The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-10-11
MISS VAN LEW "A LOYAL SPY
THE STORY OF HER EXPLOICS
During the OWL War Sl,e Aided tho.
Fe4Ierals--After tho War Grant GaVo
Her An Ample Reward.

Her an Ample Reward.
Miss Elizabeth Van Lew, who died
recently in Richmond, Va, was tho
daughter OF John Van Low, New
Yorker, OF tchidescent, who married
Elizabeth Baker, q daughter OF Hillary
Bsker, mayor Of Philadelphia, who
died IN the yellow fever epidemic OF
1898. Her father, as u hardware NOR
chant In the ate. bellum firm Of Van
Low & Taylor, prOspered, after locat-
ing in Richmond. His family was re-
ceive1 in polite society, and tho wit
and beauty of mis- eldest daughter
charmed the young gallants Of the
Virginia capital, 30 that Elizabeth, OF
Puritan descent, became a belle even
in the cavalier society. But she ncvor
married. In the light Of after events,
It might not bo dsbelicvcd that some
romance or disappointment In earlier
years emhittered her.
For when the civil war commenced
she took q pronounced stand against
the South, and tho cause her Virginia
companions ospOused. She gave her
sympathles and allegiance TO tho
Union, and more. She remained in
foderacy and all It's agents, civil and
b
and acumen that sho found means to
communicate with the Federal army
during the years 1T thundcrcd at the
gates of the Confederate capital. In
this capacity she rendered the North
services exceeding In value those OF
any woman, certainly In the confines
OF the Confederacy.
Whom Grant lowered 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 nightfall. The Van Lows
owned farm below Richmond. Thith-
or would 60 servants, who, by reason
Of their humble station, passed the
guards unsupported yet these carried,
mlssiyes OF great Importance to the
enemy. After the evacuation OF Rich.
mOnd General Gran: visited Miss Van
Lew and remained, Us most substantial
evidence attested, her warm friend
until his de6th.
During the war the old residence har-
bored many Federal prisoner Of war.
Miss Van Low WAS constantly In com
munication with Libby prison, hiding
them, as we'll "s their horses, at her
home until opportunity presented itself
for them to got out Of tho city. She
aided In the escape OF Colo lol Straight,
the noted raider, who, to geher with
1880 men, was captured down south
by Forrest and confined in Libby prison,
Colonel Straight bored his way out Of
the prison with implements provided
for him by Miss Van Low. He WAS
afterwards concealed at hor home until
he finally found a chance TO get through
the Confederate Gordon.
The one incident with which Miss
Van Lows name Is most notably linked
Is that OF the removal OF the body Of
Colonel Ulrich Dahlgrcn, IL son Of Ad.
miral Dahlgrcu, who, while in com
mand OF raiding party, was killed in
King and Queen county. Colonel Dahl
grcn had lost leg, and wore an
artificial limb. The body WAS brought
TO Richmond for burial. When it
reached tho city it was minus the
wooden log, and one tingcr-thc ring
iingor-had been amputatcd at the
second joint. Otherwise, it had not
been mutilatod which is worth noting,
for Dahlgren had aroused iutcusO feel.
ing by his declaration that he would
burn Richmond II the fortunes Of war
should permit. The body WAS buried
In OakwOOd cemetery in tho section set
q
soldiers.
Admiral Dahlgren. upon learning Of
the fate Of bis son, wrote TO President
Davis from Fortress Monroe, begging
the return OF the body. lie incloscd
five $50 gold pieces to pay Expenses.
But when tho grave was opened 1t wna
found the body had been mystcriOusly
removed. President Davis had to in
form Admiral Dahlgrcn Of the disap,
pearance. The admiral and his pcU-
pie knowing the intense feeling against
his son, did not believe the body had
ever boon 6lried but had been cast into
the river. A few weeks later Miss Van
Lew wrote him u lottcr that explained !
the situation and relieved his anX
iety.
Miss Van Lew planned tho success
iui enterprise which resulted in the |
removal Of Dahlgren's body, though it
was not known till the close Of the war.
BetWoen the time Of buriui and Ail- |
miral Dahlgren's request the body WAS
taken from Its resting place, conveyed
through the lines and Inferred near
Hungary Station.
When the war WAS over, and Cen
eral Grant had been made President,
one OF his first acts WAS to appoint Mis-.
van Low postmaster ut Richmond
March ~, lSG9, fifteen days after his
Inauguration. Four years lutur he re-
appointed her, but she went out of
0iilce at the end Of her second term,
PRESIDENT Hayes, yielding to the i'm
portunitles OF politicians, appointing
Colonel w. w. Forbes, who succeeded
her: Alter remaining out Of office for
while, Miss Van Low secured a de-
partmental appointment at Washing
Ton, which she held until the first
Cleveland administration, whom she
was reassigned, causing her to resign,
Miss Van Lew again made her home
In Richmond and, with her most OF tho
time, q niece, also named Elizabeth
Van Lew, who died fow months ago
A brother, John N. Van Lew, anu Il
sister, Mrs. Louisa Knapp, wife, OF
DR.: Joseph klapp, OF philadcl
phia, have been dead many years. Mis-.
Van Lew never mingled freely will
the people OF Richmond after the war
Yet she delighted to receive as guests
the few old friends who cheored hor
last secluded years. She delighted in
vislts OF children, and in showing them
her beautiful grounds and flo Hers.
The Van Lew mansion is q large,