Transcript

3.27.26 · History Hour

0:01
Speaker 1: Hello and welcome. This is Radiois History Show and I'm
0:06
your host and reader for today, Joseph Bolt. Happy to
0:10
be with you. And before we begin, we always need
0:13
to remind you that RADIOI is listener driven and if
0:17
so that means you, and if you have any thoughts
0:20
or comments about what we do, and in particular about
0:23
this history part of it, then please call us. And
0:28
the number is eight five nine four two two six'
0:32
three nine zero let us know what you're. THINKING, radioi of,
0:37
course is a reading service intended for people who are
0:40
blind or have other disabilities to make it difficult to
0:43
read printed. Material i'll cite the sources at the, End
0:48
so let's get to. Going i'm going to talk today
0:52
about a couple Of revolutionary war female, spies one for one,
1:01
side one for the. Other so let's get. Started during
1:06
The American, revolution women across The Thirteen colonies took on
1:10
a range of non traditional. Roles some assumed control of
1:15
family farms and businesses while their husbands and sons were off. Fighting,
1:21
others known as camp, followers traveled with The Continental, army
1:26
serving as cook's nurses and. Seamstresses still others became. Spies
1:33
gathering crucial intelligence behind enemy. Lines in, fact women made
1:38
ideal spies because they often went. Unnoticed sexist stereotypes suggested
1:45
they simply couldn't understand war and its. Complexities perhaps the most,
1:51
unknown or rather unlikely women to engage in espionage during
1:57
The revolution Was Lydia Barrington, dearra An irish immigrant who
2:03
had settled In. PHILADELPHIA a Pacifist, Quaker dara was committed
2:09
to nonviolence and neutrality in the fight Between britain and its.
2:13
Colonies but her devotion to her family and firm opposition
2:19
to tyranny Led dara to go against her religion and
2:24
provide a key piece of intelligence to The Continental army
2:27
that may have helped save soldiers. Lives unlike Heroic Molly,
2:33
pitcher a composite of several, Women Linda dearra is an
2:39
easily verifiable historical. Figure Historian ROBERT. N finelli writes in
2:46
his twenty twenty five Book Lydia's, Tale The mystery of
2:50
Lydiadera Irish quaker patriot. Spy finelli grew up in The
2:57
Greater philadelphia, area and he, says from the time THAT
3:01
i was a, BOY i would hear these legends about
3:04
what had taken place, here including dare a. STORY i
3:09
kind of kept it in the back of my mind for,
3:12
years and then AS i began writing about this period
3:15
of The, REVOLUTION i eventually learned more about. Her the
3:21
idea of a Pacifist quaker spy is largely an. Oxymoron The,
3:27
quakers or The Religious society Of, friends are an Historically
3:32
christian group whose beliefs took shape in the seventeenth Century
3:37
england during a time of intense religious. Turmoil one of
3:42
the Core quaker tenants is the peace, testimony which is
3:48
a commitment to. Pacifism for a Practicing, quaker engaging in
3:54
any form of, warfare including, espionage is generally considered a
3:58
breach of. FAITH i had to ask was her story?
4:04
Real that it really? Happened finelli says many earlier scholars
4:10
have cast doubt On dara's, tale as it's been perpetually
4:16
embellished over the. Centuries to separate fact from, fiction the
4:21
author went, years or spent years rather conducting his own,
4:25
Research he, explains, Quote GRADUALLY i was able to trace
4:30
down the origins of the story to a couple of
4:32
people who told, it who Knew Linda darrah personally and
4:37
who had heard the story from her end. QUOTE a,
4:41
wife a, mother, nurse and, Midwife darrah immigrated to The
4:46
American colonies From ireland in seventeen sixty, three a decade
4:51
after she had Married William, darra her one time. Tutor
4:57
the family resided in a small wooden home On Philipladelphia's
5:00
south Second. Street dara was very actively involved in the
5:05
life of the, city Says, finelli and she heard lots
5:09
of what was going on as the revolution started to.
