Page:The woman in battle .djvu/35

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CONTENTS.
25


Human Nature. The Kind of Secrets Women can Keep. Women better than Men for certain Kinds of Secret Service Duty. The Lieu tenant wants to know all about me. I suspect that he has Matrimonial Inclinations. He is anxious to discover whether I have any wealthy Relations. I am induced to think that I can make him useful in obtain ing Information with regard to the Federal Movements. The Lieuten ant expresses his Opinion attout the War. Arrival at Memphis. Visit to the Provost Marshal's Office. General Washburn too ill to see me. I enclose him the bogus Despatch I have for him, with an ex planatory Note. The Lieutenant escorts me to the Hard wick House, and I request him to call in the Morning. Procuring a Change of Dress through One of the Servants, I slip out, and have an Interview with my Confederate, and give him the Despatch for General Forrest. On returning to the Hotel, I meet the Lieutenant on the Street, but manage to pass him without being observed. Satisfactory Accomplishment of my Errand 362

CHAPTER XXXII.

FORREST'S GREAT RAID. GOING NORTH ON A MISSION OF MERCY.

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed. The Lieutenant aids me in procuring a new Wardrobe. I succeed in rinding out all I want to know about the Number and the Disposition of the Federal Troops on the Line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. A Movement made in accordance with the bogus Despatch which I had brought to General Washburn. Forrest makes his Raid, and I pretend to be alarmed lest the Rebels should capture me. The Lieutenant continues his Atten tions, and Something occurs to induce me to change my Plans. I have an Interview with an Officer of my Brother's Command, and learn that he is a Prisoner. I resolve to go to him, and leave for the North on a Pass furnished by General Washburn. At Louisville I have an In terview with a mysterious secret Agent of the Confederacy, who supplies me with Funds. On reaching Columbus, Ohio, I obtain a Permit to see my Brother. Through the Agency of Governor Brough my Brother is released, and we go East together, he to New York, I to Washington 373

CHAPTER XXXIII.

SECRET SERVICE DUTY AT THE NORTH.

New Scenes and new Associations. My first Visit to the North. The Wealth and Prosperity of the North contrasted with the Poverty and Desolation of the South. Much of the northern Prosperity fictitious. The anti-war Party and its Strength. How some of the People of the North made Money during the War. "Loyal" Blockade-runners and Smugglers. Confederate Spies and Emissaries in the Government Offices. The Opposition to the Draft. The bounty-jumping Frauds. My Connection with them. Operations of the Confederate Secret Service Agents. Other Ways of fighting the Enemy than by Battles in the Field. I arrange a Plan of Operations, and place myself in communication with the Confederate Authorities at Richmond, and also with Federal Officials at Washington and Elsewhere. I abandon Fighting for Strategy 383