August 15, 1781 -- Baron
Ottendorf to ? (Page 2 of 3)
From the Clinton Collection
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While Monsieur Smidt and Cooper questioned her, she was asked several
time / whether she knew me, (was told) that I was responsible for
the desertion of the / French and that I would be the first one hanged
if York were ever taken. After / all that, she was sent back (to the French
camp). Upon arrival at the French / camp, she was handed over to the Provost;
nevertheless, she was treated well / enough. The Chief Provost questioned
her several times over the course of two / days, and insisted that she
must know me, using guile and intimidation to make / her talk. Seeing that
nothing was able to be got from her, the order arrived late / in the evening
on Tuesday the 14th for her to depart on Wednesday at / daybreak, and beforehand,
to have her hair cut in such a fashion that what was / done be acknowledged
yet again; then (for her) to be set on a horse with / neither bonnet nor
hair covering, sitting on a cloak between two soldiers and / (for her)
to be led in this manner outside of the lines with the order not to return
/ unless she wants to run the risk of being severely punished. She says
that / everything is ready with them for advancing and that the general
opinion is that / he (Washington) wants to come and attack in two places
as soon as / their fleet arrives. She saw your Jagers arrive yesterday,
around 4 or 5. They / were not retained; they were sent immediately to
Philadelphia. When these / Jagers arrived at Washington’s quarters, he
had them given something to drink / and eat, informing them that soon all
of your people will come, and that in a / short while he will be in York.
The Chief Provost told her that if she wished to confess that it is Hend who sent / her, that he would give her 12 twenty-franc pieces, and if she wished to / dissemble, that he wants to send to her mother to see if she speaks the truth. / All that did not make her change her story. She persisted (in saying) that she / does not know me. |
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