Part 18 (1/2)
Many personal incidents worthy of note occurred during this period, but there was one which I recall at this moment with a laugh at my own expense--an incident in which I was reluctantly compelled to occupy the wrong side of a guard-house over night, and instead of capturing a prisoner became a prisoner myself.
[Ill.u.s.tration: GUARD-HOUSE PRISONERS.]
CHAPTER XVI.
_A Female Traitor.--Suspicious Correspondence.--A Close Watch under Difficulties.--I am Arrested.--Exposure of the Treason of a Trusted Officer.--A Disgraced Captain._
During the earlier stages of the rebellion, a number of Southern sympathizers were domiciled in the city of Was.h.i.+ngton, and among the number were many ladies of refinement and wealth, from the South, who had been leaders of fas.h.i.+on and of society in the brilliant days of previous administrations. Many of these ladies were extremely fascinating in their manners, and being gifted with great personal beauty and with rare conversational qualities, they had gathered around them a brilliant circle of acquaintances, to whom they dispensed regal hospitalities and most delicate courtesies.
When the war broke out, these ladies thoroughly identified themselves with the cause of the South, and upon all occasions were unreserved in the expression of opinions favorable to the rebels, and of fervent hopefulness for the eventual success of the disunionists. But little attention was paid to these _grand dames_ of the old regime, as it was not deemed possible that any danger could result from the utterances of non-combatant females, nor was it considered chivalrous that resolute measures should be adopted toward those of the weaker s.e.x.
That this policy was a mistaken one was soon fully proved, and when it was discovered that these fine ladies were secretly giving information to the enemy, it was deemed of great importance that such means should be adopted as would prevent their treasonable actions from being made valuable to the opponents of the government, and who were seeking its overthrow.
From information received from reliable sources, it was shown that the rebel authorities were as fully conversant with the plans of the Union commanders as they were themselves. That they knew of the position of every regiment and brigade, and the contemplated movements of the commanders, and the time of proposed action, far in advance of any publicity being given to them, and when the utmost secrecy was the only true pa.s.sport to victory. Indeed, it was openly boasted that the secret information given to the rebel generals had been mainly the cause of the defeat of our armies at Bull Run and Mana.s.sas.
Upon these facts being fully proven, the government resolved to effectually prevent a continuance of these practices, and that if they were persisted in, the guilty parties should either be confined or exiled to the more congenial climate of Dixie.
My department was in its infancy when the event occurred which I am about to relate. I had secured a house in Was.h.i.+ngton, and had gathered around me a number of resolute, trustworthy men and discreet women, who were devoted to the cause of their country, but were scarcely in such a condition as to move properly or with any systematized regularity. I had not been many days in the city when one afternoon I was called upon by the Hon. Thomas A. Scott, of Pennsylvania, who was then acting as the a.s.sistant-Secretary of War, who desired my services in watching a lady whose movements had excited suspicion, and who, it was believed, was engaged in corresponding with the rebel authorities, and furnis.h.i.+ng them with much valuable information.
This lady was Mrs. Rose Greenhow, a Southern woman of p.r.o.nounced rebel proclivities, and who had been unsparing in her denunciation of the ”Abolition North,” and who had openly declared that ”instead of loving and wors.h.i.+ping the old flag of the Stars and Stripes,” she saw ”in it only the symbol of murder, plunder, oppression and shame.” Mrs. Greenhow had occupied a prominent position in the social circles of the capital, and was personally acquainted with all of the leading men of the country, many of whom had partaken of her hospitality and had enjoyed a social intercourse that was both pleasurable and fascinating.
She had now become an avowed hater of the Union, and it was feared, from her previous a.s.sociation with officers in the army, that she was using her talents in procuring information from them which would be immediately communicated to the rebel government at Richmond.
The residence of Mrs. Greenhow was situated at the corner of Thirteenth and I streets--quite a fas.h.i.+onable quarter of the city, and within a short distance of the White House. The building, while not at all imposing in appearance, was large, roomy, and was furnished with every consideration for wealth and tasteful refinement. It was a two-story and bas.e.m.e.nt brick building, the parlors of which were elevated several feet above the ground, and entrance was obtained by ascending a flight of steps in the center of the edifice. This lady was a widow, her husband having died some years before, and being possessed of considerable means, and mingling with the highest circles of Was.h.i.+ngton society, her home was the resort of most of the prominent people of the city.