5:12
Develop british troops under the leadership Of General William, howe
5:17
marched Into philadelphia On september twenty, six seventeen seventy, seven
5:22
after out Maneuvering George washington at The battle Of. Brandywine
5:27
unopposed The british, Seies philadelphia The american's seat of. Government
5:35
howe stationed himself in a mansion near The darrah, home
5:39
which he co opted as a meeting. Place around this,
5:43
time members of the Local quaker community started voicing their
5:47
support for the colony's separation From, england or at the very,
5:52
least the idea of. Liberty according To, finelli many Of
5:58
dara's closest Contacts Irish americans who were opposed To english
6:02
rule or sympathetic to the. Patriots finelli started mining the
6:08
archives of The Historical society Of pennsylvania and The American Philosophical.
6:13
Society he also poured Over quaker, documents civil, records newspaper,
6:19
advertisements And evandera's. Obituary an anomaly at the time when
6:25
such tributes to women were few and far, Between quaker's
6:30
were marvelous record, keepers Says Jenecki Spickered, keeler an editor
6:38
At Pendall, hill which is A quaker learning community just Outside.
6:43
Philadelphia by piecing together the available, Information finelli managed to
6:50
not only authenticate the details Of darra's, story but also
6:53
gained a sense of her. Personality the main thing that
6:57
comes through from the different records is That zarah was
7:00
a very caring person and she could not abide the
7:04
thought that she knew about something that was going to cause.
7:07
Bloodshed he. Says another, quote there Were quakers who felt
7:14
Like god was asking them to go and fight against The,
7:17
british and they were the ones who were disowned and
7:22
kind of came together to be the Free quakers end.
7:27
Quote that quote was from A Spicker keeler. Again in
7:35
Early december of seventeen seventy, seven A british senior military
7:41
adviser Told darah that he and his fellow officers planned
7:46
to hold a special meeting at her. House they wished
7:50
the family to retire early to, bed adding that when
7:55
they were going, away they would call her to let
7:58
them out and extinguish the fire and. Candles a quote
8:02
from Journalist Robert Walsh, junior who wrote in an eighteen
8:07
twenty seven, Account dara agreed to, this but her curiosity
8:13
got the better of. Her she crept over to the
8:16
door of the meeting room and listened in through the,
8:18
keyhole overhearing an order for The british troops to mount
8:23
a surprise attack At White, marsh north Of, philadelphia Where
8:28
washington and his men were. Stationed here Was, dara a,
8:34
nurse a Devout, quaker and a very tenderhearted, woman Says.
8:39
Finelli he goes on to say it's important to realize
8:44
that she was faced with a very tough spiritual. Dilemma
8:51
after wrestling with her predicament through the, Night dara finally
8:54
concluded that she couldn't just stay on the. Sidelines finelle says,
8:59
again she had to do something with the, information even
9:04
though her religion forbade getting. Involved darren knew that such
9:12
actions could potentially risk her and her family's, safety but
9:17
she couldn't shake the fact that her oldest, Son, charles
9:21
had already broken With quaker doctrine to join The Continental.
9:25
Army he could be one of the soldiers caught unawares
9:30
by The british. ATTACK i believe this really helped to
9:36
solidify her, views Says, finelli and he goes on to
9:40
say because she was concerned for her son's well, Being
9:48
darra came up with a. Plan according To, walsh as
9:52
early as the next, morning she received permission from an
9:55
officer to Cross british lines to fetch some flower at
9:59
a min In, frankfort outside of the. City it was
10:04
a standard, request as locals were often and granted permission
10:09
From british troops to procure goods in the. Countryside she
10:15
had the nerve to go out there and walk over
10:17
six miles in the, cold risking her life and carrying
10:20
this twenty eight pound sack of, flour all to inform
10:24
a trusted officer Of washington That halle was planning an
10:28
attack On White, marsh Says. Finelli an alternative version of
10:35
events shared by many years are shared many years later
10:39
By dara's, descendants suggested That dara told her husband and
10:44
The british soldiers that she was off to visit her young,
10:47
children who might have been sent to stay with relatives
10:51
outside Of. Philadelphia hal and upwards of fifteen Thousand british
10:58
soldiers marched out Of philasiladelphia On december the, fourth hoping
11:02
to surprise The american troops At White, marsh But washington
11:08
and his men were ready for. Them following several inconclusive,
11:13
skirmishes hal and his army returned To philadelphia for the,
11:18
winter While washington retreated To Valley, forge west Of White. Marsh,
11:26
later The british officer who held the pivotal meeting At
