History.com has a fascinating story that they call a legend because it cannot be corroborated. The story was passed down 247 years ago and still captures the imaginations of historians, heroes, and heroines alike. It’s the story of nurse Lydia Darragh.
“During the occupation of Philadelphia, British General William Howe stationed his headquarters across the street from the Darragh home, and when Howe’s headquarters proved too small to hold meetings, he commandeered a large upstairs room in the Darraghs’ house…Mrs. Darragh would eavesdrop and take notes on the British meetings from an adjoining room and would conceal the notes by sewing them into her coat before passing them onto American troops stationed outside the city.”1
On this day in 1777, Darragh overheard the British planning a surprise attack on Washington’s troops at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania. The attack was scheduled for December 4 and 5. Whitemarsh was 17 miles from Philadelphia. Darragh heard the news in the late of night. How could she get word to General Washington in time?
Claiming she needed to buy some flour from a mill just outside the British territory, the British soldiers allowed her to pass the next morning. Upon arriving at the mill, she quickly got word to American Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Craig, who got the message to Washington. When the British arrived for the attack, Washington and his troops were waiting. After three days of unsuccessful fighting, Howe retreated and went back to Philadelphia.
One brave lady saved the lives of General Washington and his Continental soldiers.
There is another brave lady who saved the lives of others. Her profession wasn’t as noble, though, as that of Darragh. This woman was a common prostitute. The Biblical term is harlot. Her name was Rahab and her story is found in Joshua 2.
Joshua 2:1-6, 15 says, “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. (2) And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. (3) And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. (4) And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: (5) And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. (6) But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof… (15) Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.”
Rahab risked her life to save the men of God. If the men of the city had found that she was harboring the spies, not only would the spies have been killed but so would have been Rahab and probably her entire family. Rahab believed, though, that there was a greater good. She had a Biblical faith and courage that transformed her from a life of ill repute to a Godly reputation.
Her conviction stands the test of time, and the record is clear. She acted in faith. Though Lydia Darragh made her mark on American history, Rahab left her mark on Biblical history. “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11:31)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/philadelphia-nurse-overhears-british-plans-to-attack-washington
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