The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-02-01
A Spy Of President
Lincoln
By DONALD Cf1AMBERLlN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

udO Will spies. IL IS SIuSuldi uoN
those can be found to do such work,
especially since an ignominious death
Is the penalty for being caught The
strangest feature Of the spy system
Is that the more delicate woman should
have done her share in it.
One day girl about twenty-four
years old went to Allan Pinkerton,
who was at the head Of the United
States secret service bureau, and told
him that she had lived at Richmond,
the capital Of the Confederacy. and
was supposed to be a secessionist. She
proposed to 60 there, intending to offer
her services to the Confederate gov.
eminent, to return to Washington and
take back information to Richmond.
In other words, by pretending to be
in the Confederate service she hoped
to get Information Of their intentions
or condition for the Federal govern
ment. She said her object was to
make money to lift her sick mother
out of poverty.
Pinkerton set several traps for her
in order to test her fidelity to the
Federal cause and, having satisfied
himself Of it. sent her to Mr.. Lincoln.
This was in 1864, when the struggle
was drawing to close. The work
Mr.. Lincoln gave her to do was to dis
cover what commissary stores were in
Richmond and what further supplies
could be obtained.
Kate Beale went to Richmond, going
through the lines without much
trouble Her accent, which she had
acquired In the south, was distinctly
southern and a great help to her. She
wormed herself into the confidence OF
the wife of an important officer In the
Confederate commissary department
and asked him if there was not some
plan by which she could assist south
ern sympathizers in the north in
running eatables into the south. BE
told her there were only two ways.
by blockade running and by getting
vessel to some spot Of southern terri
tory unmatched by northern troops.
She proposed to start an expedition
on the last named plan.
She was taken to President Davis
and to the commissary general. She
told them that she knew southern men
In Baltimore who would run supplies
through if sure they would be met
by southern force. After much dis
cussion a point was named where sup
plies might be landed.
During these discussions the spy
learned that if Grant succeeded In
taking Petersburg. all supplies being
cut off from the south, the troops and
people of Richmond had almost nc
provisions whatever to rely upon. The
surrender must follow very soon.
Having gained the information she
wished for, Miss Beale made her prep
arations to return to Washington.
The day before she intended to set
out she was met on the street by a
man-one Of the many Washington
southern sympathizers-who was car
rying information to Richmond ana
who had seen her not long before COM
Ing out Of Allan PinkertOn's office. He
looked at her with pair OF steel gray
eyes under bushy eyebrows and with
q more than ordinary interest. She did
not remember ever having seen him
before, but considering her mission she
felt sure she was in danger.
She pretended not to notice the
mans interest in her. Walking on. but
without turning TO see If he followed
her, she spial an empty cab. Beckon,
Ing to the ufver. he pulled up ut the
curb, and sSe entered, telling him to
drive her to ire presidential mansion.
AS she was driven away she saw the
man still looking at her. but pretend
ing not to notice her. When she stop
ned at the president home and alight
ed the man came hurrying up. She
went in and asked for Mr.. Davis. He
was busy at the time: but. having wait
ed awhile to see him, she went away.
When she passed out Of the door the
man with the bushy eyebrows had dis
appeared. Apparently her blutf game
had succeeded.
But she dare not remain in Rich
mond minute longer. Not daring to
10 directly northward. she concluded
to first 20 south and told the cabman
to drive her to the battletields that
had been fought on by Lee and Nc.
Clellan two years before. and, arriving
there, she dismissed him.
Hiring vehicles where she could.
walking where she could not hire
them, sometimes floating in a stolen
boat on the James river. she at last
reached Fortress Munroe, in posses
sion Of the Federal forces. There she
found naval transport about to leave
FOR the north and. reaching New York.
took a train for Washington.
When the name Of Kate Beale was
taken up to Mr.. Lincoln he muttered a
"thank God" and directed that she
should be Immediately conducted to
him. When she entered the room
where he was and he arose to greet
her it seemed to her that his tall, lank
figure would never cease rising. He
took both her hands in his. and his ex
pressive eyes told her how relieved he
was to see her.