The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-02-06

commissions. II Is difficult to say whether
their motives were like those OF Joan OF Arc
the salvation Of their country-or merely
love OF excitement. But II Is astonishing to
find, In talking with ex.ofllcers, how many OF
the other sex did share the hnrdshlps OF bat.
tie, s)ne, openly confcsslng their sex. others
disguised as men.
Every one knows Of Belle Boyd, the famous
spy, but there ARE many whose names never
became famous, but whose work was as sub
tie and as daring
NOTABLE SCOUT.
Brigadler General Baker Of tho Secret
Service during the civil war, tells OF the work
oi II Miss Ford, who was n devoted little
rebel. aud lived Mt Fairfax Court House.
Her fathers home was headquarters for the
stan officers OF the Union, aud Miss Ford was
quite belle among them. She was TO all
purposes, for the Union, and the officers be-
lieved IN her to the extent Of telling her much
Of the strength OF the army. By careful IN
vestigation and close observation she obtain
ell In a seemingly careless manner all infor-
nation necessary for the use of tho Conied-
crates
The only frequent visitor she had was nm
unprotentious, provincial youth, who would
sit on tho piazza with her In the afternoon
exciting no suspicion. Tho youth was
Mosby, the famous guerrilla, and Miss Ford,
who was honorary aid-de-camp 10 Brlgadier
General j. f. B. Stuart, was giving him the
whole scheme and strength Of the Union
forces, where the pickets were stationed, tho
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 pres
ent
Once when she was riding with n Union
officer, Mosby Joined them IN his unfashion-
able citizens clothes; Miss Ford introduced
him under his assumed name, and Joining
them for n fow miles he learned much that
he wished to know That night Mosby was
enabled through Miss Ford's Information 10
make the attack upon General Stoughton,
carrying officers as prisoners, also valuable
property, and capturing one hundred fine
horses II was this affair which called forth
Lincoln's well known remark that ut was
great pity; he could make Brigadler Generals,
but couldn't make horses"
WOMAN TO CATCH WOMAN.
The true circumstances and mode Of attack
the accurate Information In possession Of tho
Coniederates leaders. all point Enthusiastically
to the existence OF spy within Its lines, so a
woman was sent to meet woman. One Of
the female detectives OF the Secret Service
went to Miss Ford, represented herself rs a
Southern woman, asking protection to reach
the Confederate lines, and the two women
became friends. In burst OF confidence
Miss Ford showed the detective the sealed
commission OF aid-de-camp, which she kept
and sent N Ola Gonltoi p,ison was "''''''u
IN AN ILLINOIS REGIMENT.
Mime. Lurchin, another woman Of high
birth, fought on the Union side, She was
the daughter OF a RUSSIAN officer, born In a
Russian camp, and was the wife OF Colonel
Lurchin OF an Illinois regiment. During an
illness OF her husband she took command OF
the regiment and proved herself an intrepid
leader.
Neither did these women go unrewarded.
There was Major Pauline Cushman, who, un-
like Nine. Lurchin and Mrs. Etheridne wore
military trousers as we'll as coat. Miss Cush.
man was n beautiful and well known actress
when the war broke out. At the commence
ment OF hostilities she was playing In Louis
Vile. and incurring the suspicion Of being a
secessonist, sho was arrested by federal
authorities. To test her she wns asked N she
would enter tho secret service OF tho govern.
ment. She consented and was at once en-.
ployed to curry letters between Louisville and
Nashville.
Miss Cushman was employed by General
u,nhsriana Unhs Ciisn WIN .ne
every road and every house for miles was
the most daring OF scouts and intrepid Of
fighters. She visited the Confederate lines
tlmo after time Twice she was suspected OF
being "a spy and arrested, but both times she
escaped by keenest strategy
EFT OF srhArEdY'
Once Miss Cushman was sent as scout to-
ward Shelbyville from Nashville, which was
hnld by Union forces,to ascertain the strength
OF the enemy. Returning she was captured
placed on horse In charge OF two scouts
and taken to Forests headquarters. Bafied
ior awhile. she rode on. but at lust feigned
sickness and said she was unable to ride fur
found that federal scouts had p,ssed ,ha,
Way an hour before.
Calling an old negro to her. she put some
money into his hand, told him to 20 down
ths road and come back screaming, "The
Yankees are comingr' He did as she direct
sl. and, although the Southern soldiers re-
fused to believe hin at nrst he acted the
part so well they finally made of to hiding.
leaving Miss Cushman alone. She escaped,
but found II was necessary to pass the Con-
federate pickets. To the first four, when
halted, she gave the countersign--a canteen
OF whisky-but the Aith was more inqu.stive
and she was turned back. She reached
Rosecrans finally, but was In the eLd arrested.
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