The evening times., 1900-09-26

RICHMOND. Va, Sept. 26.-Mss LIZ
zie Van Lew, who acted as spy here
for the Federal Army during the civil
war. died yesterday. The most notable
events in Miss Van Lewis eyentful ca
reer were aiding Colonel Straight and
other Federal officers in tunneiing cut OF
Libby prison. the constant information
which she furnished General Grant when
he was near Richmond and saving the
body of Colonel Dahlgren, who was kille
in one of his raids around Richmond.
These and other services rendered the
Federal cause made Miss Van Lew the
lifelong friend of General Grant, She Wa )
eighty-three years old at the time of
her death and one of the most active
women in the county.
Miss Van Lew's best and most symra-
thetic friends were Bostonians. She
was the recipient of snug annual sum
which was contributed by some New
Englanders. a Bostonian Colonel Re
we're, who was a great admirer of Miss
Van Lew. was instrumental in securing
this annuity for her.
Miss Elizabeth Van Lew wss the
daughter of wealthy Northern man.
who for great many years was one OF
the principal hardware merchants of
Richmond He bought q square of
ground on the hill near old st. John $
Church and made it one of the finest
homes in Virginia. The house is in fin =
old colonial style. with spacious piazZas S
looking toward the river, from which
there is vista through fine cid trees
with glimpses of the James as II winds
its way down past the fortified place
known as Drewry's Bluff.
Miss Van Lew was a Union woman all
during the war. and took no care 10
conceal the fact. She was constant in
her ministrations TO the prisoners con-
fined in the Libby and unknown to The
Confederate authorities was in freque Mt
communication with General Grant 5
army. She sheltered or caused friends
of hers to shelter. several of the men
who escaped through the Libby Hill tun-
nel.
At the evacuation of Richmond General
Grant who was then at City Point, des-
patched one of his aides to Richmond spe-
cially charged to take care of Miss Van
Lew and when he became the. President
/ he made her PoStmistress of Richmond
| which office she held for several terms Aft
! erwaTd Miss Van Lew held modest pos
in one> of the departments in Washington
| She then returned to Richmond
During the war the communication with
| General Grant were kept up through a
tFusty colored slave, Miss Van Lew'z
father owned farm below Richmond. or
the James River This negro was employ
ed there. and made constant visits here
TO Miss Van Lew. In the heavy soles Of i
pair Of brogans was an opening into which
dispatches could easily be placed, When
ever Miss Van Lew wished to communi-
cate with General Grant the letters were
prepared ard entrusted to this old coiore5
man. He placed them in the sOles Of his
shoes and trudged back to the farm. From
there he found little difficulty in making
his way through the Confederate lines I,
General Grants headquarters at City Point
In this way Miss Van Lew often informed
| General Grant OF important military move
ments around Richmond.
| During the war Miss Van Lew owned {
handsome little pony. AT that period thE
| Confederate Government was pressing
/ horses into service for cavalry and trans
portation purposes. Feeling that suspicion
| pointed to her and that the Government
| would not hesitate to seize her favOrite
| little steed, Miss Van Lew secrcted he.
| pcny in the fourth story of her house
| where she kept it for months
| After Miss Van Lew lost her place in tbs
| War Department at Washington her friends
| were anxious for her to apply for pension
| They declared that she had during thu
/ war rendered such services TO the Unioa
| cause as to entitle her to recognition. II
! was proposed that this subject should ba
resolutions should be passed calling upon
| Congress to allow Miss Van Lew liberal
pension. The matter, however, was never
D-eSSa1