The National tribune., 1888-06-14
THE "B0Y SPY"
His Visit to Virginia, and What He
Saw There.
FREDERICKSBURG. VA, May %, 1883.

'
Those of THE NATIONAL tribune readers,
and particularly the boys aud girls in the
families of the old soldiers who have been fol-
lowing the fortunes OF the Boy Spy" will be
gratifed to know that / have got there" at
last.
/ am in Fredericksburg this lovely May
morning i'll 1888 writing this personal letter,
through THE NATIONAL tribune to the
friends of the Boy" and his war girl, Geno.
To be sure we have been long, long time in
getting over this little Rappahannock River,
but it is said that all things GENE to him who
waits-which, by the way. has never been my
own experience.
Since
WAS so CRUELTY ARRESTED
here in the Summer of 1862, by order of the
Secretary of War, and taken Off to Old Capitol
Prison, my life, as we'll as that of Geuos,
has been strangely eventful. Indeed, may
say that this was the turning point in my ex-
istence, as well as that of Geno's
Though it has been % years since, / re-
call to-day every incident as freshly as if it
had all occurred last week. The scene on the
little porch when | bid Mrs. Wells and Sue
good by in the presence of the officer. The
events will never, never be forgotten. Geno
trembling with suppressed emotion too timid
and bashful, almost afraid to trust herself to
say farewell in the presence of the group,
stood by the door When / turned to her as the
last to whom | would give the parting word,
THE DEAR LITTLE GIRL
broke down, covered her face with her handker-
chief to hide her tears and embarrassment
took the handkerchief from her eyes, put it in
my pocket and it is in my possession to-day.
| boldly kissed Geno, and said tremblingly, but
sincerely and earnestly, AS sure as l live
will come again, GenO."
And | am here on the same old porch.
Through much tribulation l have kept the
promise made then, and Geno has been
FAITHFUL AND TRUE"
shall give you this remarkable story of Geno
again. In every respect her own and her iamlly's
terrible experiences during the Ombardment
Miss Sues irtations with the Confederate ofi-
GERS, Mamie running the bioekades for prOvis-
ions, and the kind old Captain in prison, will
make true story of life on the inside of the
Confederate lines more wonderful than !
have ever read in fiction, and before which my
own becomes tame story.
AS further confederation of the tTuthfulness
of this love story, the visitor TO Fredericksburg
will be shown the Wells House " by the pro-
prietors of the Exchange Hotel In fact these
enterprising Eastern gentlemen have placed
Geno's home on their published list Of
POINTS OF INTEREST
in Fredericksburg. along with that of the home
of Mary the mother of Washington, residence
of Maj. Slaughter, ETC.
I am told that they were induced to do this
because nearly all the tourists who stop off TO
view the battlefield, etc.-especialiy If any
ladies are in the party-invariably asked " If
any one by the name of Wells lived here"
The object, no doubt, being to crafty curiosity
rs TO the truthfulHess of the story. The pro-
pret0rs made some inquiries of the older citi-
zens in regard to the family, Maj. Slaughter
observing, "Oh, yes; | knew them very we'll.
They were very sweet girls"
The dear old house is now one of the attract
i've places, especially to the readers OF The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, aud one has TO wonder
where it is not read, as / get letters of inquiry
from all parts of the world. / have made a
picture Of Genes home, which / inelOse 10 The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, that those who are not
so fortunate TO visit the town may be meas
uredly assured that there is such house here.
The porch is precisely as it was - years ago..
Ga these steps and seats were spent some OF the
HAPPIEsT HOURS OF MY LIFE.
And, by the way, great many other fellows,
North and South, will say the same thing |
have no donbt q number OF oar own as well as
Confederate officers will recognize the familiar
old portico.
The attic, dormer window shown, is the
point from which proposed to signal over TO
the Lacy House, which is just diagonally over
the river from the house.
For my own gratihcat and TO convince a
skeptical party that the plan of signaling was
entirely favorable, Surveyed or opened up the
circuit as | proposed TO work it, going myself
to the Lacy House and satisfying my cOmpau-
ion that it was not only plausible but entirely
feasible to signal into the dormer window with
out attracting any attention.
/ have learned since my visit here, from
Confederate sources. that on several occasions
Union soldiers actually came over into the city
to attend parties and visit lady friends; under
the guidance of
FRIENDLY CoEFEDERATEs,
of course. But as there is so much of general
interest to see in and about Frederick sbuFg
we will hurry along, and at another time call
around and spend ala evening at the Wells
House.
From the window of my room in the elegant
Exchange Hotel, before which / am now sit
ting and writing this. | look out over the top
of the Wells House to the Stafford flights be-
yond TO the Lacy House. l can locate from
this window the identical spot on the lovely
green terrace of that historic home where l
sat on my horse hour after hour While |
gazed lovingly over to this side. The Lacy
House, or Chatham, is now the home of q
wealthy Pennsylvania gentleman, Mr.. Watson,
vino has made quite paradise of the old place.
A soldier can scarcely realize now that those
bright, green hills, now covered with flowers
and trees. were once bTistling with q hundred
and forty cannon that beiched forth over TINS
sleepy, quiet, harmless looking old town such
terrific
HAIL OF SHELL AND FIRE.
/ arrived here from Richmond on an after
noon train, as | desired to pass in daytime
through Hanover and the country over which
/ rode toward Richmond the bare back
horse in August, 1861, and also had the circus
ride in the Summer of 1862, coming away from
Richmond. The fare from Richmond to Ered-
ericksburg is but S2.05, the distance about 90
miles, the time two hOurs.
The accommodations at the Exchange Hotel
are really first class for 81 per day, equal per-
haps, to that for which $3.50 and 81 is charged
| in Washington. The livery hire is just one
half that demanded by the Washington hack
drivers, while it goes without saying that
there is more of interest to all old soldiers here
| than may be found in any 10 miles square in
any other portion of the United States.
| | have estimated that every soldier of the
Army of the Potomac, as well as that of the
! Confederate
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
have at one time or other been to Fredericks-
| burg,
/ We were not here for three days only, as at
| Gettysburg, but we all lived here for a couple
of years. 1t was. indeed, an eventful period
| in the lives of all of us. Who will forget the
| first pleasant occupation of the country by Nc
! Doveil in the Summer of 1862 and the return,