GEN. P. TELLS HOW CROSBY ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE OF THE COMMITTEE OF
SAFETY, AND HOW HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER.
_Gen. P_. "Crosby felt quite satisfied with his success; but not more
so, than the committee of safety. They sent for him--told him he had
done his country real service, and wished to know what his plans were.
"'You are going to enlist into the army, are you?' asked Mr. Jay.
"'I am,' replied Crosby. 'My country needs my services, and she shall
have them.'
"'Your resolution is honourable,' said Mr. Jay--'but may you not be of
greater service, in another way? We have enemies among us--_secret
foes_--who are plotting our ruin. We need information respecting them.
We wish for some one, who has prudence and skill--one, who will go
round the country--who will find out where these men live--where they
meet and form their plans. It is a dangerous service,--but, then, the
_reward_.'
"'I care not for danger,' said Crosby--'my country is dear to me. My
life is at her service. Sir, I will go--but--but _one thing_ I ask--
_only_ one--if I fall, do justice to my memory. Let the world know,
that Enoch Crosby was in _your_ service--in the service of his
_country_--and that he fell a martyr to the cause of _liberty_.'
"'It shall be done,' said Mr. Jay--'we pledge it, by our sacred
honour.'
"'But,' continued he to Crosby, 'let no man know your secret--no, not
even should you be taken. If you are ever taken by the Americans, as
belonging to the British, we will help you to escape--but, if you
cannot let us know, here is a paper, which in the last extremity, you
may show, and it will save you.'"
_William._ "What did that paper contain?"
_Gen. P_. "It was what is called a _pass_--it was signed by the
committee of safety; and ordered, that the person who had it should be
suffered to pass without injury.
"In a few days, Crosby was ready. He had provided himself with a
_peddlar's pack_, in which he had put a set of shoemaker's tools. His
design was to go round the country, and work at his trade; and, at the
same time, to get such information as might be useful to his
employers."
[Illustration]
"Not long after he set out upon his adventures, he arrived just at
evening at a small house, at which he knocked, hoping to procure a
night's lodging.
"It was some time before he was heard. At length a girl came, and
inquired his errand.
"'I wish for a lodging to-night,' said Crosby--'if it may be'--
"'I don't know, sir,' replied the girl--'I'll go and ask mother.'
"The girl soon reappeared, and bade him walk in. On reaching the
kitchen, he made known his wishes, to the mistress of the family.
"'Lodgings! sir--did you ask for lodgings? we don't keep lodgings
here, sir.'
"'I suppose not, madam,' said Crosby, in a kind manner--'but I am
quite fatigued, and thought, perhaps, you would let me stay till
morning.'
"'I don't know but what you may. The man is gone from home. There's
such work now-a-days, that a body don't know nothing what to say or
do--pray, what do you carry in that huge pack?'
"'In this pack, madam? only some shoemaker's tools. I am a shoemaker,
madam--perhaps, you have some work for me to do? I'll take it off with
your leave.'
"'Well, do as you please. Our John wants a pair of shoes; and perhaps
the man of the house will give you the job when he comes home.'
"'I shall be glad to do it,' said Crosby. 'Madam, have you heard the
_news_?'
"'What news?'
"'Why, that Washington is on the retreat, and that the British army is
pursuing him, and likely to overtake him.'
"'Ah! that's good news,' exclaimed the old lady, 'you may stay here
to-night. Sally! Sally! here get this man some supper--he brings good
news--I hope the rebels every one will be shot. Sally!--make up the
best bed. Here's a chair--sit down, sir; and make yourself at home.
"Crosby accordingly took a seat. Supper was soon ready, and he eat
heartily.
"When he had done, he drew his chair to the fire, about which time,
the man of the house came in. He was told the _good_ news by his wife,
and Crosby was made welcome.
"The evening was spent in talking about the war, and the prospects of
the country. The host proved himself a firm tory, and wondered that
Crosby and every one else should not think and feel precisely as he
did.
"'Have you many of your way of thinking in these parts?' inquired
Crosby.
"'That we have,' replied the host--'more than we shall have a few days
hence.'
"'I hope so,' whispered Crosby to himself. 'But, sir, how so?'
inquired he, with some surprise.
"'Why,' replied the host, 'you must know that we've a company nearly
ready to march. I guess they'll go the sooner, now that the British
are after Washington. They'll wish to get there in time to see some of
the fun.'
