The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-20
at'Aesling ge9lster.
wAYsor BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
A Dashing widow and Her Attract.
i've Daughter fn washington city
In War Times-Whence Jefferson
Davis t;Ot HIS Information.

Washington City a woman who, in ad.
dition TO the advantages OF an excellent
education, possessed charming manner,
and the means by which she was enabled
to maintain most excellsnt social pos
ltion. Whence the means came was not
known.
No act of improperly of word or deed
WAS ever imputed 10 her, but che was re-
ceived, wherever she chose 20 present her
self, with all courtesy, and in turn her
hospitality was always cordially accepted
| She was originally from one OF the
Southern states, was q widow, or passed
IS such, and had most attractive dsugh-
| ter, who, like herself, moved in the best
society of the capital, especially that cir
Gle OF it which was more distinctly repre-
sented by the diplomatic corps. A dis
tInguished st,sche OF the British Lega-
ton was, in fact, somewhat marked In
bis attentions to the dsughter-her5elt q
married woman. There were those who,
desiring to look beneath the surface OF
things, put this and that together, and
| conceived he notion that the diplomatic
representatives Of Russia could tell q
| great deal, if they cheese, as TO whence
me the income that enabled two such
charming ladies to grace so effectively
The gay sssemblages where they were
ever present.
The cloud that burst in fury in 1861
brought wonderful changes to the soclsl
life of the capital. The drum and the
bugle replaced the violin and harp, and
the epsule. outsnone the glitter OF diplO-
matte lace. The secrets of State became
Lne secrets of war.
TIE gay sttsche Of Britain was re-
placed by an uxorious officer of the Ad-
jutant Generals Department, and dis
lnguIshed Cabinet Minister of the new
regime became the recipient of the bland
rsnuents and smiles Of the iair-haired
daughter.
| On,n has the writer, when serving
under arms IN defense of the national
capital, met the distinguished Minister
trolling through the camps with the
air ana fsclnsting female on his arm,
S well as ST the social gatherings held at
the Minister'S house, where Madame was
always present, while, with the aid OF
the modesto she added new charms to
her voldptuous person, seldom, however,
assent from the side of the eminent host
in fact, in the absence of q more legit-
innate hostess, she played the part her
self, and did 1t to perfection, with grace
nd selt-possesslon unaPproachaole.
There was, however, nothing IN al this
TO incur the censure of the most tastid
| II nl lul hav
forced TO hide its head in shame had ii
brealhed word of malice based upon
what all the world could see and could
lot CritIcise. Grave events were, how
ever, Matching IN the womb OF time, and
among these was plan TO strike the re-
ballion st its heart, cut oil the very cur
rert of its life, and stitie what it seemed
| impossible otherwise TO destroy.
a great expedition was set on foot
that was to rival 10 its proportion the
Spanirh Armada and to descend upon
the coast OF rebellion and sweep away
rom it al the power it gained by the
way of the sea. OF course the plans, the
details. the force, and especially the des-
:instion of this formidable organization
vas necessarily profound and solemn
secret. In fact, its whole success lay in
the inviolabiliiy of those who were
charged with this knowledge. So sacred
was this trust regarded that the writer,
VINO, at his own request, was assigned to
most unlmportant command In the eG-
petition, refrsined from al interrogator-
les us to lis destination, and in reality
suppressed every natural desire TO be in.
formed of the objective point, because he
regarded such knowledge rs trus. 80
sacred that it should be contded in sd-
vance only TO those to whom it was alb
soiUtely and imperatively necessary that
it SHOULD be known. 1t was a Cabinet
secret, impaired under seal to the COM
mansers OF the expedition, to be revealed
only at the moment of sailing.
Twenty thousand soldiers, 5000 sailors
and seventy vessels constituted this for
mdsble force. On the eve of It's depart.
ure, but before the troops had embarked,
It's destination was impaired to the writer
not by the President, with whom he
wss in constant contact; not by Cab.
met Minister, some OF whom he saw
nearly every day; not by the Cniet in
command OF the expedition, but the iu-
formation came though the fascinating
southern friend OF the Secretary, and
Jefferson Davis WAS made aware Of it q.
the same time.
Nevertheless, the writer still kept his
own counsel. He knew that at the mo-
ment OF sailing council OF war was 10
be held, and that the budget would be
then and there untolded, and II the in.
formation given to him through chan
rel 80 mols trous should unfortunately
prove to DO true that it would not be too
l4tc to make the terrible fact known.
The hour came for the council TO be
held. Never did the American waters
behold sight so magnificent as WAS seen
that day in Hampton Roads. The hope
of a great nation was about 10 cast itself
upon q terrible chance, and the prayers
from countless fresides went up to heaven
for their safety and success. The hour
Tor the council came.
In the fsgship were assembled the
few who had been selected to lead these
men to victory, TO guide this great eV-
ptUlblOu " euSSCss. IL buO lhhCA ~
cesses OF the Admirsl's cabin the council
| assembled. The doors were locked, a
sentinel was placed fifteen feet from the
door on the outside, with orders that
none should approach him within like
distance. The sacred budget was un-
sealed, and IN low ard measured tones
the instructions of the Government were
read, and IN inspired words the destina-
ton was told. 1t WAS Bulls Bay and
Fernsndins." The same that the fss-
cinsting friend of the Secretary had dis
unctly namedl
What 8 stupendous farce was being
enacted before high hesyenl The writer
| could not believe mis- sense', nor could
the august council OF war believe theirs.
Fortunately for the cause--tortunstely
FOR the Countrywide Cabinet had added
to it's instructions that the council OF
war could, in its discretion, change the
destination on the eve Of sailing, If, in
lis wisdom IL should deem such a course