The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-23
HER0INES OF THE WAR.
FEMALE SPIES, GUIDES, AND OTHER
AGENTS OF THE coNFEDERAcY.
Tho Nerve. Spirit and Devotion Of
southern Women-rhe Only Female
Commissioned Oficer on Either
Sfde-Forrest's Brave Guide.

Ny space will only permit NE to give .
few instances from recollection and hear
say OF the deeds Of women on the Confei-
crate side, because was Confederate, and
II tho screed serves TO call the attention of
some women of ability to the subject shall
be well satisfied Thos, who are old enough
VIII recollst with what frantic enthusiasm
the womb on both sides, and especially
those OF the south, were imbued at the
sreaking out of h,stilities in 1851
IL has been said. perhaps with some
degree OF truth, that the sections might
never have come to blows had it not been
fer the earnestness with which the southern
women threw themselves into the cause.
However that may be, it is certain that they
attended meetings, male uniforms and
fias-. sent their most valuable jewels to
the Confederate treasury TO increase
ths fund, and urged their husbands,
brothers and lovers to 60 at once into
the ranks, to swell the Confederate legiona
Tue young man who was at all dilatory
aeout volunteering was at once placed
under social han: they would neither
permit him TO visit them nor would they
speak to him on the street, unless with
,!erisive contempt. He was completely os-
TRACKED, and is it to be wondered at that
the Confederate armies sprung up like
mushrooms in night! A man can stand
almost anything better than the scorn Of his
women folks.
THEIR NERVE, SPIRIT AND DEVOTION.
soon after the war actually began and the
Vance ON Bull Run was made many OF tho
~uthern women showed their mettle. Some
tim, before the lattle was Joined Cen j. T..
b. Stuart, commanding the cavalry, was
very anxion, to obtain certain information
us to the position OF several Federal brig
aies He was acquainted with highly
educated quiet, and refined young lady OF
Fairfax Court House, and h3 doubtless had
discovered that she was possessed Of great
nerve and spirit and Of an enthusiastic de-
rosion to tho cause Of the south. He man.
agei to get note to her, requesting her to
obtain such information Us sh, could, little
thinking that she would not only obtain 1t,
but bring 1t herself instead Of sending a
mes rnger.
His surprise was great, then, to see her
ride into his headquarters on the eve Of the
battle, thoroughly posted as to what he
wanted to know She had undergone much
mrJships and danger. having been shot at
many TINES IN running the gauntlet Of the
pckets, but she gamely pcrsevered until her
mission was accomplished.
In recognition Of her bravery aud intelli-
gencc, Stuart commissioned her as lieuten-
ant and ai'lc-de-camp on his staff, and this
appointnant was actually recognized by the
('nnftpiprutil 1a,1t Ars,,
haps the only female commissioned officer
IN either army. This lady was afterward
captured AMI locked up for many months
in the old capitol prison, think, and, after
her release, truth compels the statement
that, in the latter days Of the war, she was
married t. II Federal major, then and now
Appointment and wealthy citizen OF the city
Of Washington
OF Belle Boyd, the well known Confeder-
ate SPY, reed only to refer TO here, but il
hnc adventures wero written out they would
Rad like romance, and would show that
her services at one time were simply invalu-
able TO the cause she espouscd. Mrs. Green
how, too, was famous Confederate secret
agent, and she had as much nerve and dar.
ing As any man living While running the
bo,kalc at Wilmington, N. G., as a bearer
of dispatches to England, in the third year
of the wa, the steamer was sunk by shot
from FEDERAL gunboat, and Mrs Greenhow
was among the drowned. Her loss was
severe blow to the Confederate authorities,
particularly at the time IL occurred.
A PLrCKY YOUNG LADY GUIDE.
! havc heard soldiers Of the army Of the
west speak enthusiastically Of an incident
well known in that army. During one OF
Gen N. b. Forests campaigns in Tennessee
h. was anxious to beat strong force Of the
enemy which was posted and intrenched on
the opposite bank Of a deep stream, the
bridge over which was the objective point.
Forrest brought up his artillery, and charged
again and again with his dsmounted cav
airy. but his every attack was bloodily re-
pulsed. Toward nightfall, in final desper-
alto charge. Col Forest, the brother Of the
general, fell dead at the head Of his COM
mand. Gen Forrest, who was most ten
dcrly attached to his brother, was maddened
by his death, aud resolved TO whip the en-
eny or lose his command. He selected Q
picked squadron and single piece Of artil-
lery and directing tho remainder Of his
command to skirmish briskly TO hold the
the!iy Ut tue Drluge, ne HlOVei OH 10 Hnu .
ford, but he could get no information Of
one.
Finally he inquired at farm house, and
"a young lady inmate told him Of ford
rome miles away. There were no men about
the house, and Forrest asked the young lady,
whose name / have forgotten, II she was
afraid to guide him thither. She replied
promptly in the negative, and, despite the
plealings Of her widowed mother, she
sprang up behind Forrest, and after hard
ride showed him place where he could
cross with his guns While winding along
the river bank the command was several
times under a heavy fire, and several Of the
officers AMI men were killed and wounded,
but the girl never fiinched She was sent
safely home under escort, and Is con-
sequence of her pluck Forrest was enabled
to stiike the flank OF the enemy at day.
break, and to rout them completely. After
Che war was over and Forrest had somewhat
rccose'ed his fallen fortunes he sent the
heroine handsome and valuable testimonial
Of hi, respect and admiration. Murray in
Washin ytol Republican.