"'Could you introduce me to some of the company?' asked Crosby.
"'That I can. You'd better join them. I'll tell you what--you'll have
good pay and short work.'
"The following morning, after breakfast, the host took Crosby abroad,
and introduced him to the captain of the tory company, as one who,
perhaps, might be persuaded to enlist.
"'Would you like to enlist?' asked the captain--at the same time
running his eye over the stout frame of Crosby.
"'I would like to see your muster-roll, first,' replied Crosby."
_Henry_. "Pray, father, what is a muster-roll?"
_Gen. P_. "A paper, my son, on which the names of the soldiers are
registered."
_Henry_. "Why did Crosby wish to see that?"
_Gen. P_. "I was going to tell you. He wished to ascertain who had
joined the company."
_William_. "Did the captain show him the roll?"
_Gen. P_. "Yes; and carefully did Crosby run over the names.
"'Will you join us?' asked the captain, when Crosby had finished
looking at the roll.
"'They are all strangers to me,' said Crosby, 'and besides, I fear
that the roll may fall into the hands of the Americans--then, what
will become of us?'
"'No fear of that,' said the captain. 'Come with me, and see how we
manage.'
"Crosby was now led into a large meadow, at no great distance, in
which stood a large stack of hay.
"'Look at this stack, sir--what do you think of this?'
"'It is monstrous,' said Crosby. 'Why so much hay in one stack?'
"'Not so much neither, replied the captain, 'it isn't every one that
knows how to manage--here, take a look inside,' at the same time
drawing aside some long hay, which concealed an apartment within.
"Crosby started. The stack was hollow--capable of holding at least
fifty men."
[Illustration]
"'Ha! ha! ha!' roared out the captain, 'you are afraid the muster roll
will fall into bad hands--are you? Well, what think you now? Is that
likely, when we know how to manage? Many a rebel has passed by this
stack, but he hadn't brains enough to think what was inside. Come, my
good fellow, shall I enter your name?'
"'I'll think of it,' said Crosby, 'and let you know soon.'
"While Crosby was apparently making up his mind, the day passed by. He
was still at the captain's, who invited him to spend the night. This
invitation was accepted, and at an early hour, he retired to rest.
"But he could not sleep. What should he do? He thought--pondered--
hesitated--but at length, resolved. Midnight came. He rose, and having
put on his clothes, softly passed from his chamber down stairs. At
every step he listened--all was still--without disturbing even the
wary captain, he left the premises, and was soon on his way towards
White Plains.
"An hour or two brought him to the residence of Mr. Jay, whom he
called from his bed, and to whom he related what he knew. A plan was
soon concerted, by which to take the whole company. This being
settled, Crosby hastened back; and, before any one was up at the
captain's, was safely, and without having excited suspicion, in his
bed.
"In the course of the day, he was strongly urged to enlist--but he
wished to see the company together, he said. 'You shall see them
together,' said the captain, 'it would be well to meet--we must
arrange matters before we go.'
"A hasty summons, was therefore, sent round, and before nine o'clock
that night, the whole company had assembled;--it was a season of great
joy among them--the rebels, they said, were so depressed, that they
would have but little to do, but to march down and see them ground
arms.
"'Well, Mr. Crosby,' bawled out the captain, 'what say you? will you
go with us, and'--
"'Hark! hark! hark!' exclaimed a soldier, who sat near the door--'I
hear horses approaching.'
"'Out with the lights!--out with the lights!' said the captain--
'silence every man--keep your places.'
"At this moment, a loud rap was heard at the door--soon after which it
was thrown open, and the word 'surrender,' uttered by an officer, came
in like a peal of thunder.
"'Who are you?' demanded the tory captain, rising with some effort--
his knees trembling under him.
"'Who am I!' uttered the same voice, 'you will soon know who I am,
unless you surrender--you are surrounded--you are prisoners.'
"Dismay now filled the company. They rose, and in the darkness which
pervaded the room, attempted to escape. In the haste and confusion,
chairs were broken--benches overturned--pitchers and tumblers dashed
in pieces--some plunged from the windows, and were taken--others felt
their way up chamber, and hid in the garret, while several, in
attempting to reach the cellar, were plunged headlong upon the bottom.
"In a little time, however, matters were more quiet. The horsemen had
surrounded the house, and none could escape. From their hiding places
they were, at length, dragged--poor Crosby with the rest--and tied
together in pairs, were marched to the village of White Plains."