The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-05
A CONFEDERATE SPY.
How She Got Away From n Detachment
of Union Soldiers.


of Union Soldiers.
There is a two-story log house about
eight miles from Batesville, Ark, on the
White River, which has history. The
house is now "sealed' SO that the rough
log exterior is hidden behind very ordin-
arv looking weather boarding. This is the
home of Julia Pritchard, who was famous
during the war as female Confederate spy.
She did valuable service for the Confeder-
acy and was long and often sought by the
Federal troops She was never captured.
'When l passed through Batesville."
said Young woman who recently returned
from visit to Arkansas, II heard of Mrs.
Pritchard and determined to visit her.
The door was opened TO me by a tall, angu-
lar woman with black hair and a pair of
ewes to match. She was so quiet in her de-
meanor that l was surprised when she told
me she was Julia Pritchard. She took me
through the house and talked entertain
ingly of her work as a spy. In an upper
room she showed me the secret that kept
her from being captured during the whole
of the war. She pointed out what to all
appearances was a log in the wall like all
the rest. Then she touched spring con-
cealed ingeniously in the back of the log
and the log moved out and showed a snug
opening Just large enough for person to
lie in and move about enough to Keep from
becoming cramped.
q Il remember we'll one time in particular
when this saved me from the Federal
troops, said she. Il had been down to
the spring yonder getting pail of water
when I saw troop of blue-coated soldiers
galloping toward me from across the river.
II knew they were after me, so
dropped my pail and broke for the house.
I ran and, climbing upstairs, got into this
hiding place and pulled the log shut.
lay there quietly and soon heard the heavy
clanking step of the soldiers as they
stamped about downstairs searching for
me.
"They turned the furniture over and
broke everything in sight. I could hear
them swear as they vainly sought for me-
| Then they came upstairs, and as they
looked in every conceivable place they
made the air blue with their curses. She
is here, / know, said one, who must have
been the captain | saw her come in.
There was no doubt about this, as all testi-
fed to seeing me come into the house. |
heard one suggest that the house be burned
down. They were sure that would Bring
me out of my hiding place. l felt chill
pass over me, but lay quiet, feeling that
some means of escape would be thrown in
my way. The suggestion seemed to be a
good one, for all hurried out of the house
to get hrebrandS. Nhlle they were out
hastily climbed out of this place and
climbed up the big chimney there.
81 came out on the roof all right The
soldiers were by this time in the house
again, but seemed loath to set the house
afire.
Cali this gained me time Hastily scram-
bled down the side of the house and going
to the stable saddled and bridled my horse
l got on him as quick as lcould and dashed
out of the stable and toward the river. l
knew was safe, for there wasn't horse in
the South thatco catch Nero
Gust as l reached the bank of the river,
one of the soldiers looked out of the win
dow and saw me. He yelled, but it was.
joke to me then. threw up my hand and
told them to follow if they wanted to.
"Nero plunged into the river and carried
me safely across. The soldiers mounted
their horses without delay, but they had
ridden all day and were no match for Nero.
He carried me to friends and place of
safety, else l might not be here to-day to
tell You this.
Mrs. Pritchard is the daughter of Colo
mel Childers, wealthy old plantation-own-
er near the same place.
"She can still break a risky young mule
to the saddle with as much ease as a man."
Philadelphia Evening Item.