Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-12-11
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Pretty MRS. MASON.
How She Made Herself Useful to the Com
federate Government.

courageous secret agents of the South
during the war were ladies. Possessing,
as many of them did, beauty, finesse,
the instructive knowledge of human ma
ture that enables the sex to penetrate
the weakest point Of mans armor and
patriotism that made them proud to as
sumo any risk that would benefit their
cause, many undertook missions so
desperate that only their womanhood
saved them from short shift when dis
covered.
A case in point occurs to me. We had
fallen back from Fairfax Court House
and gone into camp at Centerville. Win
ter was at hand and smoke curled lazily
upward from 10, 600 clay-built chimneys.
Every tree had been leveled by the sol
dier's axe; the old turnpikes were lost
in labyrinth Of foot-worn paths and
fields where only a little while before
the wind played hide and seek among
the growing corn we're now as hard as
the bed Of a billiard-table. The head
quarters of Beauregard we're in farm
house, implanted and unpretentious,
that once had been the home Of famoNs
Virginia hospitality, but THE boys had
gone TO the war, the old folks had Pc
tired to more congenial scenes in the
interior Of the State AMI all around we're
signs Of ruin.
The plans of Mcclellan, whose army
was encamped in our front, his fighting
strength and tho disposition Of his
forces, together with the new phase OF
public sentiment in the North that was
then beginning TO take shape, were at
this time subjects Of grave concern to
our commander, and it was important to
obtain more definite information than
had been furnished by the regular spies.
How to get it, however, and through
whom was the question.
The problem was solved at breakfast
one morning by member Of Beaure-
CARDS staff II know lady" be said.
in the neighboring county of London,
who possesses every qualification Of
successful secret agent. Her name is
Mrs. Virginia Mason. She is young,
fascinating. highly educated, a welcome
guest in many Washington families and
acquainted with q large number of
Southern people who spent their winters
she is a widow, her husband having been
killed at the battle of Manassas, and
brave enough to undertake any thing
that will serve the land she loves
Beauregard instructed the officer to
ride over to London and invite the la
dy to visit headquarters, and in day
or two she appeared. In the interview
that followed he told her what he re-
quired-a report from McClellan's army,
its condition. the disposition of his
forces and the plans discussed by the
military authorities in Washington. For
this purpose she was to ingratiate her
self with prominent officers, visit New
York, Baltimore, the various depart
ments, or any other points where infor-
nation could be procured. She was also
20 communicate with the representatives
Of the Confederate government in diff
ferent cities of the North
The young lady eagerly accepted the
proposition, and supplied with an album
dance Of money, started at once on the
perilous errand, which meant glory if
she was successful, and prison II 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 to headauar-
ters at Centerville.
can see her nowAss she alighted from
the ambulance on the piazza OF the little
brown farm house; young but matronly
looking lady, handsome, too, with glow
ing dark eyes, that looked as il they
had fireworks in them She was dressed
in black, and her only baggage was a
small hand sachel. She was also ac-
eompanied by shaggy Skye terrier,
mere armful. that made soldier who
hadn'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 GEN
eral Beauregard was, OF course, de-
lighted TO see her. and with a womans
volubility she told him more in two
hours than he could remember in two
months. The verbal part of the inter
view being ended, he inquired for her
papers, the record of her trip and the
dispatches he expected from Confeder-
ates in the North.
Why, General, ! didn't dare bring
them on my person, she replied, with
peculiar smile. ut was unsafe, YOU
know. | might have been captured, and
therefore | have told you all know by
word Of mouth"
Beauregard could not conceal his vex-
alton, and the more he showed 1t the
more the little woman seemed to enjoy
it Finally, after teasing him to her
hearts content she said with affected
occurrences: General, have you pair
Of scissors or knife? I'd like to use it
for a minute"
Beauregard handed her an ink eraser
Come here. Dot" she called to the dog
and taking him in her lap continued: Il
told you, General, it was not safe to car
ry important papers on my person and l
have not done so; in fact, have been
suspected and searched, but woman's
wit is something superior to mans