Washington sentinel., 1900-09-29
Eaotes
Served Her Country Well

Served Her Country Well.
Mrs. Van Lew was the daughter oI
John Van Lew, New Yorker, of Dutch
descent, who married Elizabeth Baker,
a daughter of Hilliard Baker, mayor Of
Philadelphia, who died IN the yellow
iaver epidemic of 1898. Her father
prospered after locating in Richmond.
His family was received in polite society,
and the wit and-beantY OF his eldest
daughter made her a belle even in the
cavalier society and sentiment of that
Il re ard place. But she never married.
In the light of after events, it might not
be disbelieved that some romance or
disappointment in earlier years embit-
tered her, For when the Civil War
commenced she took pronounce / stand
against the South and the cause her
Virginia companions espoused. She
remained in Richmond, and spied upon
the ConiederacY and all its agents, civil
and military, and such was her intelli-
gence and acumen that she found means
to communicate with the Federal army
during the years it thundered at the
gates ofthe Confederate capital. In this
capacity she rendered the North services
exceeding in value those OF any woman
in the South.
When Grant hovered about Richmond
Miss Van Lew was in constant com.
munication with him. Flowers cut in
her garden in the morning found their
way to Grants table, at City Point,
hRfnFA nfUhffo1l -. Z
farm below Richmond. Thither would
go servants, who, oY reason of their
humble station, passed the guards
unsuspected; yet these carried, usually
In the soles of their shoes, missives OF
great Importance to the enemy.
During the war the old residence
hafbored many a Federal prisoner Of /
war. Miss Van Lew was constantly in |
communication with Libby Prison and /
helped in the escape ofprisoners, hiding
them, as well as their horses, at her
home until opportunity presented itself
for them to get out of the city, She
aided in the escape OF Col. Straight, the
noted raider, who, together with I 500
men, was captured by Forrest and con.
fined in Libby Prison. Col. Straight
bored his way out of the prison with
implements provided for him by Miss
Van Lew. He was aiterward concealed
at her home until he finally found a
Chance to get through the Confederate
Gordon.
The one incident with which Miss Van
Lewis name is most notably linked is
that Of the removal Of the body of Col,
OIrich Dahlgfen, a son of Admiral
Dahlgren' who, while IN command OF
raiding party, was killed in King and
Queen Courty. The body was brought
10 Richmond and was buried in Oak
wood Cemetery in the section set apart
as burial place for Federal soldiers.
Admiral Dahlgren, upon learning OF
he fate Of his son, wrote to President
Davis from Fort Monroe begging the ,
eturn OF the body but when the grave
vas opened 1t was found the body had r
'een removed. President Davis had to =
MORN Admiral Dahlgren OF the disap s
'ear nee. The Admiral and his people, =
moving the intense feeling against his :
on, did not believe the body had ever I
'een buried, but had been cast into the +
iver. A few weeks later Miss Van Lew v
'rote him letter that explained the 9
ituation and relieved his anxiety, h
Miss Van Lew planned the enterprise
'hich resulted in the removal OF Col
'ahlgren's body, though il was not ?
nown till the close OF the war Between c
lie time of burial and Admiral Dahl F
ren's request the body was taken from a
$ resting place, conveyed through the y
res, and inferred near Hungary 81
tation. G.
When the war was over, and Gen, p
rant had been made President, one OF q
is fist acts was to appoint Miss Van o
ew postmaster at Richmond-March "
,. 1869 fifteen DAYS after his naugura =
on. Four years later be reappointed -
er, but she went out OF office at the end
her second term, President Hayes y
Gliding to the opportunities Of politi.
ans, appointing Col. w. w, Forbes, u
ho succeeded her. After remaining n
Office for a while Miss Van Lew r
cured departmental appointment al st
which she held until the al
st Cleveland Administration, when :.
e was reassigned. This caused her to 4,
sign. fr
Afterward Miss Van Lew again made
r home at Richmond, and, with her
ost OF the time, niece, also named -,
izabeth Van Lew, who died a few w "
onths ago. ie