The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-29

Went Beyond the Union Lines" is n
war story which was told her Is years
ago In st. Augustine under very re-
markable circumstances. and details
the important services of a woman in
the late civil war. an extremely inter
esting and thrilling account of the skill.
nerve and ability OF one of the un-
named heroes OF the war
Mrs. Johnston promised one OF the
narrators, Miss Mather, that she would
never give the facts TO the public dur
ing Miss Mather's life. for Miss Mather
said she wished 10 spend the rest of
her days i'm ST. Augustine, and she
wished to die. like an honest woman, in
her own bed
The other side of the story was given
Mrs. Johnston by Mrs. Col. Webster,
whose husband was "A cousin of Daniel
Webster. and who died Just before Fort
Sumpter was fred upon.
Perhaps the gathering OF the material
for the story is almost as remarkable
as the story itself Mrs Johnston hap
peped TO be i'm 81. Augustine the one
week i'm 20 years when IL was possible
10 gather these facts She was a stran-
ger To both Miss Mather and Mrs.
Webster. and neither knew that she had
seen the other. Some five years ago
Miss Mather died. and Mrs. Johnston
Immediately set 10 work To verify every
was enabled 20 do with one exception.
She could not find that at any time
during the war that ID was stated I'm
war records which she could command
that Gen Joe Hawley of Connecticut
was sent. for few months, with a
thousand troops to st: Augustine. She
wrote Gen. lluwtTy, howeVcr( and asked
him three questions First did ne at
any time during the war command the
fort at st. Augustine Second. did he
send Mrs. Judge Smith beyond the
Union line? Third did he know his he
ing sent south was the result Of secret
information given the war department
by Miss Mather?
General Hawley Immediately answer
ed Mrs JohnstOns letter saving he was
sent TO st. Augustine by the war de
partment: that he did send Mrs. Judge
Smith beyond the Union lines but that
ne never knew until the receipt of Mrs
Johnstons' letter that Miss Mather had
anything 10 do about II. Tie knew Miss
Mathor very well ana was proud TO
number her among his friends. He also
knew that she took great satisfaction
in his Connecticut troops but ne never
knew Cuntil the receipt Of Mrs. John
ston's letter. that she acted as spy
ana ne had always wondered why he
was sent south.
All the characters mentioned in the
story are now dead except John and
Joseph Hawlcy and Gen. Lew Wallace.
The story brings into prominence
three remarkable women of the sixties
viz. Miss Mathcr a Massachusetts
teacher. living In st. Augustine, Mrs
Judge smith. the wife of a supreme
court Judge. also living I'm 81 Angus
tine. hut herself Connecticut woman.
and Mira. COL Webster whose husband
was an officer in thc United States
army.
Mrs. Johnston. iu closing her story
which was given with great carnestnoss
and power carrying the entire SYM
pathy Of her listeners throughout.
added the Thought that mo doubt Their"
is many an Interesting story of the civil
war yet uuHathercd. but they are iu
danger of being lost through The death
OF the few who treasure the facts
II may be added. however. that no is
fortunate. at least that MIS-. Johnston
has been able 90 rescue ono chapter
that bot FOR her would have been lost