Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-05-08

A WOnan'S;
Exploit
She Was Sent Out as a Spy ;
by President Lincoln !
By F. A. mitchell 4
BY F. A. mitchell
....s.s...s.s...s.s...,s,.a.a.a.....a.s.as.sa

The life of President Lincoln is so
thoroughly identified with the four
years Of Wharf.-The last four years OF
his earthly existence-that we are not
accustomed to think OF him In any
other connection. During that brief
period we see him under many lights
now he is endeavoring by wise diplo-
macy to prevent foreign governments
from intervening between the north
and the south to insure the separation
of the states and on the same day
gives to woman of low degree the
life OF her son, who has been sentenced
to be shot for desertion; at one mo
ment he is urging the generals to move
their armies against the enemy; the
next he is sending out an individual
girl in her teens perhaps-to bring
him information of the Confederates.
1t Is this last named field that con-
meets Mr.. Lincoln especially with tho
romance In adventures of the war.
A secret service bureau was organ
lied, with headquarters at the capital,
by Allan Pinkerton. 1t was his bust
ness to provide and equip spies, but II
was Mr.. Lincoln who laid out their
work for them. He told them what
information he needed, and 1t was
their part to get It for him. The risk
they ran was very great, and their pay
when they worked for pay--was pro
portionately large.
Possibly the most successful of Mr..
Lincoln's spies-that is, considering the
Importance OF the information obtain
ed-was young woman. Kate Beale
had lived In Richmond, the capital of
the Confederacy, and during her resi-
dence there had naturally become ia
millar with the place and taken on tho
accent peculiar to Virginia Moreover,
she was supposed to sympathlze with
the southern cause. She was at the
time Of Mr.. Lincoln's incumbency the
only support Of an invalid mother and
found 1t difficult to provide the neces-
sary supplies.
II occurred TO Miss Beale that she
might put her knowledge OF Richmond
to advantage by going there and bring
Ing information to tho federal govern.
ment True, IL she were caught in
such work she was liable to suffer
death or at least be kept In n southern
prison till the end OF the war, leaving
her mother without either support or
attendance. She went to Allan Pin.
kerton and told him OF the advantages
she possessed for secret service work
at Richmond and found him a willing
listener.
But Pinkerton before employing her
must make sure OF her fidelity to the
Union cause. She proposed TO deceive
her friends I'm Richmond, but she might
II she chose deceive those In Washing
ton, for her plan was to offer her serv-
Ices to the Confederate government to
go TO Washington and bring back In
formation for President Davis Wash
lngton was fun OF southerners ready to
convey information to the Confederate
government, and IL was difficult to tell
who could be trusted
Pinkerton pretended to trust Miss
Beale, but before employing her sent
decoys to her to try to draw from her
betrayal In case she intended to
work for the Confederacy instead OF
the Union. She stood all these tests,
and at last Plnkerton, becoming salts
fed that she was to be trusted, sent
her TO President Lincoln. This was in
tho spring OF 60, when the war was
drawing to close
On arriving at the White House she
was admitted to room, In which she
found Mr.. Lincoln alone He had
very simple but very important work
for her
"Mr. Pinkerton informs me-" he said,
that you are familiar with Richmond.
I am anxious to learn what provisions
they have there on which TO subslst IN
case our armies surround and cut on
their lines Of supplies. It will be your
part TO take notice OF their depOts, to
see how well filled they are and If nee
essary. or you can do so without too
much risk, learn what they have
from officials. My object Is to dis
cover whether they are In condition 10
stand siege or must surrender In case
General Grant, who Is south OF them
at Petersburg, captures the place, cut
ting Off their only communications
southwark"
Miss Beale understood perfectly what
was required OF her and its value If
executed. Mr.. Lincoln sent her Off
with God bless you and bring you
back safely from your perllous work"
Citizens were occasionally passing to
and fro between the lines, and Miss
Beale, having President IIncoln's pass.
had no trouble In getting TO Rich
mond. She pretended 10 be bitter
against the Federal government and 80.
curing the acquaintance OF tho wife OF
the officer In charge Of the commlssary
department Of the Confederate capital
was introduced TO him as n person who
was anxious 30 serve the Confederate
cause. She asked tho commissary how
she could aid in tho matter Of getting
supplies into the Confederacy from tho
north. She wns taken 10 President
Davis for reply and held n confer
ence with him ana the commissary
general in the executive mansion.
There were but two ways by which
supplies could be introduced into tho
Confederacy from the outside-bl0ck-