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a little known Washington incident - From the Journal of Elias Boudinot.....

In 1777 Genl. Lincoln was surprised at the dawn of day in his quarters at Bound Brook (NJ), by Lord Cornwallis who had marched from Brunswick (NJ), passed his out centinals, captured or destroyed his main guard, and was at the Genl's quarters before he knew anything of it. He had but just time to escape out of a back door. Several men were killed and one or two pieces of ordnance taken.

It was sometime a mystery how this had been effected with so much secrecy, till I was informed by a Gentlman of note who was with the enemy at Brunswick, that a certain farmer whose name he mentioned and who lived in the midst of our camp, had communicated to Lord Cornwallis our countersign, by which he had accomplished his intentions.

My spirit was very much aroused against this traitor and with great zeal I went to General Washington with the information stating the substance of it but keeping back the name of my informant, as he had assured me his life depended on my prudence and faithfulness to him.

I urged the General to give orders to sieze the culprit without delay and make an example of him. The General did not immediately answer me, on which I repeated my request.

He then said "did not you tell me that the life of your informant depended upon your secrecy ---- would you take up a citizen and confine him without letting him know his crime or accuser ?? --- No let him alone for the present, watch him carefully and if you can catch him in any other crime, so as to confront him by witnesses, we will punish him severely".

My mortification was very great. To think that I who had entered the army to watch the military and preserve the civil rights of my fellow citizens should be so reproved by a military man. I received it as a severe lecture on my own imprudence.