Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-04-30

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carrying freight that was going down
the river from Richmond as far as the
boat could proceed without encounter
ing any Federal force. I took passage
on her, finding FEW other passengers.
1t was on this boat that l received my
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 was too
attractive to man.
On the guard as we left Richmond,
standing near me, was a young fellow,
a typical southerner, who from his
lglances judged was quite struck with
my appearance. When l went into
the cabin he followed me and In order
to scrape an acquaintance offered me
some books to read. Thinking that It
might be more dangerous to repulse
him than to accept his attentions,
accepted a novel and I'm order to get
rid of further devotion pretended to be
absorbed In 1t. This did not serve,
for, though he was considerable, defer
entail and all that. he insisted in TAX
ing advantage of every opportunity to
converse with me. Finally concluded
to favor him and permitted him to do
SO. Since he seemed to be smitten
with me, there was surely no reason
to fear that he would suspect me OF
being a man and my true errand. At
last, remarking that the air In the cab
IN MN al h.Rt v,o tod
out on the guard with him.
We sat together, passing along the
yellow stream, with Its banks nearly
as bare as when the settlement Of
Jamestown found the peninsula will
derness. My companion at first said
he was opposed to secession, but on
my asserting that any man who did
not stand by the south was n traitor to
his country he veered around and I'D
mitted that he was In the Confederate
service. To draw him out pretended
not to believe his last statement, and
he confessed that he was lieutenant
In Virginia regiment.
"Then why are you not In uniform
/ asked. with felgned 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 on any vessel he
could find to take him there.
This confirmed Mr. Pinkerton's story
that tha rnttae hatx.,aau tha month aud
south were full Of Confederate spies.
1 was seized with the fear that one OF
them had suspected me and had made
my acquaintance with 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 50
much for the Confederate cause.
1t was hard for me to believe that
one bent on such an errand would thus
give himself away to stranger, yet,
on the other hand. he was still In Con
6ederate territory talking to one who
professed to be wrapped up In the SUI
cess Of the south. At any rate. I
should soon know whether he was de
ceIved by me or was playing II game
to trap me.
thought 1t best to leave the boat at
a landing some distance above the end
OF her route. | babe my friend good
by with my best wishes for his sue
cess and, going ashore, hired "A man
to drive me In his buggy toward the
point wished to reach. In one way
or another | got as far as a Federal
outpost and asked to be taken to the
commander.
had kept sewed up In my clothing
an order signed "a. Lincoln" to all
In the Federal service to give me aid
and comfort and showed 1t to the gen
eral commanding. was at once pro.
vtded with mans clothing. and an ord
nance officer furnished me with re-
vOlver. | wished this weapon In case
should meet my admirer with whom
had Travelled. did not wish to give
him away. but | wanted to get the dis
patches he carried. so l could give
them to President Lincoln. had not
been at the fort two hours before |
saw the young man passing across the
parade. | approached and accCsted
him He did not recognize me at once,
but as soon M II broke In upon his
brain that he had given himself away
to man thinking him to be n girl he
turned ghastly pale.
Don't fear anything for yourself"
said. ~ have Just come OF the same
boat with you In morv respects than
one. | have been In the Confederacy
on secret service. I know what II
would have meant had my mission
been discovered would have got the
rope. Give me the documents you car.
ry and | Will keep your secret"
He looked relieved, though his sense
OF honor deferred him from giving me
what would compromise others. But
what could he do In the center Of a
United States fortress2 He gave me
the dispatches. and helped him TO get
back into Confederate territory.
In due time | made my report to
President Lincoln. and he told me that
the dispatches I had captured were OF
far more importance than the informa.
ton he had sent me for. His posses.
sion Of them thwarted an important
plan In the interest OF the Confederacy.
I made several other trips for Mr.
Lincoln. On the last. having escaped
capture by hairs breath. / conclud-