The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-04-02

accepting any terms that the Federal
vrrnmcnt would offer. | left my
lntrding house. giving out that ] was
@ulng to my home. a plantation on the
lAnnS river. intending to go there with
Il view to striking Fortress Monroe. In
possession OF the United States forces.
From there ! could easily proceed
north by sea in Il government trans
Port
| succeeded In finding a steamboat
carrying freight that WIS going down
the river from Richmond as far as the
boat could proceed without encounter
ing any Federal force. | took passage
on her. finding a few other passengers.
1t was on this boat that | received thy
first and only scare. Up to this time
no one | had met seemed to have the
slightest suspicion Of my sex. Being
suspected was not the cause Of my
trouble on the boat. but that l was too
attractive to a man.
On the guard as we left Richmond.
standing near me. was a young fellow.
a typical sOutherner. who from his
glances | judged was quite struck with
my appearance. When ! went into
! the cabin he followed me and In order
to scrape an acquaintance offered me
some books to read. Thinking that It
might he more dangerous to repulse
him than to accept his attentions. l
accepted a novel and in order to get
rid of further devotion pretended to be
absorbed in 1t. This did not serve.
tut. though he was considerable. defer
entail and all that. he insisted In tax
my advantage OF every opportunity to
converse with me FiuHIly I concluded
to favor him and permitted him to do
so. Since he seemed to be smitten
with mt. there was surely 10 reason
to fear that he would suspect me of
being n man and my tue errand. AT
raSt, rcmarking that the air in the cab
IN was sitting. he insisted on my going
out on the guard with him.
We sat together. passing along the
yellow stream. with It's banks nearly
jamestown found the peninsula q vii
derness. My companion at Hrst SAID
he was opposed to secession. nut on
my asserting that any man who did
not stand by the south was Il traitor to
his country he veered around and ad-
United that he was in the Confederate
service. To draw hin out 1 pretended
not to believe his last statement. and
he confessed that be vas u lieutenant
in q Virginia regiment.
Then why are you not in Uniform"
| asked. with feigned suspicion Of the
truth Of his statement.
This was tOO much for him. He
confessed that he was going to Fortress
Monroe on secret service. He was the
bearer Of dispatches to prominent
southern sympathizers In the north
and intended sailing Oh any vessel he
could find to take him there.
This confirmed Mr.. PinkertOn's story
that the routes between the north and
south were full OF Confederate spies.
was seized with the FEAR that one Of
them had suspected me and mad made
m! acquaintance with n view to trap
ping me-. nerved myself to an effort
and gave every evidence of my appre
citation OF one who was ABOUT to risk %
much for the Confederate cause.
It was hard for me to Delieve that
one bent on such an errann would thus
give himself away to n stranger, yet.
on the other hand. he was still IN Con
federate territory talking 10 one who
prOfessed to be wrapped up In the all"
cess Of the south. Al any rate. |
should 0 know whether ne was d..
..,,.t I, s. 80. ,.. ,I,,i,,n :, .Ylv t,.
to trap me.
thought II best to leave the boat ut
II landing some distance ahov, the end
OF her route. babe NY tri.lld good
ny with my best wishes tor his sue
cess and. going ashore. hired a man
point wished to reach. In one way
"r another | got as far as a Federal
outpost and asked to TIE taken to the
, commander.
| had kept sewed np IN my clothing
IN order. signed "A. Linco.u to all
~ the Fedora! service I" give me aid
and comfort and showed il TO the gen
-rai commanding was al once pro
cided with mans ciOt:iiIl4. and an ord
nance Ofncer furnished IN" WITH II re.
v0iver | wished this weapon H. ease
I should meet my adnllrer with whom
had Travelled. | did not wish to give
him away. but ! wanted to get the dis.
patches be carried. 50 ! could give
them 10 President Lincoln. ! had not
been at the fort two hours before l
saw the young man passing across the
parade. ! approached and acc,,sted
him. He did not recognize me at NEE,
but as soon as 1t broke In upon bis
brain that he bad given himself away
to q man thinking him to be a girl be
turned CHASTITY pale.
> Don't fear anything for yourself
said. II have just come OF the same
: boat with you In more respects than
one. ! have been in the COnfederacy
> . u secret service. | know what Il
I would have meant had my mission
been discovered. ! would have got the
rope. Give me the documents o car.
> ~ and ! will keep your secret"