St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-01-26
GETTING THROUGH THE LINES.
A Sharp Yankee Trick Played by a Con-
federate Spy.

1cueratc spy
While Sheridan's forces were living
in camp just previous to Early's move
ment and temporary victory by pass
ing along the base of Massanutton
mountain, at Strasburg, Va, writes
an ex-rebel in the Detroit Free Press)
| was sent into the federal lines by
Gen. Early to pick up such information
as could be had. The armies were so
close together that there was no neu-
trail ground between them for one to
operate on, and the task of penetrat-
ing the lines seemed to me the most
perilous one | had yet undertaken.
After casting around for day, and
holding interviews with some residents
of the vicinity who had come into the
confederate lines for safety, | decided
on a plan. On the pike leading out of
town and running along the right flank
and rear of the federal army, or at
least part of it, was Il confederate
war widow who could be depended on.
A part of her house was then occupied
by federal officers, and it was certain
to be depot for information. From a
woman in Strasburg | borrowed pref
ty complete outfit of wearing apparel,
had my long hair trimmed as many of
the southern women wore theirs dur
ing the war, and at dark one night |
moved along the right flank of the
federal army until two miles below the
point / e-igned to make. Then put
myself in female rig, arranged an ex-
ira bundle, and struck the MiddletOwn
pike in the rear of the 9th corps. 1t
wasn't five minutes before L was chal-
4 Il Il
gate, and this is the story | told:
"My name is MaywOrth, my husband
was killed at Bull Run. live in the
log house on the crOss-roal coming i'm
about mile from here, where you peo-
pie burned the big red barns. My sis
ter, Mrs. ARROW, lives in the double
log house just as you raise the hill IL
mile and half ahead. | am sick and
worn out, and am going up to stay
with her until this is over"
Scarcely ii question was asked me.
[ was challenged twice more, but got
off just as easy. Having come in be-
hind portion of the army in blue, no
one could we'll suspect me, and as Il
matter of fact the women of that
neighborhood were shifting about IL
good deal, and there was no military
reason why they should be stopped.
reached Mrs. Arrows without a mis-
take. / knew that the fronts of both
houses were occupied by officers, and
when l approached it was by the rear.
had to pass half a dozen orderlies to
get into the house, and, though some
of them wanted to jest with me, no
one interfered with my movements.
found the woman just as she had been
described, intelligent, patriotic and
very observing. She had been doing
cooking and laundry work for some of
the officers, and had kept her eyes and
ears open. On two occasions she had
been through the 9th corps, and she
knew the lay of the ground clear down
to the base of the mountain and the
force of cavalry holding it.
l had passed for female very we'll
at night, but could not run too many
chances by daylight. l therefore
went to bed to play sick. I was en-
tirely beardless then, but we put a
poultice on my cheek for neuralgia,
tied cloth over the greater share of
my face and us lay in bed with my
woman's night-dress on the makeup
was complete. Indeed, an army sur
geon came in and prescribed for me,
and two vivandiers visited me on two
different occasions without the impo-
sition being detected. | was in the
house eight days and nights, and be-
tween what l heard and what Mrs.
ARROW saw and picked up l reported
to Gen. Early on my return to his
head quarters the number of federal
cavalry holding the advance position
within $50; the number of field pieces
within three, the exact number of
earth works and length of breast
works, and the amount of artillery in
the 9th corps lacking three or four
guns.