Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-28
WOMAN WHO WON BULL RUN.
Mrs. Greenhow, Washington Society
Woman, Acted az Spy.

Mrs. Greenhow, Washington Society
Woman, Acted as Spy.
In Harper's, for March, William
Gilmore Beymer, tells the true story Of
Mrs. Greenhow, Washington woman
of gentle birth who acted as spy for
the Confederacy and gave the in
formation which resulted in the Con-
federate 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 10
Richmond When would they start?
Where would they first strike? 1t was
on those two points that the Confed-
crate plan Of campaign hinged. IL
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 across the Potomac and on
to Manassas via Fairfax Court House
and Centreville. 1t was brought In
to the Confederate lines by q young
lady Of Washington, Miss Duvai, VINO,
disguised as a market girl, carried Ihe
message to q house near Fairfax
Court House, occupied by the kife and
daughters (southern born) OF an OF
ficer in the Federal army. Gen. Beau
regard at once commenced his prep
arations for receiving the attack,
and sent one of his aides to Pres
ident Davis to communicate the infor-
nation and to urge the immeolate
concentration Of the scattered Con-
federate forces.
"But still the Federal start was de-
Iayed, and the precise date was as IN
definite as ever. 1t was during TINS
period of uncertainty that q. DoneI-
Ian, who, before Joining the Confeder-
ates, had been a clerk In the depart
ment of the interior, volunteered 10
return TO washington for informa-
tion. He was armed with the two
words Trust Bearer In Col. Jordans
cipher. and was sent across the Po-
tomac with instructions to report 10
Mrs. Greenhow. He arrived at the
very moment that she most needed
messenger. Hastily writing In cipher
her all-important dispatch, Orders
issued for Mcdowell to move on Ma
nassas tonight she gave 1t to Donet-
Ian, who was taken by her agents IN
a buggy, with relays Of horses. down
the eastern shore Of the Potomac 10
a ferry near Dumfries, where he was
ferried across. Cavalry couriers de-
livered the dispatch into Cen. Beau
regards hands that night, July 16.
"And the source Of Mrs. Greenhow's
information? She has made the state
ment that she received 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 O'Clock
at night. Let them come; we are ready
for them. We rely upon you for pre-
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 Federals in
tended to cut the Manassas Gap rail-
road to prevent Johnson, at Wlnches-
ter, from reinforcing Beauregard.
After that there was nothing TO be
dene but await the result Of the newt
able 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 d.
rect me to thank you. We rely upon
you for further information, The Con-
federacy owes you a debt
last Of Johnson's $500 men (marched
came known, and she learned how the
last Of Johnson's $500 men (marched
to Gen. Beauregard's aid because OF
her dispatches) had arrived at
o'clock on the day Of the battle and
had turned the 'wavering Federal
army into a mob Of panic stricken
fugitives, she felt that the 'Confed-
eracy owed her a debt, indeed"