The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-12-04
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A Lovely Spy.

a Lovely Spy.
Some of the most valuable as we'll as
courageous secret agents of the South
during the war were ladies. Possessing,
as many of them did, beauty, 6nesse, the
instructive knowledge of human nature,
that enables the sex to penetrate the
weakest point of mans armor, and q
patriotism that made them proud to
assume any risk that would benefit their
cause, many undertook missions so des.
perate that only their womanhood saved
them from short shrift when discover
ed.
A case in point occurs to me. We
had fallen back from Fairfax Courthouse
and gone into camp at Centerville.
Winter was at hand, and smoke curled
lazily upward from ten thousand clay
built chimneys. Every tree had been
| leveled by the soldiers axe; the old turn
pixies were lost in labyrinth of foot
worn paths, and felda where only little
while before the wind played hide and
seek among the growing corn were now
as hard as the bed Of billiard table,
The headquarters Of Beauregard were in
a farmhouse, uupainted and unpreten.
tious, that once had been the home of
famous Virginia hospitality, but "the
boys had gone to the war" the old folks
had retired to more coogeuisl scenes in
the interior OF the State, and all around
were signs of ruin.
The plans of Mcclellan. whose army
was encamped in our front, his fighting
strength and the disposition of his forces,
together with the new phase of public
sentiment in the north that was then
beginning to take shape, we're at this
time subjects of grave concern to our
commander, and it was important to OBJ
tain more definite information than had
been furnished by the regular spies.
How to get it, however, and through
whom vas the question.
The problem was solved while at
breakfast one morning by q. member of
Beauregard's staff. "I know.a LADY,"
he said, sin the neighboring County of
London, who possesses every qualihca'
tion of successful secret agent. Her
name is Mrs. Virginia Mason. She is
young, fascinating, highly educated,
welcome guest in many Washington
families and acquainted with large
number of northern people who spent
their winters in the capital before the
war. Witha, she is widow, her hus
band having been killed at the battle of
Manassas, and brave enough to under
take anything that will serve the land
she loves"
Beanregard instructed the officer to
ride over to Loudon and invite the lady
to visit headquarters, and in day or
two she appeared. In the interview that
followed be told her what he required-a
report from McClellan's army, its condi-
tion, the disposition of his forces and the
plans discussed by the military autbori-
ties in Washington. For this purpose
she was to ingratiate herself with promi-
nent officers, visit New York, Baltimore,
the various departments, or any other
points where information could be pro-
cured. She was also to communicate
with the representatives of the conteder-
ate government in different cities OF the
north.
The lady eagerly accepted the propo-
sition, and, supplied with an abundance
of money, started at once on the perilous
errand, which meant glory if she was
successful, and prison if she failed. She
returned after an absence of several
weeks, crossing the Potomac opposite
Dumfries, and arrived at the camp of
Colonel, now Senator, Wade Hampton.
Thence, escorted by one of his officers,
she was driven 10 headquarters at Cen.
| terville.
1 can see her now as she alighted from
the ambulance on the piazza of the little
brown farm house; a young but matron
ly looking lady, handsome, too, with
glowing, dark eyes, that looked as if they
had fireworks in them. She was dressed
in black, aud her only baggage was a
small hand satchel. She was also &C
companed by shaggy Skye terrier,
,nere armful, that made soldier who
haden't seen pretty woman for month
of Sundays enVious.
What occurred within the doors that
closed upon her was related to me after
ward by General Jordan, then and sub
sequently Beauregard's adjutant general.
Beauregard was, of course, delighted to
gee her, and with a woman's volubility
she told him more in two hours than be
could remember in two mouths. The
verbal part of the interview being ended
he inquired for her papers, the record of
her trip and the dispatches he expected
from confederates in the north.
"Why, General, / didn't dare to bring
them on my person." she replied, with
peculiar smile. ut was unsafe, you
know; I might have been captured, and
therefore I have told you all know by
word of mouth
Beauregard could not conceal his vexa
ton, and the more be showed it the more
the little woman seemed to enjoy it.
Finally, after teasing him to her hearts
content, she said with affected demure.
ness, General, have you pair of scis
sors or knife? I'd like to use it for
minute"
Beauregard handed her the ink eraser.
"Come here, Dot" she called to the dog,
and taking him in her lap continued:
~ told you, general, it was not safe to
carrying important papers on my person
and I have not done 80; in fact, have
been suspected and searched, but a wo-
mans wit is something superior to
mans judgment See! !" she said with
coquetish nonchalance, as she turned the
little animal on its back and deliberately
proceeded to rip him open. "Here are
the dispatches' As she spoke she held
in one hand the hide of her Skye terrier
and with the other smilingly extended
package of closely written tissue paper,
while dancing about the floor was q
pretty "black and tan," happy at his
deliverauce from another dogs clothes.
The deception was perfect, the mission
success. Beauregard was enabled to antic-
ipate McClellan's movements, and the
charming spy not only received q hand
some reward, but was led to the altar
after the war as the bride of the young
officer who sang her praises at Beaure.
CARDS breakfast table.
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