The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-02-02
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AMERICAN JOANS OF ARC.
Women who Fought For Their Country
In our Civil War.

part in the late civil war, not only as spies,
but also as private soldiers and holding
honorary commissions. 1t is difficult to say
whether their motives were like those of
Joan of Archie salvation of their country
or merely love of excitement. But it is
astonishing to find, in talking with ex-
officers how many of the other sex did
share the hardship Of battle, some openly
men.
Every one knows of Belle Boyd, the
famous spy, but there are many whose
names never became famous, but whose
work was as subtle and as daring.
BrigadierGeneral Baker, of the secret
service during the civil war, tells of the
work of a Miss Ford, who was a devoted
little rebel and lived at Fairfax Court House.
Her fathers home was headquarters for the
staff officers of the Union, and Miss Ford
was quite belle among them. She was,
to all purposes, for the Union, and the Off
GERS believed in her to the extent of telling
her much of the strength of the army By
careful investigation and close observation
she obtained in seemingly careless manner
all information necessary for the use of the
Confederates.
The only frequent visitor she had was an
unpretentious provincial youth, who would
sit on the piazza with her in the afternoon
exciting no suspicion. The youth" was
Mosby, the famous guerrilla, and Miss
Ford, who was honorary aide-de-camp to
Brigadier General J. +. b. Stuart was
giving him the whole scheme and strength
of the Union forces, where the pickets We're
stationed, the strength of the outposts, the
names of officers in command, the nature of
general orders, the places where officers
quarters were established and the number
of officers present.
Once when she was riding with il Union
officer, Mosby joined them in his unfashion
able citizens clothes; Miss Ford introduced
them for a few miles, he learned much
that he wished to know. That night Mosby
was enabled, through Miss Ford's infor
nation, to make the attack upon General
Stoughton, carrying off officers as prisoners
also valuable property, and capturing one
hundred fine horses. 1t was this affair
which called forth Lincoln's we'll known
remark that lit was Il great pity; he could
make brigadier generals, but couldn tmal,
horses.D
\ WOMAN TO CATCH 4 WOMAN.
The true circumstances and mode OF
attack, the accurate information in possess
ion of the Confederate leader, all pointed
Enthusiastically to the existence of a spy
within the lines, soa woman was sent to
meet woman. One of the female detect
ives of the secret service went to Miss Ford,
represented herself as a Southern woman,
asking protection to reach the Confederate
lines, and the two women became friends
in a burst of confidence Miss Ford showed
the detective the sealed commission of
aid-de-camp, which she kept between her
mattresses. She was arrested and sent to
Old Capitol prison.
There was another distinguished female
captive at this prison at the same time, and
she was Southerner. Disguised in
soldiers Clothes she had entered too far IL
to the lines and was arres ted for a spy. IN
telling of her, Major General Townsend
says: "She had no friends in the city to
supply her with appropriate clothing. 1t
was at last reported to me that, being
greatly mortified regarding her raiment,
she stayed in bed all the time rather than
appear in it after her sex had been detected.
| mentioned her dilemma to that most
worthy, true hearted Presbyterian divine,
DIR. John G. Smith, and suggested that his
wife might be disposed to visit the little
prisoner and provide her with female
apparel.
"Some time after the doctor told me that
Mrs. Smith went to see her and found the
young woman in bed, but it transpired
that in the course of the interview the
little soldier expressed to Mrs. Smith so
emphatically her opinion of Yankees and
all their doings that the clergyman's wife
grew indignant and left, declaring that the
woman soldier might remain in bed for
ever or wear her male garb until it dropped
off, before she would help her OUT SO
brigadier general and the Presbyterian
minister stood helpless between the two
women's temper.
a WISCONSIN HEROINE,
One of the women who distinguished her
self nobly in tie soldering OF the army
was Mrs. Annie Etheridge, of Wisconsin,
who was in the second battle of Bull Run
and had public recognition from General
Kearney of her services. His death pre-
vented her promotion. She was often
under fire. An officer was shot down by
her side, and once, when a rebel officer was
captured, Mrs. Etheridge escorted him to
the rear by the generals command. At
Spottsylyania Heights when the soldiers
were Tetreating, she demonstrated with
them and brought them back, altogether
proving herself daring soldier. She re-