The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-31

concerned" said the General. as Mr.. Goulds
letter was read TO him; !" /" but he's got it wrong
about the plug Of tobacco, for ! never carried
one. have always smoked ever since was a
cadet, but I never chewed tobacco in nay life.
"Oh, yes" he continued. leaning back in his
chair and laughing, remember those pies
very well. The boys used to call them raw
hide pies, and they were as tough as old regu-
lati0n shoes"
"Pegged or sewed?"
"Pegged, by jingol" exclaimed the General
Then the old woman didn't ask you for a
chew Of tobacco ?"
No, he's got that part of the story wrong.
He got the right expression but the wrong
woman.
III TELL YOU ABOUT 1T
If you won't print it"
OF couTse not"
swell, you know, there were two women at
my headquarters dressed as men. One of them
was an orderly and the other was a teamster
with the headquarters tram"
" Did you know it2"
"No not until they were there long time.
They were accidently discovered, and as soon
as ] heard OF il fred them out. Well, theold
barTidan. who was teamster, came up to me
one day and asked me for chew of tobacco.
That was before j know she was a woman, but
when she was detected and brought TO head
quarters ] recognized her. Mr.. Gould's story
was founded on that fact and / remember the
=
"Tel me about the women"
swell, one Of them the orderly,
WAS QUITE A PRETTY GIRL,
about 10 years old. with good manners, and quiet;
and as far as ] knew there was nothing wrong
about her She came from q poor family in
Louisville and while no one ever got her TO
tell why she went into the army, have al
ways believed it was from some romantic notion.
She was very popular about the camp rode a
horse well, and was good orderly. The other
was a Wretcbed old creature who followed the
men down from Nashville and when orders
were given TO clear all women out of the camp
she stayed in, disguised teamster and a
tough old citizen she was"
How were they discovered?"
One day sent Col. Conrad out in command
Of an escort for forage train, picking up hay
and oats around the country. When be got back
he came 10 headquarters, and | asked him how
he got along. he said everything would have
been well enough but for those two women ]
had at my headquarters in soldiers clothes"
"Of course ] was surprised to hear such
thing. and he explained TO me that the little
orderly aud one Of the teamsters had been dis
covered 10 be women"
How were they discovered3"
Why, the old one got drunk and gave her
sell away, and the little one came near drown
ing while fording q stream In trying 10 re-
Euscitate her they discovered her sex. ] sent
for Gen. Frank Sherman, who was Provost
Marshal, and had both of them arrested aud
brought to headquarters. The little one seemed
very much sbashed when she was brought IN
and begged 10 be sent home to her folks She
had come mighty near drowning and
HAD GOT ENOUGH or SOLDERING.
guess. The old hen came up as brazenly as
could be, smoking old clay pipe and was
very Experiment; but ! didn't say much 10
her"
What became Of tbemr"
had them put in charge of the Surgeon
and kept In a tent under guard until got
chance 10 send them 70 Gen Rosecrans. The
girl got back safely TO her home in Louisville,
and afteTward wrote TO the Doctor, telling him
about her trip and saying that she was glad to
get out Of the army. The old woman found
her way back into the army as a teamster some
time after but was detected aud sent away
again under arrest She was pretty badly
treated the second time and SO scared that she
didn't trouble us any more
Did the soldiers know that they were women
before Conrad discovered itg"
don't think they suspected the girl. but
m quite sure that some OF them knew what
the teanster was; but those who were in the
secret kept pretty quiet about it,
DIG yoa ever have any other experience
with female soldiers2"
wONEE SOLDIERS AND SPIES.
"Oh. yes, frequently Women were trying
20 get into camp under some preiext or dis
euisc 81 the time They were a great nuisance
IA tell VOC about some Of them at another
time. There was quite a romantic story about
girl who tried soldering in the I'd Mich Cav
The first regiment j commanded. Size came
down in mems clothes, but was recognized by
the soldiers from her town and was sent home
again"
Did you ever have any women scouts or
FpiesYp
Yes; had great many all the time. and
I'm free 70 say they were mere reliable and
faithful than men who served in the same
capacity"
Who were tbeyY"
. can't tel you that. I've got record in
writing Of each one Of them and the exact
service they performed Some of them were
ladies OF high social station whose syrnrathie les
were with the Union, but whose families were
rebels They often gave ne the most reliable
information ] got and ii wouldn't do to give
them away even at this late day, FOR II might
lnJUre them. II they wanted their services
known you would have heard Of il long before
This but the women who 60 about advertisins
that they were scouts or spies can be generally
put dOEn IS frauds"
Of ng"
Sometimes they did, but quite as often
they didn't Some Of them worked for The
money there was IN il. They were impoger
ished by the war. Those whom they leaned
up0n for support were either dead or in tn,
q
time Of il 10 get along at home particular,
those with families. and they were glad 20 earl
an honest penny. They understood that they
were 10 be paid according as their information
was reliable and important, and | usually found
they could be depended upon"
Didn't they try 10 mislead your"
Sometimes they did, but never tried
twice 9ou see, had a perfect system Of spie
and scouts covering the entire country. and th'
same information came IN duplicate and oftei
5n tripilcate from different sources, and, too
iron sources that didn't know Of each other, 50
when Information came In could tell usually
how accurate il was"
hat became Of these women fr
The most Of them were residents Of th,
country 8herewe happened to be. and are Twin,
there stiil suppose. ] never attempted I,
keep track Of them after had nc further 81.
for their services ] have met some Of ther,
since. however and have had them call uno,
me whoa was in their locality since the war
AE UNCONSCIOUS spy.
"0ne OF the best spies ever had, - continued
Che General, " was rebel girl, the daughter o
enc Of the mof prominent and aristocrati
families q Virginia but she would have a ft
abe thought was giving her away She wa
only Is or IS years old then, and unco1nmonl,
pretty. ] came near falling IN love with he
nyself and / heard some Of oy officers whs
1zet her were badly smitten."
4are. har ofr