The National tribune., 1882-02-18

most marvellous women I ever met None o.
those employed by the confederate service evel
approached her in the combined qualities Of
bravery and judgment By her courage, caution
and the promptness with which she was able tc
meet any emergency, she several times saved
me from trouble" said Major Cole, in speaking
| of his assistant.
| From another source / heard much of the
! history of this woman's connection with the
confederate government, and especially with the
conspiracy for the capture of the Michigan.
It was some time in June of '64 that she was
sent from Sandusky to Richmond with confeder-
ate dispatches in relation to movements on Lake
Erie 1t was the first hazardous and important ser
vice to which she had been assigned. Major Cole
was to meet her in Washington ON her return
from Richmond. He Joined her there and the
two came to New York together, and stopped at
the ST. Nicholas Hotel.
Major Rollins, of New Hampshire, and his
wife, with another Federal officer and his wife
were also stopping there Miss Davis saw the
ladies in the hotel parlor. The three Immediate
ly recognized each other as old schoolmates, who
had been educated at the same convent. There
were mutual greetings of pleasure and renewal
of old schoolday associations. She introduced
Major Cole as her cousin from Pennsylvania.
After social chat he went into the rotunda of
the hotel, where gentleman approached him
and said
l should like to see you moment at the
door," as he spoke leading the way out of the
crowded corridors On the pavement waited a
detachment of soldiers, and the officer, touching
him upon the shoulder, said:
Sir, you are my prisoner" They took him
to the provost-marshal, who ordered him to be
searched, and informed him that he was arrested
as confederate spy.
They found nothing about him but dis
patches and letters concerning the Mount Hope
Oil Company nevertheless he was consigned to
a cell to await further Developments. Here he
lay upon the floor with his coat for pillow
three or four hours, all the time harboring in
his mind the belief that his female accomplice
had finally betrayed him. The result demon
strated how unjust his suspicious were, for it
was her subtle wit that secured his release.
Missing him for some time she made inquiry
through the husbands of her friends where he
was. They ascertained that he had been arrested
by the provost guard and denied the liberty of
communicating with any one. She OWNED the
cause and promptly matured plan to secure his
release. She at once laid siege to the hearts of
her old schoolmates, the wives of the Federal
officers, by taking them aside and confidentially
saying:
ooh, he is not my cousin, he is not my cousin!
He is my husband Father was opposed to my
marrying an American. His English prediudices
al -
elope. He is not confederate spy, he is an oil
operator at Titusville, Pa, and lives at Sandus-
ky"
Her tears and entreaties enlisted the sympa-
thies of the Federal officers wives, who soon
commanded the influence and cooperation of
their husbands in obtaining his freedom
The officers took carriage and went to Cen
eral Dixs headquarters. Learning that he was
indisposed at his private residence, they drove
there and promptly secured an order for the re-
lease of the husband of their wives friend. as
they supposed. With it they went to the prison,
and the confederate soldier was promptly set
free. The three entered the carriage and RAPIDLY
returned to the hotel, the Federal officers all the
way poking fun at Cole for being taken for a
Johnny Reb," and Gliding him for not being
frank in the first instance and telling them that
it was a runaway match, and so save all this
trouble. Cole was at a loss to know what they
meant by runaway match but he in no way
betrayed the fact.
When they reached the hotel Annie, Davis
was waiting with the Federal officers wives in
the parlor, apparently in great distress. AS
Cole entered she ran and threw her arms around
his neck, enchanting between her sobs
My dear, dear husband"
Her EXPLANATIONS of Joy and affection, mingled
with her tears, caused her considerate friends to
When they were alone and it was safe, Cole
quickly turned to her and said:
Annie, what does this mean ?"
1t was my only plan to secure your release,
and it has been successful. You are now free
and we are safe"
But you are not my WIFE
"Ah but shall be the first day we tread the
deck of the Michigan together" /
That's a thousand times true if we both live
to see that day." replied Cole.
After these explanations and avowals, Cole
and Miss Davis joined their friends, and the
evening was spent in pleasure. The next day
they left to continue their operations on the
lake.
In the opening scene of this narrative, which is
less than three months after the circumstance
Al A.