. 1.going to the American lines.
med with Washington's pass,
2 ferinc Ten Brock rode from
X Ferry to a point not far south
orsers. where she found Colonel
rqgiment. Here she left her
srsDce and proceeded on foot to
y&I.H Io--b side Of the Harlem river.
.le found the British pickets.
l60hou ,,s,, Ten Brock, who, as her
! 49, hJ7afed. had descended from
mitch settlers Of New York, had a
smeI7 light in color, and a com
m of pink and white. When she
"a I'D, h, tbe British pickets she asked
.<,xr< osef Of the picket post to pass
~ IN ,r,rgh saying that sh4Fished to
Al Aas ypg York to do some shopping.
I'M PASS you through our lines"
4 i1kh s officer, noticing her milcness,
appeared not only in her
..15s but in her voice, "but my or
are to pass no one going north.
ID 20 In you will have to stay in.
- amt get back home again"
hprine feigned to hesitate at this.
aoked much disappointed She
he officer that there was to be
In Yonkers and she had nothing
If she could not go to the
III she must remain away from the
n She looked so innocent and
So pretty that the officer took pity
ia Scr and. taking from his pocket
De pr. tore of a part free from ink,
'wfofe something on it and handed 1t
to her, 1t was request to an officer
Of Howe's staff to pass her back after
she had finished her purchases.
Katherlnes face frightened up at
receiving this papeE which the officer
told her was to an intimate friend, and
she appeared for all the world to care
only to get something with which TO
ndnrn herself. "Now can go to the