Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-05-13
SENORITA LOPEZ.
THE uANDsOMEsT FEDERAL SPY.

When the Senorita Maria Lopez
made her appearance in Atlanta during
the siege she created IL decided semsa-
ton among the gallant officers who
were fighting all day and dancing all
night. The senOrita was pretty. Her
flashing eyes seemed TO look right
through man, and her manner of fiut-
tering fan was too eloquent for any
thing. Just where the Sen0rita Lopez
came from no one knew. She said that
her father, New Orleans refugee, was
in Richmond, and that in returning
from visit to friends i'm Charleston
she had received instructions to await
his arrival here. OF course this expla-
nation was satisfactory, and if there
lad been any doubt the young lady's
glittering diamonds, bright eyes, and
ardent Confederate principles would
have won the day.
We were not entirely given oyer to
sackcloth and ashes during the siege.
Balls and receptions took place almost
every night, and there were various
amateur entertainments. in all the
festivities Of the time the charming
Spanish senorita bore her part. She
was the acknowledged belle of the siege
and her almost reckless daling CON-
pletely fascinated the officers, from the
general down. One thing about Maria
Lopez delighted us. Federal shells had
no terrors for her, and when other la
dies shrieked and ran off unceremon-
iously from their visitors to plunge into
bomb-proof. this brilliant and fearless
creature would simply clap her hands
and make some scornful remark about
the wretched aim of the Yankee gun
ners. After our Notifications around
the city had been nearly completed, the
senorita rode out nearly everyday with
some Of her military admirers to view
the works. This was rather perilouS.
Stray bullets and shells were always
whiZzing by, and it was common
thing to see general or a colonel dodge
behind tree. But it was soon noticed
that the senorita never even ducked her
proud little head. She would sit on her
horse like statue, and laugh in deri-
sion when herescorts proved themselves
unable 20 stand the racket.
"Oh, 1 would give anything to be a
soldier ~ she said one day, after look
ing through Colonel Blanks field glass.
81 would glory in the opportunity of
showing men how TO fight and die for a
great cause"
Perhaps this was too intense, too
bombastic, but in those days every.
thing that we wrote and spoke was in
this fervid strain. SO the senorita's
talk provoked no comment, except a
tribute of admiration.
One day our heroine passed me at a
gallop on her way back from the breast
works. Something white fluttered
down from her riding habit. l picked
it up, but the lady was out of sight
riding like the wind. Thoughtlessly l
allowed the paper to come open. What
saw troubled me not a little. / saw
traced out in detail the plan of fully
of our forts and trenches. The paper
also contained the location of certain
Government buildings and an estimate
Of our forces.
There was but one thing to DO. l
hated to get pretty woman into trou-
BILE, but had to do my duty. In an
hours time the paper was in the hands
of the proyost-marshal. The next day
l was brought face to face with Mari a
Lopez. The hearing was in private ,
and circle of colonels and Majors sat
around the accused, fro wning at me as
if had been guilty Of some criminal
act. When 1 related the circumstances
attending the finding of the paper, the
little Spaniard looked at the officers
with a merry smile.
81 Think" said she, "that you don't
care to hear from me. l will say how
eyer, that never saw the paper, and
therefore could not have dropped it.
The young man perhaps found it, but
lie could not have seen me drop it" F"
She smiled sweetly on the provost-mar-
shall.
"Ahem !" said that individual.
"There must be some mistake here.
We do not doubt your fidelity, sir, but
we had better hear no more of this"
was dumbfounded and abashed.
Knowing very little about the ways of
the world, hastily retired, thanking
my stars that had sayed my head. In
day or two the Senorita Lopez disap-
peared. Her lovers did not have time
to mourn her loss, because Slocum'S
corps crossed the Chattahoochee, and
our forces had to get out in hurry.
But was destined to see the senorita
again.
Many of us failed to follow Hoods
army south. We were whirled about
in such vortex of confusion that we
were glad to escape with our lives. A
mong other flotsam and jetsam l was
thrown beyond the Federal lines.
Stranded IN Nashville, at that time a