Arizona republican., 1900-10-13
SERVED HER COUNTRY WELL
Elizabeth Van Lew, Grants Famous
 Spy, Is Dead.

Richmond. Na.-AIiss Elizabeth L.. Van Lew, the noted Union spy, who kept General Grant so well posted dur ing the war in regard to the move ments and plans or the Ionfederates, died at a. m., September 9, after an heroic struggle of two years against illness. She died at her quaint old mansion on Church Hill.
 Miss Van Lew was the daughter of John Van Lew, a New Yorker, of Dutch descent, who married Elizabeth Baker. a daughter of Hilliard Baker, mayor of Philadelphia. who died in the yellow fever epidemic of 1I9S. Her father prospered after locating in Rich muud. His family was received in polite society. and the wit and beauty of his eldest daughter made her a belle even in the cavalier society and sentiment of that time and place. But she never married. In the light of after events, it might not be disbe- lieved that some romance or disap- pointment in earlier years embittered her. For when the civil war com menced she took a pronounced stand against the south and the cause her Virginia companions >2spoused. She remained in Richmond, and spied upon the Confederacy and all its agents, civil and military, and such was her intelligence and acumen that she found means to communicate with the Fed craI army during the years it thunder ed at the gates of the Confederate capi- tai. In this capacity she rendered the North services exceeding in value thOsa of any woman in the South.
 When Grant hovered about Rich mond Miss Van Lew was in constant communication with him. Flowers cut in her garden in the morning found their way to Grants table at City Point. before uightfau The Van Lews owned a farm below Richmond. Thither would go servants, who, by reason of their humble station, passed the guards unsupported; yet these car ried usually in the soles of their shoes. missives of great importance to the enemy.
 During the war the old residence harbored many a Federal prisoner of war. Miss Van Lew was constantly in communication with Libby prison and helped in the escape of prisoners, 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 Colonel Straight, the noted raider. who, to- gether with 1.S00 men, was captured by Forrest and confined in Libby prison Colonel Straight bored his way out of the prison with implements provided for him by Miss Van Lew. He Was afterward concealed at her home until he finally found a chance to get through the Confederate cordon.
 The one incident with which Miss Van Lews name is most notably linked is that of the removal of the body of Colonel Ulrich Dahlgren. a son of Ad- miral Dahlgren. who. while in com mand of a raiding party was killed m King and Queen county. The body vas brought to Richmond and was buried in Oakwo0d cemetery in the sec ton set apart for the burial of Federal soldiers.
 Admiral DahlGren. upon learning of the fate of his son. wrote. to President Davis from Fort Monroe. begging the return of the body, but when the grave was opened it was found the body had been removed. President Davis had to inform Admiral Dahlgren of the disappearance. The admiral and his people. knowing the intense feeling against his son, did not believe the body had ever been buried. but had been cast into the river. A few weeks later Miss Van Lew wrote him a letter that explained the situation and re- lieved his anxiety.
 Miss Van Lew planned the enter prise which resulted in the removal of DahlSrens body, though it was not known till the close of the war. Bo- tween the time of burial and Admiral Dahlgren's request the body was taken from it's resting place. conveyed through the lines and inferred near Hungary Station.
 When the war was over and General Grant had been made president. one of his first acts was to appoint Miss Van Lew postmaster at Richmond March 19, 1869, fifteen days after his inauguration. Four years later he re- appointed her. but she went out Of office at the end of her second term, President Hayes. yielding to impor- tunities of politicians, and appointing Colonel w. ". Forbes. who succeeded her. After remaining out of office for q while Miss Van Lew secured d de- partmontal appointment at Washing ton. which she held until the first Cleveland administration. when she was reassigned. This caused her to resign.
 Afterward Miss Van Lew again made her home here, and, with her most of the time, a niece, also named Eliza beth Van Lew, who died few months ago.-Washington Post.
 
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