Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-22
THE SPY WHO TOOK ATLANTA.
To This Day No One Knows Whether
II Was Man or Woman.

Prom the Chicago Chronicle.
In the spring of 1861 Atlanta was full Of
Johnstons officers and soldiers. An I'M
easy feeling prevailed In every circle, and
It was feared that the federals might any
day make a forced march or raid and
surprise the city.
Still the people faced the situation cour-
lgeously. They had passed through so
many dangers that they We're not easily
frightened. The sullen boom of Shermars
big guns could then be heard forty miles
away but Atlanta maintained her usual
serenity ou.wardly and gave no sign of
her secret mlsgivlngs.
The theater then on it's last legs.
but occasional performances were literally
patroniZed. One of the star attractions in
Q strolllng company at that time was
pretty black-eyed young woman, about
twenty years old, who carried the town by
storm.
This girl was wonder. She was equal
ly at home in tragedy and comedy. She
could sing and dance. and when she took
a male part in play she was bowling
success.
better all-round artist had never visit
ed Atlanta, and that was the general ver-
dict
When she told her story 1t excited SYM
patty. She was creole of Louisiana, and
her family had been murdered by raiding
party of Buffers troops. She had taken
refuge IN tle COn1eOerdCE, ana. having no
relations or friends, she had decided to
use her rare dramatic gifts and earn her
own living. The story made the pretty
actress very popular. and she was patron
lied in social way by lea~iing citizens.
Young officers took her out driving. and
generals and colonies showed her over the
fortiflcations. which We're then nearly fin
ished. The creole's curiosity about such
matters charmed the military men, and 1t
afforded them the greatest possible pleas
her Questions and explain
every doubtful point.
Several weeks rolled by, and when her
company disbanded the actress remained in
Atlanta. She established herself al a pop
ular boarding house and told her friends
that she needed 4 rest before going on the
Richmond stage. She received a great deal
of attention and was practically the belle
of the army The lines were closing around
the city, but the creole charmer still lin
Rered. The officers of Johnstons army
were at her feet. They sent her costly
presents and every fine day they might
have been seen riding with her along the
lines of breastworks.
Suddenly the actress disappeared. The
military men were nearly crazy because
they could not trace her, but the ladies Of
the city did not seem to regret her de-
parture-in fact, they limited that she was
no better than she should be. The month
of June slipped by and there were no It'd
fngs from the missing star Then came
July and with it the beginning of the siege.
got the favorite of the footlights and at
the end of forty days Smelling people were
thinking of far more important matters.
The siege was over at last and the federals
marched in.
One fine morning a western corps conf
mander. with his staff, rode through the
city and took a look at the Qualifications
AT his side was small, dark-faced. black
eyed young man, who acted as his Guide
and pointed out various things of inter
est. A prominent Atlanta man met this
youngster face to face, and his surprise
caused him to stand almost paralyZed In
his tracks. He was the pretty actress who
had turned the heads of many officers.
The strangers eyes met those of the At
lanta man and snapped viciously. Then
mocking smile spread over his piquant
face, and his glance was plainly one of
recognition. The Georgian spoke guarded
ly to several of Sherman's officers about
the mysterious young man, but they gave
very little satisfaction. Finally II was
learned that he was famous pcrsonator
of male and female characters on the
French stage in New York city. But was
he a man or woman? Nobody could ar
swer this question; but he or she. as the
case might be. vas one of the most sue
cessfln spies who had ever served the
Union cause. The mystery of this persons
eek remained unsolved.