Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-02-28
ABOUT THE CAMPFIRE
TALES THAT WAR-SCARRED
VETERANS TELL.
How Confederate Spy Got Away From
Detachment of Union soldiers
ragut's Answer-Father's Old Can
teen-The Apple Tree.
A Confederate SDy.

the White river, which has history,
according to the Kansas City Journal.
The house is now ''sealed" so that
the rough log exterior is hidden be-
hind very ordinary 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 con-
federacy, and was long and ofte n
sought by the Federal troops. She
was never captured.
"When passed through Bates
ville," said a young woman, who
recently returned from a visit to
Arkansas, 81 heard of Mrs. Pritchard
and determined to visit her. The
door was opened to me by tall
woman, with black hair and pair of
eyes to match. She was so quiet in
her demeanor that / was surprised
when she told me that she was Julia
Pritchard. She took me through her
house and talked entertainingly of
her work as spy In an upper room
she showed me the secret that kept
her from being captured during the
whole war. She pointed out what to
all appearances was a log in the wall
like all the rest. Then she touche d
spring concealed 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.
81 remember well one time in par
ticular when this saved me from the
Federal troops said she. Il had
been down to the spring yonder get
ting a pail of water when / saw a
troop of blue coated soldiers gallop-
ing towards me from across the river.
"T knew they were after me so /
dropped my pail and broke for the
house. ran, and climbing upstairs,
got into this hiding place and pulled
the log shut l lay there quietly and
soon heard the heavy clanking step
of the soldiers as they stamped about
down stairs searching for me.
"'They turned the furniture over
and broke everything in sight.
could hear them swear as they vainly
sought for me. Then they came up
stairs, and as they looked in every
conceivable place they made the air
blue with their curses. ''She is here,
1 know" said one who must have
been the captain. 81 saw her come
in" There was no doubt about this,
as all testified 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. / 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 hur-
ried out of the house to get fire brands.
While they were out l hastily climbed
out of this place and climbed up the
big chimney there.
vi came out on the roof all right.
The soldiers by this time were in the
house again, but seemed loath to set
the house afire.
"'All this gained me time. 1 hast
lily scrambled down the side of the
house and, going to the stable, sad
died and bridled my horse. l got on
him as quick as could and dashed
out of the stable and toward the
river knew 1 was safe, for there
wasn't horse in the South that could
catch Nero.
"Just as / reached the bank of the
river one of the soldiers looked out of
the window and saw me. He yelled
but it was joke TO me, then. l threw
up my hand and told them to follow
me 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 1
might not be here to-day to tell you
this
''Mrs. Pritchard is the daughter of
Colonel Childers, a wealthy old plan
tation owner, near the same place.
''She can still break frisky young
mule to the saddle with as much ease
as man"
The Apple Tree OF Appomattox.