Page 13
History of Orange County
Town of New Windsor
Page 13
     DANIEL TAYLOR, THE SPY, AND THE SILVER BALL.--After Fort Montgomery was taken, Gov. Clinton established his head quarters at the Square, at the house of Mrs. Falls, for the purpose of collecting together his shattered and dispersed troops, with such of the militia and regulars as might be sent to his assistance, to enable him to march to Esopus, and prevent the English, who were expected to proceed up the river, from landing and injuring the country.  By the time the enemy broke the chain at Fort Montgomery and proceeded up the river, Gen. Clinton had collected a small body of troops, and he marched upon Esopus by the valley of the Walkill, and arrived there just as the English were retiring after burning the village.

Copy of a Letter from Gov. Clinton to the Council of Safety.
“Head Quarters,
“Mrs. Falls, 11th Oct. 1777.

     “Dear Sir--I am this moment favored with your letter of yesterday, with a letter from Mr. Morris (by a second express,) containing the most agreeable accounts from the northward.  By a copy of a letter from Gen. Sir Henry Clinton to Burgoyne now enclosed you, you will observe that Clinton is no way confident of their being able to form a junction of their armies, though there are nothing but bars between them.  I wish nothing more than that Clinton may attempt it.  I am persuaded that though the chance of war may at times occasion our prospect to appear gloomy when the enemy push hard, yet it is in that way their ruin must and will be effected; and I greatly hope that Clinton, not wise enough to improve by example, will like Burgoyne, (flushed with his late success,) give stretch to his forces, or at least send parties out to try the affections of the inhabitants; in either case, I have not a doubt but he will meet with the same fate.  Should this not be case, I hope in few days to have strength enough to be the assailant.
     “We have nothing new here since I wrote you yesterday.  I sent a flag to Gen. Clinton for a list of our prisoners, &c., which is not yet returned.
     “The letter from Clinton to Burgoyne, taken from Daniel Taylor was enclosed in a small silver ball of an oval form, about the size of a fusee bullet, and shut with a screw in the middle.  When he was taken and brought before me he swallowed it.  I mistrusted this to be the case from information I received, and administered him a very strong emetic, calculated to operate either way.  This had the desired effect; it brought from him; but though close watched, he had the art to conceal it a second time.  I made him believe I had taken one Capt. Campbell, another messenger who he knew was out on the same business; that I learned from him all I wanted to know, and demanded the ball on pain of being hung up instantly and cut open to search for it.  This brought it forth.
     “I have been particular in this little matter that you may in future understand this new mode of conveyance.
                                                  “I am, in great haste, with high esteem,
                                                                                                          “Your most obedient servt.
                                                                                                                                                  “ GEO. CLINTON.”
        (Copy.)  “GEO. CLINTON.”
     Dr. Moses Higby of Newburgh, who resided near Mrs. Falls, at the Square, was the Physician who administered the medicine spoken of in the letter.  The Dr. ever afterwards, prided himself greatly on that incident in his practice, which he neither forgot nor permitted any one else to disremember, or be ignorant of.