A View On History
Submitted by The Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution

In 1777, when the British controlled the city of Philadelphia, Lydia Darragh, a Quaker homemaker and her husband, William, resided in a home across the street from General Howe, the Brit-ish Commander. The British had tried to commandeer the Darragh's home for their officers during the occupation but relented after pleas from Lydia. They did use the home for top-level meetings of their officers. One night the officers came there to meet, after members of the household had gone to bed. While they were meeting, Lydia hid in the linen closet that was adjacent to the room. She listened as the British planned an assault on General Washington and his army. The next day, Lydia requested a pass from the British to go to Frankford for flour. She walked several miles to the flour mill, left her flour sack and proceeded on to the local tavern where she passed along the information about the British plans.

The Continental army was prepared and waiting for the British when they attacked. The Americans badly beat the British because a courageous woman had given vital information to the patriot army. Lydia's Quaker meeting barred her, as she had broken the sect's pacifism rule. She was later reconciled.

The Colonel Aaron Ogden Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, urges you to learn more about espionage and women spies during the Revolutionary War.