The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-26
startling Discoveries at Svashington--
Important Arrests Of Distinguished Fc-

| startling Discoveries mt WA Eton--
Important Arrests Of Distinguished Fc-
male Spies.
Under the new order Of things enforced by
the late disaster at Manassas, and under The
vigilant eye of General Mcclellan The govern
ment at Washington is making some astounding
| discoveries in the ramfcations OF this Southern
rebellion. Most important among these dis
coverics arc those in reference to certain dis
tjnguished feaac rebel spies who have been
suddenly checked in their inglorious career.
Mrs. DR.. Gwin, the wife OF ex-senator Gwin.
OF California; Mrs. Phillips, the wife of the ex
member of Congress Phillips, of Alabama, and
Mrs. Greenough, another accomplished high
life secessonst, are particularly prominent
among the rebels in crinoline who have thus
fallen under the special attention of the War
Office; and the discoveries made in this connec-
ton, as @iyen in our Washington dispatches.
throw flood Of light upon The battle OF Bull
run. If yesterday for example, in a trunk OF
Madam Gwin there were found, carefully be-
slowed among lot of innocent looking shirts,
some very useful maps and plans of all the for
tiiications in front of Washington, il may be
intended for the camp of Bea,.regard Nay,
more, we have il this little matter clue to the
mystery Of those important government maps
and plans which the rebels lately left behind
them in their hasty fight from Fairfax Court
House on the approach of our army; and we
are at liberty to guess how Beaurcgard was so
I2inuteiy informed of this advance and of our
plan Of attack upon his lines, as to be ready to
meet it at every salient point with overwhcm-
ing numbers. These distinguished feminine
rebel coafcderates and spies at Washington will
explain it all.
We arc at liberty now to say too that these
f,sc,,, 'ting female secessionists, and others at
taobeJ ~ the Cabinet and the court circles o.
Mr. Buchanan. were, perhaps, more instrumen-
tai than even. %bb, Floyd and Thompson in
bringing down the late administration to the
dogs and our country into this terrible intes-
tine war. Mrs. Gwin, Mrs. Slldell, Mrs
Thompson. Mrs Cobb and other accomplished
and charming ladies OF this dominant Southern
social circle, Curing the i@beeile administra-
uoh Oh j" !. Buchanan, held him, the government
@h'' The destinics of the country in their deli
cate little hands. Nor did the first French Revo-
luton and reign of terror produce a circle of
feminine politicians more accomplished, saga
cious and industrious than those who led the
poor old man Of Wheatiand, bound in garlands
of roses through visions OF Paradise, down the
broad road to destruction.
Every class and phase of society in Washing
ton was so deeply affected by Nhe charming
soirces, receptions and fancy balls of these
| irresistible Southern ladies that the sudden
transition in that city from al these social splep-
doris and destinations to the rough simplicites of
| Honest Old Abe" and his hordes of back
woods Office seekers, made Washington r;pe
for rebellion. The general reader will thus
understand the capacities and the facilities of
| such an ally as Mrs. Gwin for the work Of
"giving aid and comfort to the enemy at This
crisis. The suspension Of the peculiar services
which she and her feminine contdcrates in
! Washington have been rendering The enemy
/ viii, we dare say, prove very serious loss to
JEFF Davis and corresponding gain to tho
| cause Of our government.