The National tribune., 1910-03-24
LINCoLN'S PRIVATE SPY.
impersonatins an Old Lady. a Boy and
Bcwitching Damsel With Good Re-
suIfa

UnperSOnatfne an Old Lady. a Boy and
Bcwitching Damsel With Good Re-
suits
Editor National Tribune: In The Ma
tional Tribune OF Jan. Is. 1910. was
published n sketch OF Little Justin
Hulburd" by me, as told by Gen Scott.
The sketch that follows shows him i'm
personating other characters. At San
Francisco 1 one day met a Col Simp-
son. of the Confederate army. who told
me this story:
One day little old woman entered
Col. Simpsons tent. She talked with
the accent OF the poor whites of the
mountains of Tennessee. She had a
basket with all kinds Of knick- -knacks
such as soldiers purchased. She told
him she had valuable information. and
that he must drop the flaps of his tent
so no one else could hear.
He did as requested. and when she
had put down her basket he noticed her
plump white hands and remarked:
You have pretty hands for one OF
your age"
Yes" she said: Il reckon they looks
good: never knowed anything but Il
needle befo' the war" He looked into
her eyes. and thought he had never
seen such beautiful eyes in an old wo-
man before. The eyes fascinated him.
and he seemed to become powerleSs
while she looked into his.
Here. Colonel she said. reaching
into her pocket. Use got something
good. / only keeps it for the likes of
you-uns." She pulled out a flash and
gave him drink of brandy. The Col
onel didn't remember much after that.
except that she sang to him beautiful
iuilabys. but when he awoke some hours
later he was minus some valuable pa
pers that were in his inside coat pocket.
ana the old lady was gone. The papers
had been given to him for safckeeping
and he was to convey them to Gen.
Lee.
When he found he had been robbed
nc gave the alarm, and detachments
were sent out in all directions to find
The old woman. but she had disap-
peared completely. He knew then that
she was a spy. and that she had the pa
pcrs.
Col. Simpson was disgraced. and re-
signed his position in consequence.
About two weeks later. while at his
home in Richmond. he heard that Gen.
Lee had been fascinated by a boy who
was a sweet singer. That night Gen.
Lee was robbed of valuable papers by
the same boy. who escaped in the dark
ness to the Union lines The General
said that the boy bad the most fasci-
mating eyes that he ever saw and his
singing was beautiful He appeared to
iilIIi tHe HlOSt loving ana innocent cred-
ture he had ever met The little chap
sat on his lap. sang for him pretty
songs and kissed him
When Col Simpson heard of this he
Immediately connected the boy with
the old woman who had caused his dis
grace. and took it upon himself TO catch
the imp In disguise he entered the
Union lines by night and got to Wash
ington. and thru his Washington friends
was introduced into SOpiafy
One day he visited a friend named
+ Mitchell in Georgetown. While thers
the bell rang. and a very elegantly
dressed young lady entered. and he was
introduced to her. She was Miss Lu-
ciiie Strong. from Illinois. Col. Sfmp-
son found her to be extremely enter
/! tanning. She fascinated him so that he
asked permission 10 accompany her
back to Washington, which was grant,
ed.
She kissed all the ladies good-by.
and. turning to him. said: Now, Mr..
Holland tthat was the name he went
underl. ] will accept you as an escort
| back to Washington with much pleas
ure"
When they arrived in Washington
very fashionably attired young man ap-
preached them. and Miss Strong
stopped to speak to him. While they
were talking another gentleman friend
OF hers came up and was introduced.
After they had all chattedl awhile she
said: Now. gentlemen. I shall bid you
ia ta." To Mr.. Holland she said, Il
Will leave you now with these kind
i, friends" and turning to the other men:
You will do me great kindness if you
viii show Mr. Holland some of the city.
! He is somewhat OF a stranger here, only
iarriving from the South about a week
ago"
] ColrSimDson was taken aback at this.
and could not understand how she knew
| re was from the South. since he had
naturally Kept that part of his identity
a secret You will do me Il favor" she
icontinued. "by Introducing Mr.. Holland
at your club" Then she gave her head
a saucy toss. bidding US good evening.
as it was getting dark.
The two men induced him to walk
with them to their club (Which proved
to be the jaiD. and Col. Simpson was
arrested as a spy.
Miss Lucille Strong was none other
than Little Justin HrIburd. who had
kept him under surveillance since his
arrival at Washington. She was also
the little old woman ard the boy who
fascinated Gen. Lee. W. Hulburd,
Descanto, Cal.