Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-25
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE BRAVERY OF LYDIA DARRAH

THE BRAVERY OF LYDIA DARRAH.
 Lydia Darrah is one of the many heroines of the American Revolution. William Darrah was school teacher and his wife Lydia was a nurse They were both members of the Society of Friends. When the British army held possession of Philadelphia in the win ter of 1777-7S they lived in a house at Second and Dock streets, and directly opposite was the Cadwallader house where the British commander. Gen. Howe has his headquarters. The Brit ish adjutant general frequently held pri- vate conferences with his superior orf1- cers in a back room of the Darrah home.
 About the 2d of December the adju- tant general told Lydia that they would be in the room at ' o'clock and would remain late, and that they wished the family to retire early to bed. When our guests are ready to leave the house" !" he told Lydia, q will myself give you notice that you may let Us out and ex- tinguish the fire and candles"
 Lydia assented and made ready for the reception, but the officers were so particular her c Iriesity was excited She saw the family safely 10 bed, but in stead of retiring herself she took off her shoes and stole noiselessly along the hall to the door of the officers room She listened at the keyhole. She over heard an order read for the British troops to march out. late on the evening of the fourth, and attack General Wash ingtons army, then encamped at White Marsh
 This was enough With trembling limbs, Lydia stole away as noiselessly as she had come What should she do with this important information? She had sea reely reached her room and re- gained her compOsure when a knock was heard upon her door She pretended tc sleep, but after several knocks she an. swered the summns with yawn.
 Returning to her room after dismiss ing her guests. she spent a sieepless night. She thought of the danger to which Ithe American cause and army was exposed. 4nd of the thousands of Hives that mis~ be sacrificed. She alone must warn Washington, and she deter. mined as quickly as possible to make hel
 way to the American outposts.
 Lydia informed her family that as they were in want of four she would gC to Frankford for some. Her husband insisted that she must take some on,
 with her, for the burden of carrying SC much flour through the cold and the
 snow would be toe much for her. Sh, declined, and as her husband went of
 to his school Lydia, with a flour sacl
 with permit from Gen. Howe to pas
 the British lines started for Frankford
 Leaving her bag at the mill Lydi; hastened towards the American lines ant encountered on her way an American of hhcer, who, with some of his men, wer on the lookout for information. The colonel recognized the Quakeress as hi
 friend, and inquired where she was 20
 ing. She answered: "In quest of m son. who, you know, is an officer il the American army" Then she aske
 the colonel to alight and walk with her which he did, ordering his men to kee
 safe guard
 To Col. Craig Lydia told her secret and obtained the solemn pledge that h would never betray her as it mirb bring injury to .hrr family. Hastenin back to the mill, she procured the sac
 of flour and started on her homewar
 journey. She reached home in gdot time and without arousing any suspiC : ion
 r Col. Craig made all haste to wasF i ington to acquaint him with the infol f nation he had secured from Lydia Dal
 rah Washington made all preparation
 for baffling the medftated surprise. Hot
 by hour Lydia stood by her windo-
 watching and waiting to see the Britis : army leave the city. The night of tF 4th came; the British soldiers fell S :. fIently into line. the dark columns fade T away in the gloom.
 On the morning of the 5th the drum were beating at Edge Hill and the sour : of the cannon came over the snow : Philadelphia, telling Lydia that tt
 troops were in action. Three days lat
 the British army, weary and discou laged, marched hack to there headqua
 ters at Philadelphia. having found Wasl
 ington prepared at all points.
 The next evening the adjutant gener; c tcame to the Darrah home and requeste I to see Lydia alone He questioned h, : as to whether any of the family wel