The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-05-31
WOMAN WHO WON BULL RUN.
Mrs. Greenhow, Washington Society
Woman, Acted as Spy.

In Harper'S, for Marcn, william Gll-
more Beymer, tells the true story OF
Mrs. Greenhow, Washington woman
of gentle birth who acted as spy for
the Confederacy and gave the informa-
ton which resulted in the Confederate
victory at Bull Run.
Washington lay ringed about with
camps of new-formed regiments, drill
ing feverishly. Already the press and
public had raised the cry, ON to Rich
mond.' When would they start?
Where would they first strike? 1t was
on those two points tn: the Confed-
crate plan of campaign hinged. 1t
was Mrs. Greenhow who gave the in
formation. To Gen. Beauregard at
Manassas, where he anxiously awaited
tidings of the Federal advance, there
came about the 10th of July the mes
sage from Mrs. Greenhow. The mes
sage told of the intended advance. Of
the enemy acros the Potomac and on
to Manassas via Fairfax court house
and Centreville. 1t was brought in
to the Confederate lines by young
lady of Washington, Miss Duval, who,
disguised as a market girl, carried the
message to a house near Fairfax court
house, occupied by the wife and daugh-
ters (Southern born) of an officer in
the federal army. Gen. Beauregard at
once commenced his preparations for
receiving the attack, and sent one OF
his aides to President Davis to COM
municate the information and to urge
the immediate concentration of the
scattered Confederate forces.
"But still the Federal start was de-
layed, and the precise date was as in
definite as ever. 1t was during this
period of uncertainty that G. Donel-
Ian, who, before joining the Confed-
crates, had been clerk in the depart
ment of the interior, volunteered to
return to Washington for information.
He was armed with the two words
Trust Bearer in Col Jordan's cipher,
and was sent cross the oPtomac with
instructions to report to Mrs. Green
how. He arrived at the very moment
that she most needed messenger
Hastily writing in cipher her all-lm-
portant dispatch Orders issued for
Mcdowell to move on Manassas to-
night she gave it to Donellan, who
was taken by her agents in a buggy,
with relays of horses, down the east
ern shore of the Potomac to a ferry
near Dumfries, where he was ferried
across. Cavalry couriers delivered the
dispatch into Gen. Beauregard's hands
that night, July 16.
"And the source of Mrs GreenhoWs
information? She has made the state
ment that she received a copy Of the
order to Mcdowell Allen Pinkerton
was not wrong when he said that she
had not used her powers in vain
among the officers of the army
"At midday of the 18th there came
Col Jordan's reply:
"'Yours was received at 8 o'clock
at night. Let them come; we are ready
for them We rely upon you for pre-
else information. Be particular as to
description and destination of forces,
quantity of artillery, etc..
"She was ready with fresh informa-
ton, and the messenger was sent back
with the news that the federais in
tended to cut the Manassas Gap rail
road to prevent Johnson, at Winches-
ter, from reinforcing Beauregard. At
ter that there was nothing to be done
but await the result of the inevitable
battle. She had done her best. What
that best was worth she learned when
she received from Col. Jordan the
treasured message:
"'Our president and our general di-
rect me to thank you We rely upon
you for further information. The Con-
federacy owes you a debt. %