Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-09
GETTING THROUGH THE LINES.
A Sharp Yankee Trick Played by Confeder
ate spy.

A Sharp Yankee Trick Played by Confeder :
ate spy.
While Sheridan's forces were lying in
camp just previous to Early's movement
and temporary victory by passing along
the base of Massanutton mountain, at
Strasburg, Va, (wrires an ex-rebel in the
Detroit Free Prese) 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 neutral ground between them for
one to operate on, and the task of pene-
trating the lines seemed TO me the most
perilOus ole had yet undertaken. After
casting around for day and holding in
terviews with some residents of the vIcin-
ity who had come into the confederate
lines for safety, decided on plan. On
the pike leading ont of town and running
along the right flank and rear of the
federal army, or at least part of it,was
confederate war widow who could be de-
pended on. A part of her house was then
occup pied by federnI officers, and it was
certain to be a depot for information.
From a woman in Strasburg I borrowed a
pretty com plete outfit of wearing apparel,
had my long hair trimmed as many of
the southern women wore theirs during
the war, and at dark one night [ moved
along the right flank of tho federal army
until two miles below the point [ design
ed to make. Then put myself IN female
rig, arranged an extra bundle. and struck
the Middlet0wn pike in the rear Of the
9th corps. 1t wasn't five minutes before
l was challenged and an officer called to
Investigate, and this is the story [ told:
"My name is Maywortn, my husband
was killed at Bull Run. | live in the log.
house on the cross-rUad coming in about
a mile from here, where your people
burned the big red barns. My sister,
Mrs. ARROW lives IN the double log house
just as you raise the hill mile end half
ahead. | am sick and worn out, and am
going up to stay with her until this is
over''
Scarcely question was asked me. I
was challenged twice more but got off
just as easy. Having come in behind
portion of the army in blue, no one could
we'll suspect me, and as matter of fact
the women of that neighborhood we're
shifting about good deal, and there was
no military reason why they should be
stopped. 1 reached Mrs. Arrows with
out a mistake. 1 knew that the fronts Of
both houses were occupied by officers, aid
when [ approached it was by the rear. [
had TO pass half dozen orderlies to get
into the house, and though some of them
wanted to jest with me, no one interfer
ed with my movements. | found the
woman just as she had been described,
Intelligent, patriotic, and very obserV-
ing. She had been doing cooking
and laundry work for some of the Off
GERS and kept her eyes and ears open.
On two occasions she had been through
the 9Th corps, and she knew the lay of
the gre ind clear down to the base of
the mountain and the force of cavalry
holding it.
| had passed for a female very we'll at
night, but I could not run too many
chances by daylight. l therefore went to
bed to play sick. l was entirely beardless
then, but we put poultice on my cheek
for neuralgia, tied cloth over the greater
share of my face and as lay IN bed with
my woman's nightdress on the makeup
was complete. Indeed, an army surgeon
came in and prescribed for me, and two
vivandiers visited me on two different &C
casions without the IMPOSITION being de-
tected. | was in the house eight days and
nights, and between what [ 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 250; the number of field pieces
within three, the exact number of earth
works and length of breast-works, and
the amount of artillery in tho 6th corps
lacking three or four guns.