The instructions of the Secretary of War were, that a strict watch should be kept upon this house, and that every person entering or leaving the same should come under the close surveillance of my men, who should endeavor to ascertain who they were, and if they attempted in any manner to communicate with any suspicious persons. I was to report to him daily, and to continue my espionage until I received definite and official orders for its discontinuance. My further instructions were, that in case any of the visitors of Mrs. Greenhow should attempt to pa.s.s the lines of our troops, they should be arrested at once, and a rigorous search of their persons inst.i.tuted, in order that nothing should be allowed to pa.s.s through without a thorough examination by the Secretary of War or Mr. Scott.
After the departure of the Secretary I took with me two of my men, and proceeded to the vicinity of the residence of Mrs. Greenhow. I was then quite a stranger in Was.h.i.+ngton, and localities were not as familiar to me as they afterward became, and I therefore preferred to reconnoiter by daylight, to depending upon a survey after nightfall.
The entire day had been dark, gloomy and threatening; clouds had been gathering in the heavens, and everything indicated the imminence of a severe storm. As I left my headquarters, a slight shower of rain was falling, which I knew was but the precursor of a storm more violent. On arriving at the designated locality I found everything to be as they had already been described to me. The inside shutters to the windows were closed, and no sign was apparent that the house was occupied, and after carefully noting the situation and the exposed condition of the premises, I left the two men within a convenient distance of the place, and returned for the additional aid which I thought might be needed.
Selecting three of my most discreet men, I again repaired to the scene of operations. We had not proceeded far, when the storm burst upon us in all its fury. The wind blew strong and chill, and the rain fell in deluging torrents. Umbrellas were a useless commodity, and, unprotected, we were compelled to breast the elements, which now were warring with terrible violence.
Arriving at Mrs. Greenhow's, under cover of the darkness I posted my men in such positions as I thought would be most advantageous for our purpose, and then calling in the two whom I had left there during the afternoon, I approached to within a short distance of the house. The darkness and storm, while decidedly uncomfortable, were of some benefit to us, as but few people were abroad, and these paid no attention to pa.s.sing events, seeming to be only too anxious to reach their destination and to escape the pitiless rain.
The blinds at the windows were still closed, but a light was observed in two rooms upon the parlor floor, and I knew that the house was occupied.
Of course I could see nothing within, as my view was entirely obstructed by the closed blinds, and, at length, becoming impatient at this unprofitable and unsatisfactory waiting, I determined to obtain a glimpse, at least, of the interior, and to ascertain, if possible, some knowledge of its occupants.
The parlor windows, through which the lights were gleaming, were too high from the ground to permit me to see within, and summoning the two men who were awaiting instructions I made use of their strong, broad shoulders in a manner quite novel to me, and quite ludicrous, no doubt, to a pa.s.ser-by who did not understand the situation.
Ranging the two men side by side under the broad windows in front of the house, I removed my boots and was soon standing upon their shoulders and elevated sufficiently high to enable me to accomplish the object I had in view. I was now on a level with the windows, and noiselessly raising the sash and turning the slats of the blinds I obtained a full view of the interior of the room. The furniture was rich and luxurious, valuable pictures hung upon the walls, and several pieces of statuary and various articles of artistic ornamentation were arranged about the apartment, but to my disappointment, it was unoccupied.
I was about to give expression to my chagrin at this discovery, when a warning ”s.h.!.+” from one of my st.u.r.dy supporters induced me to be silent.
Some one was approaching the house, and hastily clambering down from my perch, we hid ourselves under the stoop which led up to the front door.
Scarcely had we ensconced ourselves in this convenient shelter when we heard the footsteps of the new-comer, and to our satisfaction, he stopped in front of the house, and ascending the steps rang the bell and in a short time was admitted.
By this time we were drenched to the skin--the rain had fallen in copious showers and during all the time we had been exposed to its dampening influences--but paying but little heed to this, we again took our position in front of the window, and I was soon remounted upon the shoulders of my operatives, prepared to take notes of what transpired.