The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-07
4 lIrELr sPE.



ern COnfedefacy.
DODGING THE DETECTIVES.
From tho Cincinnati Commercial e
lNorE.;-The following story being q true one
we have been compelled to give fictitious names
of persons, especially as all the parties, 50 fal
as we know, are still living, and some Of then
in this city. The occurrences took place during
the last war;
sat in the Office of Mr.. Munson
chatting of things in general. Finally
the conversation changed, and the
last war was talked of, called out by
a picture of Sheridan's ride, that hung
over the mantle.
81 believe l never told you how ]
figured as a detective during the war;
said the Doctor.
"No."
well, 1 will tell you of one in
stance that happened in this city, and
if you choose you can write it out for
publication. The papers. only got an
inkling of it at that time."
every well, spin your story"
We give the Doctors story as near
as we can recollect it.
i was at the time of which speak
stationed in Cincinnati: Lhela q Cap
tain's commission, being in the Adju-
tant Generals department. Previous
ly, while in Washington city, L had
become quite well acquainted with
Secretary Stanton. One day l re.
ceived a letter from him, asking me
to employ half a dozen detectives and
set them to work hunting up desert
ers, and to perform such other duties
as might from time to time be requir-
ed of them. / employed several of
our best-known officers, and put them
to work. We sent several renegades
back to their regiments, but had done
nothing of any Importance. One day
l received q dispatch from Stanton to
keep lookout for Mrs. Longmead,
living, when at home, some miles
north of Cincinnati, but in an adjoin-
ing county. The Secretary said he
had it on good authority that Mrs.
Longmead was carrying dispatches to
the enemy. Without giving the de-
tectives ahint of the news had heard,
i told them to notify me of any fresh
arrival of ladies at the hotels.
| knew Mrs. L. very well, as she at
tended the same college with me at
Oxford some years before.
A detective notified ME that there
was strange lady stopping at the
Broadway. He gave description of
her, and l felt sure it was Mrs. L.,
although | told him he was mistaken.
l then sent for another detective,
whom | had selected for the purpose,
and told him to take board at the
Broadway, and to watch The moye-
ments of certain lady dressed in
black.
A few days after this occurrence,
another detective came and reported
that two ladies had arrived from the
country in hack, and taken passage
OH the steamerGlendale, bound South.
Furthermore, that they had an extra
amount of baggage. The captain was
notified that his boat must not leave
without orders.
The following morning two officers
were sent to the boat with orders to
converse with the suspicious ladies,
and if they refused to allow their bag
gage to be searched, to bring them up
to the office under arrest. An hour
afterward the officers came to the
Office with the ladies' and two very
large trunks. Iof course affected ig-
norance, and inquired the cause Ofthe
trouble. They told very plaintive
story. Then i inquired of the officer
what it all meant, and he said they had
opium in their trunks. "Only enough
for family use,' retorted the younger
of the ladies. l examined the trunks
and found fifteen pounds of opium
and large amount ofquinine. When
the ladies entered the office | rccog-
nized them as being the mother and
sister of Mrs. Longmead, although l
did not make myself known, seeing
that they did not recognize me. Mrs.
Schuyler and daughter were in much
trouble at the idea of being caught
with contrabands of war in their pos
session. | told them they must con-
slider themselves under arrest, and as
we had no military prison suitable for
the Incarceration of ladies, they must
choose hotel, where they would be
kept in a room under guard. They
made choice of the Burnet House,
whittier they were conveyed in a
hack. E
As / was assisting Miss Schuyler
into the hack, and defending her
skirts from contact with the wheel OF
the vehicle, l became aware that her
dresses were unusually weighty; how
ever, L said nothing then, but when |
reached the Burnet House told the
young lady she must retire and take
off an under-garment which l named.
She feigned indisnitv at my rudeness,
but | told her none was intended, but
the skirt l must have. After many
fearful protestations and assurances
that / had already taken every thing
that she had that was contraband OF
war, she finally retired tC her room
and brought me the skirt--aud such a
one as it was. On examination found
that it contained nearly one thousand
dollars worth of quinine. AS l learn
ed afterwards, two of them had been
three months in quilting the quiRine
into the garment.
On the morning following that on
which l made the arrest, entered my
office little late, and, as ! expected,
found Mrs. Longmead, sister to one
prisoner and daughter of the other. ]
did not seem to recognize her, but
took a seat and inquired If there was
anything 1 could do to promote hel
welfare.
"Yes, sir; l have called to get a
pass to go to Nashville"
"You do not need pass, madam
Our troops hold every point between
this and Nashville"
"Iknow, butt would feel safer with
pass"
Il cannot give you one, but if there
is any trouble, you can get one a,
Louisville"
"But l understand that you are ar
resting ladies right here in Cincip.
natl"
"Yes, we did arrest your mother
and sister, yesterday, Mrs. Longmead.
The effect was instantaneous. She
sprang 10 her feet with all the fury
and malienity of the tiger in her eyes
"IIow dare YOU, sir, address me a:
NrS onUmead I don't know yOJ