Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-10-26
Female Spies.

| During the spring and summer of 1868
the city of Louisville was lined with spies
male and female, who were operating in
the interest of the United Stated Gov
ernment. These agents did not confne
their labOrs to Kentucky, but also opera
ted in Southern Indiana, visiting, towns
and hamlcts, wherever any clue could be
obtained to parties dealing in articles
cont aband of war. The female spies
were generally disguised i'll male attire,
and so completely was the deception
that they visited the Louisville Hotel,
Gait House, theatre and other public
places, without attracting any particular
attention or exciting the slightest slIspi-
cion Of their sex. They appeared like
young men of eighteen or twenty years
of age, with fancy canes, and smoking
cigars like yonng bloods OF the first wa
ter. With the exception of, perhaps,
three or four civilians their range of ac-
quaintances was confined to the officers
then on duty at this post. 1t was their
custom to report at the Provost Marshals
Office in female attire every day, and as
there were women constantly at the of
flee on business, the presence Of these
spies never gave rise to any suspicion.
These females frequently made incur
sions through the lines, and penetrated
the depths of the Contcdcracy, gaining
important informa ton regarding the
movements of the enemy, etc. OF these
the most daring was Il handsome young
actress, who has been a great t;lvOrite at
Woods Theatre, in this city. She has
since published history of her opera
tions i'll the Confederacy. But the most
interesting part of it has never been
written. 1t was the manner in which
she was engaged as a spy, and the cum
ming plan by which she was delivered
through the lines to the Confederates as
an enemy to the Union. If we mistake
not, she was playing part in the ''Sev-
en- Sisters" when it occurred to the Pro-
vost Marshal that she would be just the
"trick" for a spy. 1t was accordingly
proposed to her, and she accepted the
situation in good faith," agreeing to a.
bidc by and follow out the instructions
laid down In one of the scenes a ban
quet occurs, at which each Of the per-
formers gave Il toast, in which they
aimed to make ''local hit" 1t was un-
derstood that this actress should ad-
vance to the foot-lights and drink ''tO
the health of jeff Davis and the South
ern Confcderacy," when she was to be
instantaneonsly arrested by the Provost
Marshal, who was on hand with hIs
guards for that purpose.
The programme was carried out to
letter, and the result was Il great scnsa-
ton. The authorities i'll their bewilder-
ment, could scarcely believe their cars,
eyes or senses and as she was a fayorite
on the Louisville boards, the sympathy
for the supposed rash young lady was
deep and earnest, although her friends
were powerless to help her, or save their
pet from the impending doom. On the
following day this incident (not set dowH
in the programme) was the topic OF con-
conversation, and many were the express
sions of sympathy for this act OF madness
in the very teeth of the blue coats and
bristlino bayonets. 1t will be remem-
bered that at the sime the theatres were
under the supervision of Il provost guard,
who were ready to "snatch' the first one
who committed by act or word, a breach
of loyalty. The newspapers recorded
the arrest of the fair actress, and in dee
time. it was announced that she would be
sent through the lines for defying the
government - -.
When the day for her departure apriv-
ed, she was conducted to the outposts
with the usual baggage allowed in such
cases, in which was slowed away copies
of the papers containing accounts OF the
affair The guards who conducted her to
the lines OF Dixie were no doubt IN total