11:29
dara's house returned to question, her asking if her family
11:34
had really gone to, bed or if someone had eavesdropped
11:38
and leaked information to The. Americans she didn't, lie Said,
11:43
finelli because another fundamental aspect Of quakerism is a regard for. Truth,
11:52
Instead dearra simply kept. Quiet Although darra's tip was likely
12:02
one of the many That washington and his men, received
12:05
the information she conveyed was pretty, accurate Says. Finelle some
12:10
sources even suggest that after her initial foray into, Spine
12:15
darrah kept at, it writing messages on paper scraps and
12:19
sewing them into buttons on her son's, coat which he
12:23
then wear to sneak the notes across the enemy. Lines
12:27
But finelli doesn't buy. That the buttons story is one
12:31
of those things that people would love to, believe but
12:33
there is no evidence of any kind of that this
12:37
ever took. Place he. Says Around december, Eleventh holle moved
12:42
his headquarters up To High street and most probably no
12:47
longer require That dara's house was for. Meetings this move
12:53
would have terminated the opportunities for ongoing. Espionage As finelli
13:01
writes In Lydia's, Tale darra's eavesdropping was a spontaneous, act
13:07
not part of an elaborate espionage. Scheme in, essence she
13:12
was rather an impromptu spy acting on her own on
13:18
the spur of the. Moment although she undoubtedly remains The
13:23
American revolution's best known Pacifist quaker, Spy dara was actually
13:30
read out of the, meeting in other, words removed from
13:35
The Religious society of friends for violating community, norms in
13:41
this instance by engaging in political activism prior to her
13:46
death in seventeen eighty. Nine despite her, Disownment dearra's body
13:54
was interred in the burial ground At Philadelphia's Arch Street Meeting,
13:59
house which is both A National Historic landmark and an
14:05
Active quacker sight of. Worship that story came from smithsonianmag dot.
14:17
COM A quaker woman evesdropped On british soldiers plotting a
14:21
surprise attack and surreptitiously Warned George, washington written By Laura
14:27
canary In march of twenty twenty. Six now let's go
14:34
to the other story and read About spine from the other.
14:37
Side Peggy, shipping the, beautiful, vivacious and charismatic wife of
14:47
Infamous American Revolutionary war Trader Benedict, arnold was long thought
14:52
to have been innocent of any, wrongdoing just another dupe
14:57
taken in by her husband's. Deceit much of that was
15:01
driven by sexist assumptions prevalent in her day and throughout
15:06
much of subsequent history about the passive role of. Women
15:11
between that and her reluctance to believe that women might
15:15
be prime movers and key actors behind significant. Events Peggy's
15:20
shipping's role in her husband's treason has long been overlooked and.
15:25
Minimized as it turns, out she was far more intelligent
15:32
and far more of a key player than she was
15:35
given credit. For as historians have, Discovered Peggy's shipping had
15:42
actually been up to her pretty eyelashes in her husband's.
15:47
Treachery not only did it turn out that she had
15:51
been in active in hands on participant invented In arnold's
15:55
negotiations with The british to turncoat and sell out The,
15:58
americans but she might have actually initiated the whole treasonous.
16:04
Plot Margaret Peggy, shipping born in seventeen sixteen, sixty was
16:14
the youngest surviving child of a Prosperous philadelphia family whose
16:19
ancestors included two. Mayors her father was a prominent, lawyer
16:25
a member Of pennsylvania's Provincial, council and a, judge while
16:31
her mother was a socialite and the daughter of a prominent.
16:34
Lawyer when The Revolutionary war broke, out her father adopted,
16:40
neutrality but his leanings were Pro. British In september of
16:46
seventeen seventy, seven The british Captured philadelphia and occupied the
16:52
city for almost a. Year during The british, occupation the
16:56
ship and family had social gatherings that were attended By british,
17:03
officers and it was at one of these gatherings That
17:07
peggy first came into contact With British Captain John. Andre
17:13
John andre joined The British army in seventeen seventy one
17:18
and was posted The canada in seventeen seventy four on
17:22
the eve of The American Revolutionary. WAR a likable, character
17:28
he was popular in colonial society In New, york as
17:31
well as In, philadelphia where he was posted for a
17:34
time after its capture by The. British it was during
17:39
this period that he, met, befriended and most likely had
17:43
an affair With Peggy. Shipping after The british were forced
17:49
out Of, Philadelphia andrea And peggy kept in, touch exchanging
17:55
letters across enemy. Lines through that line of contact and
18:00
Through peggy, Herself John andre would Entice Benedict arnold into.
