The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-02-12
Secret
Dispatches
&isx They Were Obtained
For President LincOln's
inspection
BY Captain r. A. mitchell

~sS7s2SSHHHHSSSH>H >SS%.~Ss$cH>:..>:
IN acknowledging myself to have
Efssrs N professional secret service man
GAzausst admit that lose much Of the
ssgMssathy Of those who love the ro'
IsrxrfaE of war But war is not ~
sanN&e: II is what General Sherman
aAxssrztbed IL. The soldier is paid for
XaSa2sing up TO be shot. The paid spy
1hxB necessary TO an army us the sol.
xAs~ Indeed, he may be Of more bene-
EaStss - commander than an army
EhaSsag the big north and south strug.
80 allan Pinkerton established Sc
sssssn service bureau in Washington. /
TsxSo liuing there at the time. the oldest
GEssD family of five children. orphans.
x'ssws were dependent Oh me for SUP
gsse. was nineteen; the next in or
aasS 0e birth was II girl of fifteen: the
EsRs-e .. boy of thirteen. and 50 OH down
I2ssascs youngest. boy of six. My ia
sSsa died several years before the war
ssoS-s Sat and left my mother 10 do the
Eo1ss she could in feeding and clothing
ash. J. being the oldest. SOON became
Sa-s zaain reliance. and when in 1852
.sas, sGsFtl | fell heir to the problem OF
seSr&3ng for the family necessities.
d had lived till ! was twelve years
iss&l FR Richmond. and my natural din
GsSas was southern. My sympathie>
T7xsx7 neither with the south nor the
lsSs-5lA 1t occurred to me that WAS in
N GSAsition to earn money by going
Ee1SS and bringing back information
IDS The federal government. knew
GyS itGfan Pinkerton'S secret service Du.
7essaA rod one day | went in there anu
6aors talk with him. He was at the
tzmsq furnishing spies for President
Ekcsssa and" listened nttentively to all
E&ssiei When had finished he sug.
ssessrS that | would likely have more
gecewas playing the part of girl than
a71a2n.
1zSs- season for this was that had
sssesRniinine face at that time no beard
sE.s sg0ke with soft voice that would
AcE 2srlled cOntralto In woman III
questioned me good while to assure
Mxnss& that could be relied on to
ssHTe the Union side. and. although
rsssiAssed to him that bad no prefer
sssfa Cor either cause. | won his ron
GSAsee simply by promising to stand
Ex lie interests OF the federal govern
Es~at.--
NA* sent me to President Lincoln
ssLsA whom | had a private Interview.
&Essr sime was the summer OF 1S,i2.
FSTHssr eEse Federal armies In the west
asy9saffttte or nothing TO oppose them
slI;s, haifA competent leaders then been
bsaF enmand the war could have been
@s22sSS Within. very short period. MIR.
.SlGSsasr wished me to 30 to Richmond
Szs tsTestigate the feeling at the capi
Sfs 5SsthOse In power. to learn whether
SsG raRsaam advantageous time to offer
ssEsr1si for peace. IT | came back with
! VIZ sesired information was TO re.
c, isys~n -rcry large sum of money A
10 .Tsks sufficient TO take care OF my
EsnSttsa .snd sisters during my absence
yyaSl gwen nue.. and ! was promised II
sGEzslop for them in case ! was taken
<xsGs hanged
T&s sister Margie. though four years
gssnnesc than l. was nearly my height
and, having accepted Mr.
E,slxcstOn's suggestion TO dress us II
lges- used her clothes. With Mr.. Lin.
t-sis'Serrass made out for Miss Alice
kEssnfex. J had no difficulty In getting
tkrs Of the Federal lines | was ad-
xfrrQxl INT N khu do, -
stE because &c was much easier to pass
sFtea Confederate territory than TO
crsSesge from IT. When I reached Rich
'-zcs 90 & sought boarding house. where
9 ssSEedymyself to remain long enough
my mission.
sa1ls was early In July. when the va
,siSDir period for schools had come. and
E9gawe out that | had been studying
iHn i&w. Work when the wan broke out
naSa prefcrred to remain another year
Ia, Sssafr to finish my course alta north
HE> school But | was very chary
Ifs1szi making definite statements. Mr.
had told me that Confed
were constantly passing be
aEesna Washington and Richmond aud
i5asafA Number was legion. Realizing
euSx would be in more danger FROM
'Aa11 than any one else. ! was suSlii
risag-os all persons whose connections |
sEaE occupations were not accounted |
Ear
= tAE&ed with good many. persons
ses ~ the gloomy aspect Of Coufeder- |
sss- ssxisirs In the west. but found few.
EEfxry. who were In favor Of giving MP |
iss ssxuggle. made various attempts |
D. assesyfew persons Of influence. but |
xn,- us@t very successful. One person |
lss snwer whom I succeeded In getting |
asar . found unwilling to give me his |
Isnh epsnion But made mp my mind
snrs exon II the leaders were willing |
e,sSsote1 to terms for peace. the people |
t.rwn' not. except on the acknowledge |
zssue NJ the independence OF the Con
staftr.Sse states However. ] learned |
frsessgh the wife Of member Of the |
ipsSrderate cabinet that the govern.
szzues uss with the people in this re-
ssss4cr and looked for General Lee to |
sxMss GOOD In the east what other Con. |
sxsrrse generals had lost In the west
! "a sSe time spent IN Richmond
srss. very exclusive. though my story |
psg2nsspg been at school In the north, |
tgxsst told to avoid accounting for |
Enrs<s. y really had recently been, |