The Portland daily press., 1898-01-21

molested, but thereafter she was supJectea
to SO many nenacing actions from those
opposed to the cause of the North thaU she
finally decided that longer residence tneie
would be unsafe, and went to Fort AeaV
enworth with her adopted children uneei
escort of a band of soldiers.
The cause of this unusual persecution
was that it was known that Mrs. Stiles
had done some detective work for : Uncle
Sam,'' but how extensive her work IN
that line had been was not even sur
missed. Her antipathy for secessionIsts
was greatly increased by the murder OF
her husband, and she vowed to devote ner
life to revenge. Having been on several
little expeditions fer the good OF the
Union cause she had become someWhal
known by army leaders who had learned
that the woman was a trusty ally, ana
had sent her name to headquarters. She
had been at the fort but short time
when she received a letter from cen.
Lane, asking her to come to Washington.
This letter was also signed by Abraham
Lincoln.
| Senator Marvin of Missouri, and COM
pany OF about seventy five others were
preparing for an early start for the capt.
tcSO@A- Res~-~~N-
| Upon presenting herself to Gen. Lane she
was informed that her future services
| W ere desired as q spy, and she accepted
| the proposition gladly, Before engaging
| in her new duties she returned to Leav-
enworth for her children, whom she took
back to Washington, the tedious journey
consuming several months time. She
placed TWO children in school i'll Wash
ington, and taking the other child, girl
of 10, with her, she reported ready iof
service, and was on almost constant duty
thereafter until the close OF the Hebei-
| lion, during which time she did gooq
work in nineteen different States and
Canada, the daughter Clara accompany
| ing her on most of her expeditions.
| Mrs Stiles was personally acqualnteu
with nearly all of the noted Generals OF
that time, ass her Service brought her
under their direction. She treasures
among her keepsakes letter or recon-
mendation written and signed by A bra
ham Lincoln.
The brave woman faced deatn many
times and her GOODNESS on such occasions,
and tact and ability for meeting neces-
sary requirements on all occasions. proved
the secret of her success as spy.
| She likes to tell how she hoodwinked
| a rebel General on one occasion Wnen she
was arrested and charged with being a
spy. 1t WAS at Jefferson City, Missouri
| Her horse was taken from her and she
WAS escorted to Gen. Price for examlna'
tion to whom she confessed to being q
SPY, but so well posted was she on tne
general state of affairs that she succeeded
in making the General believe that she
was a rebel SPY, and she not only Wenl
free, but was given a better horse anc
firearms and sent on her way.
One dark night, when Mrs. stiles ano
her daughter were out on a long ride OF
| 4, hcvdar the dANQhte1
fell asleep on her horse (not an uncom
mon occnrrence), and didn't know wher
a sentry grasped the bride of her moth
er's horse and attempted to arrest her
The girl was awakened by pistol shot
and her mother was soon beside her, Du
there was a vacancy in the picket line.
The old lady relates with pride how sht
once directed the capture of q cannon
with only her husband and daughters ts
assist her. and secured the prize that sew
eral bands of men had tried for unsuc
cessfuly.
An illustration of the unjust persecu
ton which this woman was subjected e
during her residence in Shawneetown Il
, shown in the event of a holiday wheI
She was teaching school, Together witt
a teacher in an adjoining district sh'
planned to give the children picnic
and before leaving town her scholar
marched around the liberty pole in thu
village green, carrying the Stars ant
Stripes. They then went to the woods
not far out, where they were scarcely set
tied for the days sport when a man rod
, up. handed Mrs. Stiles note and de
parted without a word. The note. II
formed her that if she allowed her schol
ars to repeat the liberty pole parade witt
the Union flag she might expect treat o
tar and feathers. Such was the natur
of the element in which she lived
In the incidents of her travels 1T not In
frequently became necessary for her +
dress the wounds of some unlucky blue
coat And even ampntations of mi
nor nature have fallen to her lot in case
, of emergency. The woman's mind is no
/ at all dimmed by her four score years an
her recollection of names and dates
something remarkable.
After the close of the war she took u
f her residence in Venango county, Pa.
, where she continued to make her hom
until within the past two years, whel
, she entered the w. r. G. Home.
Mrs. Stiles was never wounded an
a could never be induced to ask for pen
: sion until few weeks ago, when sh
made application to the government 70
& redress for the amount of her loss whe
8 she was obliged to sacrifice eyerythin
q she possessed in Shawneetown.