New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-23

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Younger SSys Nh. Lonxne46 Rad 49, r.
sweetheirt, aud nevef did - wuunan 8
&rtfnlly wrap man aroupd her Anesr $
Nrs. Lonxmead did General The
result was that these three female spies
went scot free. It vs. during these con-
VIBRATIONS that Mrs. L0ngmead confessed
to me the part she had taken.
When the war began she went to Canada,
and there, by some means obtained papers
certifying that che was British subject:
She then went to Washington and obtained
the signature of the British minister, and
of her paper, obtained pass through the
Union lines to Richmond. After transact
ing her business, she came west, and ap-
preaching the Union line on the head waters
of Big Sandy, was halted and conveyed to
the headquarters of distinguished Indiana
General. She rode in a carriage, and had
quite retinue IF servants. representing
herself to be an English woman suffering
from rheumatism. The General command
ing, hoping to bluff her, proposed to send
her to the Surgeon General of the de-
ed, she thanked him, and requested that she
be sent Immediately. The surgeon had her
carried up to his office, she affecting much
pain. She removed her shoes and stock
ings. Her feet and ankles were much
swollen mot from rheumatism. but from
walking). The learned surgeon took I'D his
stethes cope and placed it to her heart. She
was more than a match for him here for
she was the only person l had ever met
who could cause her own heart to palpitate
when she chose. The doctor listened but a
moment, threw down the instrument, and
begged her pardon for doubling herveracity.
She was carried. back to her carriage, and
given q pass and sent nOrthward rejoicing.
At another time she had some dispatches
to send southwark. There was a regiment
Of soldiers going up the Kentucky Central
railroad that day. Dressed as an Irish SER
want girl land she could assume the cllarac-
ter to perfectiOn), she succeeded in getting
one of the soldiers to pass her on the train
as his wife. After the train had started,
the authorities at Cincinnati learned that
she had gone, and, suspecting her Grand,
telegraphed to Lexington, giving descrip-
ton of the woman, and ordering her arrest,
but, by some me&ns, nO action was taken
until the next morning. In the meantime
the train had arrived at Lexington. Mrs.
LOngmead walked two miles into the cOun-
try, borrowed horse, rode twelve miles
further, and meeting a man IN the road
whom she knew, gave him her dispatches,
and told him to deliver them at a certain
rebel generals headquarters. She then
rode back to where the horse had been Dor
rowed, and afterward rode to Lexington,
and, unmolested, took the afternoon train
for COvingtOn. The authorities, learning
that she had gone to the country on her ar
rival at Lexington, were in hot pursuit.
When they got into Lexington she was far
on her way. A dispatcb was forwarded to
a prominent COvingtOn detective to arrest
her by all means on her arrival in that city.
Some friendly station operator placed copy
of this dispatch in her hands. She was then
in great strait. However. she did not de-
spair. Seeing Leslie CoOmbs, wife and
daughter, sitting few seats ahead of her
in the coach, she sat down near them, and
soon drew the ladies into conversation. She
told them her husband was a soldier, and
that she had induced him to desert, and for
this Ofense she was to be arrested on her
arrival at COvingtOn. Her pitiful story,
with many tears, enlisted the sympathy Of
the ladies, and finally Of the venerable Ken
fuckian himself At that time the rear door
Of the rear car. Of an incoming train was
always kept locked, when arriving at the
depot.
Arrangement was made that this door
should not be locked on this occasion.
When the train arrived Mr.. Coolnbs as
sisted Mrs. LOngmeal off the rear end of
the car while the detectives watched. the
platforms between the two cars, and Mrs.
COombs and her daughter came near being
arrested. Mrs. L. having alighted, and
seeing hack standing near, ran to it, and
jumping in, told the driver to carry her to
Newport ferry as quickly as possible, which
he did. There she alighted, paid him, and
crossed over on the ferry, walking up the
bank. She entered the PendletOn car
going east as far as Kemper lane. She
walked up to the top Of the hill. Here
being quiet. she had time to
pause and reflect. Taking survey Of the
country, and shaping her course, she at
'nce set out and walked more than dozen
niles to her home, where she arrived before
morning.
Mrs. Longmead told me that when her
mother and sister took passage ON the
teamer Glendale, the latter had important
dispatches concealed in the barrel of q small
smith q WessOn pistol; but no sooner did
The find that they would be arrested than
he walked to the stateroOm door, fred of
he pistol, and then threw it into the river.
'"What has become Of this family of
precious rebels ?" we asked, for we had be-
,Ome quite interested in the story. The
lOctOr replied:
"As soon as the war closed they packed
Up bag and baggage and went to Virginia,
vheres suppose, they are now living"
It is probable that the darkest hour in
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