Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-14
History ofLOuiS q. COntri.

History Of Louis G. Contri.
The people of several counties Of the Valley
will have no trouble in calling to mind the ceIc-
brated DIR. Contri, who made his headquarters
for more than a year in Ednburg. after his
descrtion from the Federal army, from which
point he occasionally sailed forth in the capa-
city of drill master, scout, spy, Nc, never Tor,
getting the necessity Of being well mounted
and always prcttrrng ''capturlng to pur-
chashing We all may remember ono partlcu-
lar horse and case of surgical Instruments
''captured'' from some Of our own people, by
this soidisant Confederate just prior to his de-
parture for Richmond. However, We do not
propose to give any extended account OF his
life in the Valley, but to present our readers
ii scrap of his history from a late New York
Sun. He has recently been arrested. tried:
convicted, and imprisoned for bigamy in New
York. The Sun report is as follows:
His assumed name is Contarinl, the nalae OF
that illustrious patrlcan Italian family which
sdoms the historical pages OF the once renown-
ed Republic of Nence. The precious scamp
who IS the subject of this sketch came to this
country in the fall of 1861, married IN n New New
York young girl fourteen years Old, and then
abandoned her and became a bounty Jumper.
The last time he enlisted was in cavalry rcgl-
mcnt. and every chance of escape being cut oh
he WAS sent to the front After Il brief period
Of service he deserted to the Contcdcrltcs while
ON OUTPOST duty and was sent to Richmond,
where he passed himself off rs Il doctor, and
was appointed to attend patients III rebel
hospital.
4 length. firing of such duty las he is very
unsteady in his habits. he exchanged the po-
sition of doctor for that of L captain IN cavalry
regiment, where, it is said, he distinguished
l. nj
became attached to him; and on one OCCASION
4 great reception being given in Jefferson la.
Wis mansion, the Colonel took Contr there and
presented him to the elite of Richmond society.
Miss Virginia Sanders, the daughter OF the
then prominent rebel agent abroad, the Hon.
George n. Sanders, became infatuated with the
unscrupulous scoundre and fell victim to his
wiles. Taking advantage Of her father $ alb
sence, he wooed her, and they were married,
At this time the Italian Col. Ccsnola who
had married relative ofGeorge n. Sanders III
New York, was commanding Union regiment
Of cavalry under Gen. Fitzpatrick, was taken
prisoner in battle and sent to Richmond. Con-
tri, learning the fact. visited the Colonel in the
Libby prison, and telling him that he had mar
ned Mr.. Sanders daughter, promised that ne
would use his influence to secure tor hlm the
freedom of the city on parole.
After his marriage Morgan, the famous sucr-
ra Of Tennessee, made his appearance IN
Richmond for the purpose Of enliStng strong
body of men to wage q guerrilla warfare along
the border Of Tennessee and the ONO river.
Contri, always fond of adventure took notion
to quit the cavalry regiment and JOIN the gucr-
ras encamped outside Richmond ready TO TO
start as soon as the necessary equipment could
be procured When the guerrilla started tor
the border, Contri followed him, aud after
few months service, when the PRESIDENTIAL
election of 1864 was approaching. Contrl, al
WAYS ambitious of notorlcty, offered to so
North as a Confederate emiSsary This WAS
easily granted and after some drcary days OF
marching through the mountains of Tennessee
he reached the Ohio river, and crossing came
to New York
During his soiourn in this city, he spent his
time in writing the blac kmaling letters to gen
tlcmcn known as rebel sympathlzcrs, asking
them to furnish him with funds, and they IN, i.
yarablv complied with his request tor fear OF
cynosure Among his victims was Il Catholic
clergyman of high standing since deceased,
who was hecced several times by the lmpoSor.
While here he was intimately associated with
the gang Of rebel agents that tried to burn the
hotels Of this city. After the discovery OF
their internal plot he fled to Canada and met
his father-in-law, the Hon. George \. Sanders,
coming from England There he was joined
bv his wife, whom he had left bel hind when he
started on his GRAND for the North, and all the
family lived there together.
At the time of Lincoln assassination PrcSl-
dent johnson offered $4,000 reward Tor the
BODY of George a. Sanders, at that time be-
licyed to be implicated in the conspiracy.
Some cnterprising men tried the abduction OF
Sanders from Canada, but their plan was trus-
tratel by the presence in the house OF Contr:l,
who although he was knocked down, was III
time TO give the alarm. This event cndearcd
him more closely to the Sanders family. .
But cloud came to mar the sweet vision OF
hanniness and future prosperity. Col. CcsnoIa
after the war returned to New York, and made
inouires concerning the standing and character
Of Tontri Then he informed Mr.. Sanders OF
NIL the doines of this scamp, and at this uneX-
neeted denouemcnt the fathcr-in-law pcremp.-
torilv cynelled him from his house. lie left
behind his lovely and accomplished wife who
deyotedlv loved him, and who died few
months aftcrward of broken heart,
After his expulsion from MIR. Sanders house.
Contri wandered until he settled in Boston, ana
began to practice medicine; Ia
During the great first Fcnian excitement ne
Joined their ranks, was appointed Mayor a,lG' r
crossed thc border to Canada with them. A.
ter their inelorious retreat he returned to Dos
ton and opening drag store he married Il
belle of the Hub Having spent some '1he
with his newly-marricd wife, be attempted TO 70
ioin the Cuban patriots. possibly to get rid OF
wife No. 3, But instead of going to Cuba ne
chose more congcnial climate IN the town o.
Poughkeepsic, where he married Wilc NO. f.
Such is the history of the accomplished Scnuh'
drcl Contri IS Shenandoah Democrat.