Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1891 — Did Washington Lie. [ARTICLE]

Did Washington Lie.

Boston Advertiser. It is painful to find that the fathei of his country, practiced deceit down in Jersey. Elias Boudinot, whos« papers are getting printed, reveals this side of Washington’s character. He actually played a trick on Sir William Howe, and made him believe ha had 12,000 men in his army about Morristown, when he had but 3,000. It seems that how had sent one oi his innumerable spies, who wert tories in New York and patriots in Philadelphia, to see what was going on about Morristown. The AdjutantGeneral found out' the rogue, and asked General Washington if h« would not have him arrested. No, said the crafty Virginian—and here I quote from Boudinat—“bu( ordered him to go home and immediately to draw returns from every Brigadier in the army of the numbei of their brigades, making to consist of about 12,000 effective men, &c., &c. —to place these in the pigeon holes on his desk,and then to get introduced to the spy and invite him to lodge with him. To endeavor to get him to sup with him alone. About nine o’clock in the evening to have an Orderly Sergeant to call on him with positive orders that the Adjutant should attend the General in haste. That then he should make an excuse to the Gent, suspected as a spy and leave him alone about hall an hour. This was done, and in this interval, as was suspected the spy took a copy of the returns, and next morning went off with them to New York. This convinced General Howe that we were not to be attacked and saved us through the winter." Prof. Hosmer, who has written so well about Sir Henry Vane and Samuel Adams* think* ihat Adams and Franklin did not behave quite right in the matter of Governor 11 utehinson's letters, which put Massuchu- ' setts in the hands of the patriots. But here is George Washington who “could not tell a lie. " making his Brigadiers all tell one.