Phenix Gazette

[From the Boston Telegraph.]

The following communication is from the Rev. A. B. a Presbyterian clergyman of this county.

Cooper's "Spy of the Neutral Ground," or the true Harvey Birch.—This gentleman, far gone in years; whose real name is E-..-C-, resides in the town of C. in the State of New York, about 12 miles from "the Fishkill Highlands." He is a worthy man, possessed of a fine farm: and for many years has sustained the office of Deacon in the Congregational Presbyterian Church of (j-- Society, Mr. Cooper has given us an accurate description of his person, which is tall and meagre, and indicative of great muscular strength. Reserved in his manners, and maintaining an invariable rigidity of features, one would find it extremely difficult to discover any emotion of his mind. He seldom feels disposed to speak of his hair-breadth escapes and severe privations, while engaged in the service of his country, during the Revolutionary struggle. But whenever he enters upon this story, it is with modesty and self-abasement that he was so criminal as to act the part of "Hushai the Archite," in the presence of the servants of George the 3d. The writer of this article has heard him utter such expressions as these. "How great has been the mercy of God to me, that I was not cut off in the midst of my career of deceit and wickedness! I have acted too much from the principle mentioned by the Apostle Paul, 'let us do evil that good may come.'"

In the year 1776, if I remember right, he was employed as a spy by the friends of American liberty. He then lived in the county of Westchester, a little south of the chain of mountains called "the Highlands." During this year he travelled to Canada and back again for the purpose of learning the sentiments of the people concerning the war, and of ascertaining who were the most active and dangerous men among the tories. To this class of men, he professed great friendship for the British ministry and expressed fears that he should become a prisoner to the whigs, who would deprive him of life The information obtained by the spy: occasioned the arrest and imprisonment of several royalists.

In the year 1777, he was frequently in New- York, in company with the principal officers of the British army, who placed in him the utmost confidence.—From this time to the end of the war, he was considered as a spy for the royalists, and the principal theatre of his operations was in the country contiguous to New York and the "Highlands." Under different disguises and assumed names, such as John Smith, Harvey Wright, and Harvey Birch, he travelled through many towns, obtaining important information which he communicated to the A. merican generals. His employment necessarily subjected him to perils. Sometimes he was shot at by the friends of liberty, who were eager to destroy one engaged (as they thought) in the service of their enemies. Several times he was their prisoner, but his ingenuity effected his escape.

Several companies of tories, officered with men from the British army, fell into the hands of the Americans, in consequence of his adroitness. It was customary with the British officers to steal their way into the country, and obtain recruits from among the tories, which were marched to the support of the British army. The Spy enlisted several times under such officers, and when he had ascertained the time fixed upon for marching to unite with the myrmidons of King George, he never failed of secretly apprizing some principal officer of the American army, who, of course, was not tardy in effecting their surrender at discretion. In such instances, the Spy became a prisoner, but favored by friends, who knew his real character, he always "took French leave of absence."