Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-14
"SEEORxTA LOPEZ"
The Beautiful Yankee Spy Who Turned
the Heads of the Gray Goats In Georgia.
+bo 70 Constitution

From the Atlanta Constitution.
When the Senorita Maria Lopez
made her appearance In Atlanta, dur
ing the siege by Gen. Sherman, she
created decided sensation among the
gallant young officers of the Confeder-
ate army, who were fighting all day
and dancing all night. The senorita
was pretty. She had that Spanish
beauty which has certain lurid dew
iltry about it. Her flashing eyes
seemed TO look right through a man,
and her manner OF f1utteringa fan was
too eloquent for anything.
Just where the Senorita Lopez came
from no one knew. She said that her
father, a New Orleans refugee, was IN
Richmond, and that in returning from
a. visit to friends in Charleston she had
received instructions to await his ar
rival here. OF course this explanation
was satisfactory, andif there had been
any doubts the young lady's glittering
diamonds, bright eyes and confederate
principles would have won the day.
We were not entirely given over to
sack-cloth and ashes during the siege.
Balls and receptions took place al
most every night, and there were varl-
Gus 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 daring
completely fascinated the officers,
from the generals down.
One thing about Maria Lopez de-
lighted us. Federal shells had no ter
ror for her, and when other ladies
shrieked and ran off unceremOnlCusly
from their visitors to plunge into q
bomb-proof, this brilliant and fearless
creature would simply clasp her hands
and make some scornful remark about
the wretched aim of the Yankee gun
ners.
After our Notifications around the
city had nearly been completed, the
senoritarode out every day 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 colonel dodge
behind a tree. But it was soon no.
ticed that the senorita never even
ducked her proud little head. She
| would sit on her horse like statue,
and laugh in derision when her escorts
proved themselves unable to stand the
racket.
ooh, I would give anything to be a
soldierl" she said one day, after look
ing through Col. Blanks field glass.
81 would glory in the opportunity of
showing men 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 81
| tribute of admiration.
One day our heroine passed ME at q
gallop on her way back from the
tered down from her riding habit. I
picked it up, but the lady was out of
sight, riding like the wind. Thought
lessly / allowed the paper to come
open. What I saw troubled me not a
little. I saw traced out In detail the
plan of fully half of the 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 a pretty woman into
trouble, but had to do my duty. In
an hours time the paper was in the
hands of the provost marshal.
The next day [ was brought
face to face with Maria Lopez.
The hearing was in private, and a cir
Gle of colonies and ma ors sat around
the accused, frowning at me as if had
been guilty Of some criminal act. When
I related the circumstances attending
the finding of the paper, the little
Spaniard looked at the officers with q
merry smile.
81 think" said she, 'that you don't
care to hear from me. will say, how
ever, that l never saw the paper, and
therefore could not have dropped it.
The young man perhaps found it, but
he could not have seen me drop it,"
She smiled sweetly at the provost
marshal.
"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 saved my head.
La day or two the Senorita Lopez.
disappeared. Her lovers did not have
time to mourn her loss, because SIo-
GUMS corps crossed the Chattahoo-
chez 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 O. vortex of confusion that we
were glad to escape with our lives.
Among other fotsam and ietsam I
was thrown beyond the Federal lines.
Stranded in Nashville, at that time a
vast military camp, | felt badly
enough. | could not go south, and I
could not go north. One night | went
to the theater. During one of the
scenes there was buzz, and people
stood up to look at a man in the