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[sc:wptop]Hello, SleepyHeads! This week on Witness Prophecies, we discuss Sleepy Hollow Season 3 Episode 17, entitled “Delaware” which originally aired on April 1, 2016. Abbie Mills and Ichabod Crane re-enacted George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in their search for the Catacombs as the rest of Team Witness attempted to delay The Hidden One’s evil plan to destroy the world.
As Ichabod Crane said, “victory often comes at a terrible loss,” and Team Witness realized that loss in “Delaware.” Joe Corbin, played brilliantly by Zach Appelman, died at the hands of his own true love, Jenny Mills. Jenny was faced with an impossible choice – killing the Wendigo (Joe) or allowing the Wendigo to kill her father, Ezra Mills. Sleepy Hollow has never shied away from killing off major characters, and it did not do so in “Delaware.” As Joe died, after reverting back to his human self, he had the chance to tell Jenny that he loved her and she told him she loved him.
This has been one of the major themes this season with Sleepy Hollow – telling the people you love that you love them, leaving nothing unsaid. Jenny and Joe were able to say that to each other, closing a very poignant storyline, as Joe has brought Jenny out of her shell, teaching her to love and trust again after all she has been through during her life. What we hope from this episode is that Jenny is able to forgive herself for killing her lover, and not become burdened by guilt. Afterall, Jenny provoked The Hidden One as she was spying on him, and he used her love to pierce Joe’s heart, turning him into the Wendigo for the third and final time.
Another key theme this season has been that of trust, and we saw that in several forms again this week. Crane and Abbie Mills displayed full trust in each other as they set out for the Delaware River, with the flag sewn by Betsy Ross, to travel back to the catacombs. Crane reminded Abbie of all they had lost, of their special bond, of their trusts in each other. As Crane reached for Abbie’s hand and they walked through the portal together, we found renewed strength in their trust of each other and for each other.
Trust may be hard for Abbie when she discovers that Danny Reynolds has been spying on her for FBI Director Jack Walters. We know that there is no trust (and no love, for that matter) between The Hidden One (played by Peter Mensah) and Pandora (Shannyn Sossamon) as he tells her he only loved his power. He is trying to destroy the world, and Pandora only loves her special box. Can Pandora be trusted? 
Our team will surely learn that during the Season 3 finale.
Ichabod Crane has told Abbie Mills that she is his special bond, that their partnership is something unique, but he has clearly left some things unsaid between the two of them. They are closer than two best friends, and he continually shows her his respect and he puts her first, as he did when he asked her to “do the honors” as they traveled down the Delaware River transitioning to the Styx River and on to the path of the catacombs. 
As they explored the catacombs and found the Antechamber, a more startling discovery awaited them – Betsy Ross was alive. Betsy clearly displayed a possessive nature as she awoke from her 240 year slumber, and saw Abbie with Crane. It will be a shock for Betsy to learn that she has landed in the 21st century, but what impact will it have on Abbie and Crane as they attempt to complete their mission and stop The Hidden One? Can they trust each other, focus on the danger at hand, and prevent the destruction of the world? We have faith in our Witnesses – we know they can prevail!
History Lesson of the Week – George Washington, Thomas Knowlton and Knowlton’s Rangers
George Washington was considered a clever and skillful spymaster, and he directed numerous agent networks, provided guidance and training in intelligence gathering to his agents, and used the intelligence they gathered very effectively during his military operations. He is considered America’s first intelligence chief. His first experience with intelligence collection occurred in 1753, when he was sent by the British Colonial government into the Ohio Territory to learn about French military strength and their outposts. This experience, and a failed experience during the French and Indian War, led Washington to understand the importance of intelligence and information gathering. He spent more than 10% of his funds on intelligence activities during the Revolutionary War. His first documented expenditure was one for $333 for an unidentified officer to travel to Boston and establish a network of agents to gather intelligence on British movements.
One of the individuals tapped by Washington was Thomas Knowlton. Knowlton was born in Massachusetts, in 1740, and served in both the French and Indian and the Revolutionary Wars.
He joined his militia, the Ashford Company in 1775, after the British attacked Lexington and Concord beginning the American Revolution. He was chosen as the captain of the 5th Connecticut Regiment. In August, 1776, George Washington promoted Knowlton to lieutenant colonel, and he was ordered to select key men to carry out reconnaissance missions. These men were America’s first official spies, and known as “Knowlton’s Rangers.” He was killed in September, 1776, during the Battle of Harlem Heights in New York.
Captain Nathan Hale was a member of this elite group – one of Knowlton’s Rangers (and we know he was hanged as a spy).
The US Army considers Knowlton’s Rangers as the historical forerunner of the modern day Army Rangers, Special Forces and Delta Force.
In 1995, the LTC Thomas W Knowlton Award was established by the Military Intelligence Corps Association. This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the promotion of Army Military Intelligence.
Link to Wikipedia Article about Thomas Knowlton
Link to Wikipedia Article on Knowlton’s Rangers
Link to the CIA.gov article about “The Founding Fathers of American Intelligence” (where you can read much more about George Washington’s spy circles and his work)
April 8, 2016 – Season 3 Episode 18 – “Ragnarok”
And SleepyHeads – don’t forget about the book, Sleepy Hollow – Creating Heroes, Demons & Monsters, by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry. You can order it on Amazon, by using the Golden Spiral Media link.
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