18:08
Treason the name of the final party in The treasonist,
18:14
Trio Patriot General Benedict, arnold has become an epithet synonymous with.
18:21
Betrayal he was probably the most capable combat commander on
18:27
the rebel's, side before a combination of resentments over, slights
18:33
coupled with financial distress led him to. Turncoat before, That
18:40
arnold had provided valuable service to The patriots and played
18:44
a leading role early in the war in Capturing fort Ticonder.
18:48
Uga he then led a demonstrated extraordinary. Leadership he demonstrated
18:57
rather extraordinary leadership in getting his men to the outskirts Of.
19:01
Quebec in seventeen seventy, Six arnold constructed a fleet from
19:08
scratch At Lake, champlain with which he defeated a vastly
19:14
Superior british. Fleet while lionised as a hero by the,
19:18
public his, successes rash, courage and driving style aroused the
19:24
jealousy and resentment of other, officers who backbit and schemed Against.
19:30
Arnold When congress created five new major generals in seventeen seventy,
19:36
seven he was stung when he was bypassed in favour
19:42
of some of his. Juniors Only George washington's personal entreaties
19:47
Prevented arnold's. Resignation he then repelled A british attack In
19:53
connecticut and was finally promoted the major general but his
19:57
seniority was not, restored another slight that aided. Him arnold
20:05
again sought to, resign but was prevailed upon to. Remain
20:10
he performed brilliantly in halting The british advance into Upstate
20:14
New york in seventeen seventy. Seventh anne was instrumental in
20:19
bringing about its. Defeat it culminated in The british surrender At,
20:24
saratoga Where arnold fought courageously and was severely. Injured crippled
20:30
by his wounds At, Saratoga Benedict arnold was put in
20:33
charge Of, philadelphia where he took to socialize him with
20:36
loyalist family such as The, shippin's as well as to extravagant,
20:40
living which he financed with questionable. Dealings while In, philadelphia he,
20:45
met fell in love, with and married the much Younger Peggy's.
20:49
Shipping she was only eighteen while he was thirty. Eight
20:53
her spent thrift habits soon put him deep in. Debt
20:58
her loyalist leaning soon put him deep in. Treason within
21:03
a month of the, Marriage peggy put him in contact
21:06
with her former Lover John andre by then chief Of British.
21:11
Intelligence arnold began negotiating with The british the price of.
21:15
Treason peggy used her seemingly innocent correspondence across enemy lines
21:21
as cover for her husband's treasonous correspondence with The. British
21:26
arnold would write his respondence with the enemy and invisible,
21:31
ink Then peggy would pin innocent fluff on top of
21:35
it in her own. Handwriting upon, Receipt John andrea's spy
21:40
shop would apply chemicals To peggy's, letter which reacted with
21:45
and revealed the invisible ink letter In arnold's hand. Beneath
21:50
at the, time the war in The Northern colonies had
21:53
entered a stalemate following the collapse of The british campaign
21:57
of seventeen seventy, seven which had aimed to Split New
22:00
england From New york And. Pennsylvania the plan remained viable
22:04
provided The british could control The Hudson. River were that to,
22:09
happen The british could sail north from their base of
22:12
operations In New York city deep into Upstate New, york
22:15
and from there The british would interdict communications With New
22:20
england or even launch an invasion into that. Region aware
22:24
of that, threat The patriots built strong fortifications on bluffs
22:29
overlooking The hudson At West, point upstream From New York
22:33
city and choking off the river to enemy. Navigation Capturing
22:38
West point became the Holy grail for The. British by seventeen,
22:44
Eighty Benedict arnold had resigned his command Of philadelphia and
22:48
got himself assigned to the command Of West. Point that,
22:51
year With peggy's Shipp in his intermediary and most likely
22:55
at her, Prompting andrea began communicating With arnold to negotia
23:00
she ate. Treason arnold agreed to Deliver West point to
23:04
The british in exchange for about three point seven million
23:07
dollars in today's. Money they met secretly In september of seventeen,
23:13
eighty And arnold Gave andre the plans For West. Point,
23:18
However andrea was detained by An american patrol and the
23:22
incriminating documents were found on. Him andrea was sent back
23:27
to The Continent army, headquarters where he almost convinced his
23:31
captors to send him To Benedict, arnold whose treason had
23:35
not yet been. Suspected, However patriot spies In New york
23:41
had sent word that a high Ranking american officer had Termed,
23:44
trader and that information Stopped andre at the last minute
23:48
from getting sent To. Arnold cross checking the documents found
23:53
On andrea with the intelligence gathered In New, york undid the.
