The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-05-30

ly welcome The reason for this was
that on the great issue we were di-
vtded family. My sister Carey, who
was then twenty-five. favored the
Confcderates, while |. girl Of nine
teen, favored the Union cause. We
were both reasonably attractive and
had plenty of attention from the Off
GERS visiting our house. Father was q
colonel In the Confederate army and
my brother Sam a lieutenant in the
Federal army. But neither of them
was fighting in our neighborhood.
Possibly we girls might have waited
long while for husbands had it not
been for the great influx of soldiers
into our neighborhood. The conse-
quence Of this influx was the engage
ment Of Carey and myself soon after
their coming. / to Captain Hunt, a
Federal; Carey to Captain Fitzhugh
a Confederate officer.
At one time when we were In the
Confederate lines the general com
handing rode up to the house and
asked my mother If she would give
him room In which to meet some of
his officers She offered the parlor. and
he sent messengers with orders for the
officers to report to him there at once
Within half an hour they had assem-
bled and were all generals sur
missed that something important was
on foot and wished that | might hear
what it was in order to transmit it to
my friends cf the other side. Under
meath the parlor In which the confer
ence was held was the cellar. went
down there. but could hear nothing
There was no other position | could
take to enable me to gain my In
formation Of what was being discuss
ed in the parlor. Besides. Carey was
watching me.
When the council was ended and the
generals had departed went into the
parlor and looked about, hoping to dis
cover something possibly bit of
paper that had been dropped-to indi
cate what had been the subject of
discussion. There were some tiny
pieces on the floor which | picked up
and put together. but only figures had
been put on the whole before 1t had
been torn to scraps. kept the bits
and found out afterward that they
figured the strength of the different
divisions of the Confederate army in
that location.
But there was not enough in this to
satisfy me, and | looked further. A
stove in the room. owing to the condi
ton of the negroes consequent upon
the excitement of war, had not been
removed for the summer. In my hunt
l opened its door Lying on the ashes
of previous wood fires was fragment
Of paper the rest of which was burn
ed. Taking it out, | saw that 1t was
memoranda written In lead pencil. But
unfortunately not one-half remained
What was left Of the writing was as
follows:
at daylight
flank
Hams
CHAINS
mes next
hing Williams
arlker's on west side
stituting left flank
signal of one gun fired by
riss battery. Reynor feints
on enemy's right flank then
Whether there was anything of val
ne in this fragment to the Union gen
erals l did not know. | didn't think
there was, but determined to deliver
1t into their hands as soon as possible
Carey and | each had horse Of our
own. and. going out to the barn. told
bob. my boy Tor such work, to sad
die him at once while put on my
riding skirt AS l was riding past the
house Carey came out, with a suspi-
cious look on her face. and called:
where you going, BetT
"For ride"
want met"
Haven't time to wait"
With that I rode away. preventing
her asking me any more questions
Coming to crossroad. whom should 1
see riding toward me but Carey's
f1ance, Captain Fitzhugh / knew he
would see Carey In a few minutes
and II l turned northward on the road
he would tell her l had done so, and
her suspicious that ] was bent on
some aid to the Federals would be
confirmed. l therefore turned south
ward and when Fitzhugh had ridden
out of sight turned and rode the other
way.
My meeting Fitzhugh was unfortu-
nate-not in his giving information of
me to Carey. for when he reached the
plantation he didn't find her at home
but that 1t delayed me. and by this
delay fell into a trap.
While riding In the open, looking
sidewise. l saw a girl on horseback
galloping across country and aiming
for point ahead Of me- A second
glance told me she was Carey, and
knew at once that she was intending
to cut me of and prevent my reach
ing the Union camps / urged on my
horse, but it was no use. Carey jump
ed her animal over a snake fence.
lighting in the road When reached
her she had taken position in the mid
die Of it and was covering me with
revolver.
you can't go on, Bet" she said.
mI'urn aronrd and ride fha cfher WAY