New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-16
THE STORY OF A CLERK.
HOW MISS VAN LEW AIDED GRANT.
CONFEDERATE SECRETS REVEALED By ps'oihD
FRIEND OF THE UsIoN-THE WAR RECALLED.


icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.l
WAsHINaToN July 15.-The appointment by the
Postmaster. General of Miss Van Lew, of Richmond,
Va, as a clerk. at a salary of $1,000 year, has
opened rich vein Of war "reminiscences in the minds
of men no were actors in the scenes before Rich
mond during the last sixteen months OF the he
belion. One of these men is Colonel ID. y. Parker,
who is nowChief Inspector Of the PostObice Depart
ment He enlisted as private soldier IN volunteer
company IN Chsutanqua County. N T.. early
Id 1861, was promoted, and afterward ne organized
the postal service of the Army Of the Potomac.
Colonel Parker was with General Grant after ne
assumed command of the armies OF the United
States, and made his headquarters with the Army
of the Potomac.
In recent conversation Colonel Parker said -
know Miss Van Lew very we'll l made her per
sonal acquaintance the day Richmond fell, but 1
had known of her long before that. When Cen
sral Grant had his headquarters at City Point we
used to receive the Richmond newspapers In time
for breakfast every morning, through the kindness
of Miss Van Lew. OF course the newspapers were
very interesting and to considerable extent val
liable. but other intelligence received from the
same source was of much greater Importance. Miss
Van Lew had friend--a trusty Union man-who
was clerk In the Alphabetically department
at Richmond, where he had access to the returns
showing the strength of the rebel regiments, brig
AIDES, divisions and corps, their movements and
where they were stationed From him invaluable
information found its way to General
Grant regularly through Miss Van Lewis
instrumeutaIty. She also had man in the En-
gIneer Department, and he made beautifully accu-
rats plans Of the rebel offences around Richmond
and Petersburg. which were promptly forwarded TO
General Grant.
UNION AGENT IN LIBBY PRISON.
Then Miss Van Low got young Ross. q nephew
OF Franklin Siearns the rich Unlonist Of Richmond,
appointed to Office in Libby Prison. Ross helped
great many of our officers to escape from that
horrible place, aud 80 well did he play bis
part that not only he not suspected
by the Confederates, but the most Of our boys
in the prison who did not escape considered
him one of the most brutal of their jstiers. and
when the end came would have been very glad 10
put an end 10 him. Several years ago met Cap
tam Louusbery who had been confined in Libby
and be asked me about Ross. who died several
years ago. Lounsbery said that afternoon Ross
came into the prison usua, to call the roll,
ing the d. Yankees and. as i passed HIM. I'D IN
a low tone, BE In my OH; at $3.50 tonight
Lounsbery did not know WI make of this
but be determined to fir out what 1t
meant To his surprise he b. no difficulty
| in getting to the Office past several guards
Once there be found Ross. who gruifly said Gee
bere, have concluded 10 Try you and see you can
| do cooking. Go there and look around. Nee
| what you lind and | will see to your case after
| a whIie.' Lounsbery went into back room, where
| he found complete Confederate uniform hanging
| over chair. lie took the situation Instantly
and donned the uniform as speedily as possible,
| and walked back into the office,
which he found vacant, and stepped out into the
A.
| aud he had walked only few
| steps from the door when black iran
accosted hin aud asked if desired TO find the
| way to Miss Van Lewis house. lie replied that be
did and was guided to her residence Church Hill
| where he was secreted until opportunity WAS
/ found 10 get him out of Richmond. He got of
safely and came into our lines
CoLORED GUIDES FOR ESCAPED PRISONERS.
miss Van Lew kept two or three bright sharp
| colored men the watch near Libby Prison. who
! were always ready TO conduct an escaped prisoner
| to place of safety. Not all of them were secreted
at her hoase-for there were several safe places
Of refuge in Richmond supported by her
| means When Colonel streight OF Indiana and
his companions dug their way out of Libby. he
and several of his comrades were secreted for sew
eral days in the house Of a man named Quarles,
which situated across a ravine only few hun
| bred yards from and IN full view of the mansion
| occupied by Jefferson DAVIS. But Miss Van Lew
| was the Guiding spirit, and she 1T who took
| upon herself the dangerous duty of providing
means of maintenance and escape for such of our
| men as were so fortunate as TO escape from the
horrible walls of Libby"
WAR SECRETS CONCEALED IN BROGANs
"How did she manage to open and keep up cor
| respondence with General Grant,"
| "Well. she had farm in the country on the
other side of The James River from us and below
Richmond Every day two Of her trusty negro
servants droventO Richmond with something to sell
milk, chickens, garden truck. etc. These negroes
wore great, strong brogans, with soles Of immense
thickness. made by Richmond shoemaker whose
name I will not give because he is still living
| and doing business in that city. Shoes were
pretty scarce ia the Confederaey in those days
but Miss Van Lewis servants bad two pairs each
and changed them every day. They never wore out
of Richmond in the afternoon the same shoes they
| wore into the city the morning. Tie soles of
| these shoes were double and hollow, and In them
were earned through the lines letters. maps plane,
ETC which were regularly delivered 10 General
Grant at City Point, the next morning. The CON-
| munication was kept up at our end by mraDs OF
steam launch, which used to land a enthusiastically
Kearney-on tho opposite side Of the james
| early in the night Before daylight he would
eomIpunicate with Miss Van Lewis messenger and
return to our side OF the river
MISS VAN LEWIS SERVICES RECOGNIZED.
"When We got the news tnat the COnfederatel
were evacuatng Richmond General Grant, who was
AZ the front before Petersburg sent back dispatch
TO Colonel Ely s. Parker, of his STAFF TO go into the
CITY NJ once and see that order was preserved and
that ali of Miss Van Lows wants were supplied.
accompanied him and went immediately to Miss Var
Lewis houss to carry out General Grants orders
The house was flied with Union people. Among
them was young Ross. who said he wantot
. TO keep out of sight, some Of our men who had
been prisoners in Libby had declared they woult
kill him on sight. Miss Van Lew had also anothel
refugee She was the posseesor OF "buckskn
| horse n sorry animal and when the rebel autnon
l -. order dur1pQ fIe last days of tn.