23:56
Plot during, interrogation andres ask how he would be, treated
24:02
and he was reminded Of Nathan, hale An american officer
24:05
hanged by The british as a. Spy When andrea asked
24:09
if the situations were, similar the reply was, yes, yes precisely,
24:13
similar and similar shall be your. Fate andre was, tried,
24:18
convicted and hanged as a spy On october, two seventeen.
24:23
Eighty When Benedict arnold received word on the morning Of
24:27
september twenty, fifth seventeen, eighty That andrea had been arrested
24:31
and that incriminating documents and maps Of West point had
24:34
been found in his, possession he knew the jig was.
24:37
Up that same, Day George washington was scheduled to drop
24:41
by to visit and inspect the. Fortifications, andrea or Rather,
24:46
arnold hurriedly Told peggy what had, happened and hoping That
24:51
washington would be too chivalrous to take it out on his.
24:54
Wife arnold left her and their infant son behind and
25:00
made a dash for the safety of The british. Lines
25:03
left to fend for, Herself peggy put on a stellar
25:06
performance to convince everybody that she was just as shocked
25:09
and surprised as they were about her husband's. Treason she
25:13
went into, histeronics feigned a nervous, breakdown and started screaming,
25:17
incoherently insisting that her husband was gone forever and that
25:21
someone was trying to murder her. Baby, well it, worked
25:24
And washington and other patriots believed that she was as
25:27
much a victim as they were. Themselves fearing for her,
25:32
safety she then traveled To philadelphia to stay with her. Family,
25:35
however her innocent act began unraveling when authorities found a
25:39
letter From John andre To, peggy written From british Occupied
25:44
New york that indicated her complicity in her husband's. Treason
25:48
sexism saved. Her the, authorities assuming that she was an
25:52
air headed woman incapable of independent thought or, agency reason
25:56
that she simply did whatever her husband told her that
26:00
kept her from being, arrested, tried and. Home they, did,
26:06
however banish her From philadelphia and send her packing to
26:09
Join arnold In New. York Benedict arnold was made a
26:13
brigadier general in The British, army and he led soldiers
26:17
against The american. Side, however The british never fully warmed to,
26:22
him and after the war he was unable to secure
26:25
a regular commission in The British. Army arnold And peggy
26:29
moved To london in seventeen eighty one following The british
26:32
surrender At. Yorktown While arnold spent time In canada between
26:36
the years seventeen eighty seven and seventeen ninety one to
26:40
pursue a variety of, ventures including land, speculation he returned
26:45
To london permanently in seventeen ninety. One peggy was presented
26:51
at court to The queen and was awarded an annuity
26:54
of one hundred, pounds a handsome sum in those. Days
26:58
King george The third also presented her with a handsome
27:01
gift of money for her, services which were. Meritorious the
27:06
royal rewards made her the most highly Compensated british spy
27:10
during The American. Revolution After arnold's death in eighteen oh,
27:14
One peggy had to auction off their. Home in most
27:18
of their possessions to pay off his. Debts she died
27:22
of cancer in eighteen oh four and was buried With
27:26
Benedict arnold At. Battersea that story came From History collection
27:32
dot Com Peggy, shipping thought to Be Benedict arnold's innocent
27:35
wife actually initiated his treason as plot written By Khalid
27:40
alassan In october of twenty, eighteen And The Saturday Evening
27:45
post dot com Of Philadelphia bell's faithful marriage to A,
27:48
trader written By Nancy Rubin stewart In february of twenty twenty. Four,
27:54
well that about does it for this chapter OF Radioi.
27:58
HISTORY i hope you enjoyed listening as much AS i
28:02
did researching and reading it to. You i'll be back
28:07
AND i thank you for your. Time this Is Joseph
28:10
bolt And i'll see you next time next week for Radio.
28:16
History until, then happy, trails