The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-25
THE EVENING STORY
q Mead JOB OF Secret Service.

a Neat Job of Secret Service.
One morning in Virginia. when Me-
CleIlan was threatening Richmond and
II was daily expected that he would
march victorious army into the city.
young cOuntryman driving a COW got
mixed with the Union pickets. He said
that he didn't know that the army was
so near and asked permission to take
his COW to his home some distance
back OF the Union front. He was
taken to the general commanding that
portion of the army, where he made
his entry and gave his name as John
Harding Being questioned as to the
dispositions of the enemy among
whom he had been he proved so
stupid that the general dismissed him
with orders that he be permitted to
drive his COW home.
Six hours after he had departed a
Jew was found on the extreme right of
the Union line selling the soldiers
pinchbeck jewelry and tin watches, re-
ieving them of their greenbacks for
the worthless articles. The orders were
to arrest such traders and the Jew
was taken to the headquarters of the
general commanding the wing, where
he gave his name as Benjafnin Moses.
He was conducted to the rear and in
formed that If he came back he would
be sent through the lines to the
enemy.
A day or two later the commander of
the Union left received an order to look
out for spy who had turned up under
the names John Harding, Benjamin
Moses, and lastly Gustave LavioIette, a
citizen of France travelling in America
and seeking a pass TO go through the
lines on his way to visit relatives in
Louisiana. His application had been
held for information concerning him
and he had disappeared. After the re-
ceipt of the order the man had been
chased to a clump of houses near where,
day or two later, was fought the bat
tie of Seven Pines. A guard surround
ad [a In a he vi 10
budding in the road that passed be-
tween the houses. The officer charged
with the arrest, not knowing the man he
wanted, asked for him under his vari-
Gus aliases. If he was there no one
would betray him.
The officer was puzzled to know what
to do, so he sent to headquarters for
| orders. While he was waiting he kept
the men of the hamlet in the road but
permitted the women to go and come as
they chose. One man entered the place,
apparently not knowing what was trans
piring. He was mere boy and not
suspected, but the officer put him with
the other men. After waiting more than
an hour an order came which the officer
proceeded to obey. He compelled the
men to stand as near together as posi-
Bile and drew his soldiers up in firing
line. Then he told them that if they
would not give up the spy he would
shoot them all down together. Of course
this was bluff, but it drew forth a re-
sponse- The youngster who had enter
| ed the place passionat1ly begged that
his comrades be spared, avowing him.
I self to be the spy.
The youngster was taken to the
headquarters of the division in whose
1 lines he was captured.
| SO you're the person who has been
masquerading as Jew, Frenchman and
other individuals, gathering informa-
ton?
Eyes, general
l NI1 10 I'm hat he
punishment for spying is death, aren't
you?''
Eyes, general
well. L wish you hadn't been
caught in my lines. It's no fun for me
to hang a boy like you"
To this the youngster made no reply
| and the general ordered that he be
taken away and kept under guard till
| the capture to his superior and await
ed instructions. An order came to try
the spy by drumhead court martial
and execute him.
The officer of the day was Entrusted
with the duty, and, the forms having
| been gone through with, the general
looked for notification that the dis
agreeable work had been done. While
he waited the officer of the day rode
up to his tent and dismounted.
rs it all over?"
NO, general. The boy says he's a
GIRL
| "A girlt
Eyes, and 1 thought you'd prefer to
test the truth of the claim before exc
sDo SO. There are some women in
camp. You'll find several in the hos
pitals.'
| The officer Withdrew and in half an
hour returned with the information
that the claim had been proved.
''Send her to me- the general or
The girl, still in boys clothes, was
marched to the general. She had gone
through a terrible ordeal and, not yet
knowing what was going to be done
| with her, was white as a sheet.
How has a girl like you had the
ability to play so many different char
acters?'' asked the officer.
81 haven't said the girl. The
our place near Seven Pines and was
surrounded by your men. While the
officer was waiting for orders the spy
asked if any woman would put oil
mems clothes and be ready to per-
senate him. / consented, stole away
and came back as a boy. The real
spy was left behind when I was
brought away"
While the girlewas telling her story
the sound of artillery was heard 1t
| proved to be the guns of Stonewall
| jackson, whom Lee had sent to turn
McCleIlan's right wing.
| Had the information which facili-
| fated the movement been furnished by
the masquerade?
|
The Judge Followed Him.
One of the first cases which the late