New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-20
LAMA.
4 Woman Without a Heart.

The day upon which General Lowell ana
the Confederate forces evacuated New
Orleans was sad day to Major Spinottc,
as to many Others. The majors sadness
lay in the fact that he had to leave his
bride, Aglae, just six weeks married, and
just sixteen years old. Whether it was
sad to Aglae or not, will not decide, but
presume it was, for Claude was hand
some fellow, just twenty-four, ardent,
handsome, rich. However, Claude had to
tear himself away, leaving his wife in care
of his mother, and with good store of
gold in her trunk. When spring opened
and things got more quiet, Aglae and the
mother were to retire from the city, to 90
to the plantation near Opelousas, and
thence, if chance served, cross the river
and get within the Confederate lines
again, somehow.
| do not know all the particulars of the
affair, but it is certain that in less than six
weeks Aglae had left Nine. Spinotte's
house and gone to live at the ST. Charles
Hotel, where her beauty attracted much
attention and great number of admirers.
Among these was certain Captain Coale,
from Maine, in the quartermaster's depart
nent of the federal army, a person of fine
e"es and fascinating manners. There was
some talk about the attentions which Ag-
lac received ,rom Ctp-ain Coale, but in
the general whirl and disorder OF New Or
leans life at that time the matter went for
little. In the latter part Of May young
Nine. Aglae Spinotte was sent beyond
the lines" by order of General Butler, for
.'disloyal language and reasonable prac-
fipaS - Sba +o,1- r.f;1rn at Nuna Snipntta'c
plantation in Opelousas, where Claude's
, mother had already arrived, and was
most cordially received, as became ':a
martyr to the cause" A week later
three steamers, with a gunboat for
escort, came up the Atchatalaya, landed
at the Spinotte plantation, and Captain
Coale coming to the house, arrested
Madame Aglae Spinotte ''by order of the
commanding General" and carried her
of, together with 11CO bales of cotton,
buried in the woods, but which Captain
Coale knew how to find as if by instinct.
concealed in the next parish, to which
Captain Coale's lresc;ence led him
straight. Singuarly enough, the proceeds
Of this capture ~tre never turned over to
the authorities in charge at New Orleans
tAC Aoi l1c SOtSOA, LUZ luc
sugar; nor does it appear that Captain
Coale made any report of his operations |
to tie authorities. A British ship took !
the cotton, etc., aboard in Atchafalaya |
bay and sailed for Liverpool while the |
steamers and gunboat returned to |
Brashear City. 1t is not my province to |
explain how these little 'Irregularities"
were permitted to occur.
On the twentieth of August, 1862, |
Major Claude Spinotte deliberately threw
his life away in the battle OF GAINESVILLE,
Tennessee, having received letter the
ripht before from friend in New Orleans;
and early in October Of the same year,
CAPTAIN Rufus NJ. Coale and lady, from
England, were registered at one OF our
chief New York hotels There seems no
doubt now that the Gladly" was the widow
of Claude Spinotte Coale had some
with Kennedy and the ponce,
but apparently was able to show clear
record. At any rate, he was not inter
cred with. and the couple, who had
abundance of money, lived fast and gay
ife. As there is no evidence to the con-
rary, it is only charitable to suppose that
hey were married. About Christmas OF
he same year, Captain Coale met with
atal adventure. He was enticed to an
nfreouented part of Maryland, not far
.om the military lines, by some device
aat was not clearly revealed, and there
e urou and murdered, his pocxe's'