The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1915-01-16
A Wornan's
Exploit
She Was Sent OF ~ q So
b. PrssiisAt Linesla

The ul6 OF k.teGO30t AiucVsu - -
thoroughly identified with the four
years of war-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 IL endeavoring by wise dipio-
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 a woman Of low degree the
life Of her son. who has been sentenced
to be shot for desertion; at one mo-
ment he IL urging the generals to move
their armies against the enemy; the
next he 10 sending out an Individual
q girl In her teens perhaps-tO bring
him information Of the C0nfederates.
1t IL this last named leld that CON
meets Mr.. Lincoln especially with the
romance in adventures Of the war.
A secret service bureau was organ
,xed. with headquarters at the capital.
by Allan Pinkerton. It was bis busi-
ness to provide and equip spies. but 1t
was Mr.. Lincoln who laid out their
work for them. He told them what
information he needed. and 1t was
their part to get 1t 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 Nj.
LIncoln's spies-that is. considering the
Importance Of the Information obtain.
ed-was a young woman. Kate Beaie
had lived In Richmond, the capital Of
the Confederacy, and during her resi-
dence there had naturally become IA.
miliar with the place and taken on the
accent peculiar to Virginia. Moreover.
she was supposed to sympathize with
the southern cause. She was at the
time Of Mr.. Lincoln's incumbency the
only support Of an invalid mother and
found 1t dificult to provide the neces-
sary supplies.
It occurred to Miss BeaIe that she
might put her knowledge Of Richmond
to advantage BY going there and bring.
ing information TO the federal govern.
ment. True. II she were caught In
such work she was liable to suffer
death or At least be kept In 4 southern
prison TIL the ipd Of thu 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 q willing
listener.
But Pinkerton before employing her
must make sure Of her fidelity to the
Union cause. She proposed to deceive
her friends in 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
20 to Washington and bring back in
formation for President Davis. Wash
inRton was full Of southerners ready to
convey information to the Confederate
government. and It was diflcult 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 Pinkerton. becoming salts
ned that she was to be trusted. sent
her to President Lincoln. This was in
the spring Of '65. 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 bad Q
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 subsist In
case our armies surround and cut on
their lines Of supplies. 1t will be your
, part to take notice Of their depots. to
see how well filled they are and II nee
essary. or you can do no without too
much risk. learn what they have
from ofiicials. My object liz to dis
cover whether they are in condition to
stand siege or must surrender in case
General Grant. who is south Of them
at Petersburg. captures the place. cut
ting Oh their only communication
southwark"
Miss Beale understood perfectly what
was required OF her and Its vslue II
executed. Mr.. Lincoln sent her OF
with a ''fsod bless you and bring you
back safely from your perilous work. :"
Citizens were occasionally passing to
and fro between the lines. and Miss
Beale. having President IAncoln's pass.
had no trouble In netting to Rich
mond. She pretended to be bitter
against the Federal government and &c
curing the acquaintance Of the wife Of
the oficer in charge Of the commissary
department Of the Confederate capital
was introduced to him AZ perxon who
WINS anxious to serve the Confederate
cause. She asked the commiasary how