The Women Spies Series 1-3

by Sergeant, Kit

  “The Deep South is so against conscription, they are threatening to secede from the Confederacy,” Mr. Davis’s voice was faded but firm. “With the Union elections looming, a unified South would be the best weapon we’d have to prevent Lincoln’s reelection.”

  “There is another solution besides forcing our good men to stay in uniform,” a man in a general’s coat stated. “We could employ the slaves.”

  “Nonsense!” Judah Benjamin hit his fist on the table, silencing the startled debate the general’s comment had provoked. “The insult of employing contraband was the lowest blow the Union has delivered to us yet.”

  The general sat back. “I would think that every secessionist would surely choose to forfeit their negroes rather than become a slave himself.”

  At that remark, all Mary Jane could think of was getting away. She temporarily tuned out as she imagined running out of the mansion, down the hill, not stopping until she reached Union lines, and leaving those men in the dining room behind forever. She blinked a few times, bringing herself back to reality just in time to hear Stephen Mallory, Secretary of the Navy, state he had an alternate plan.

  “There are about 2,000 officers being held prisoner on Johnson’s Island off Lake Erie. If we could somehow rescue these men, they could lead an attack of the Midwestern states.”

  A stunned silence followed until Judah Benjamin broke it. “I don’t think there are that many Federal troops stationed in the Great Lakes. As far as I know, they only have one gunboat up there.”

  “The Michigan,” Mallory supplied.

  Benjamin’s eyes were somewhere above Mary Jane’s head, speaking aloud as he hashed it out in his head. “The entire lakeshore from Ohio to New York would be ours. All of that commerce, all of those men returned to arms.” He focused on Davis. “Mr. President, this sounds like the best proposal we have at the moment.”

  Mr. Davis nodded. “You may be right.” He turned to Mallory. “Can it be done without interfering with our European negotiations?”

  Mallory rubbed at his beard. “I believe so, sir.”

  Mr. Davis rose from the table. “Then you may start drafting a plan.”

  The men left, presumably to reassemble at their offices on Capitol Street and formalize a formal plot to attack the Midwest. Mary Jane headed straight to her room to try to counter their plans as best she could.

  Chapter 58

  Loreta

  May 1863

  Loreta spent the spring in Washington City lying low. She befriended several Union officers, who paid for her meals and gave her various pieces of information, but nothing of major interest. At last, Loreta decided to call on Dunham at his place of business to see if he had any worthwhile intelligence. When he met her for tea, he told her she had interrupted his writing about the possibility of a prison break in Ohio. Loreta’s ears perked upon hearing this and pressed Dunham for more information.

  “The South is always threatening such things,” he replied. “Every prison houses Union deserters and refugees who could be persuaded to take up arms, not to mention Confederate soldiers.”

  “You sound almost as if you are in favor of such an act. I thought you had Northern sympathies.”

  “I do not believe in fighting the devil with fair play and claim the right to use his weapons. The raid would sharpen Northern sympathies and resolve them in ending the war as quickly as possible.”

  Loreta recalled what Captain Alexander told her at Castle Godwin about not knowing which way Dunham’s sympathies lay. “Your aim is to sell more newspapers.” The words came out as a statement, not a question.

  He nodded, and Loreta marveled that Dunham’s skills at deception might even be greater than her own. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that this could be the impetus to turn the tide of the war. Even if it didn’t immediately result in a Southern victory, it might at least result in Lincoln losing the election next year, and the Confederacy could negotiate peace on their own terms. A plan began to form in her mind. “Can you write me a letter of introduction to the head of the Union secret service?”

  “You speak of Lafayette Baker. Indeed I will.” He put a fresh sheet of paper in the middle of his desk. “Shall I refer to you as Mrs. De Caulp or Ms. Velazquez?”

  “Please use the name Ann Williams.”

  Dunham’s expression remained indifferent. “Very well.”

  Loreta found Baker to be a stern-looking gentleman with gray eyes that reminded her of his Confederate counterpart, General Winder, but with the brawny, leathery skin of a pioneer. She told him about William’s death but left out Tom completely. She pleaded with him to find her gainful employment. “Please sir, I’ve lost everything now. I was so badly treated by the rebels that I fled to New York.”

  Baker gave a snide laugh. “New York? For a moment there, I thought you’d come from the South.”

  “Why, no sir. I know that my late husband was a Confederate, but I’ve always thought that the Union should be preserved and so I went North upon his death.”

  “Good.” He turned to look Loreta straight in the eyes. “We’ve had a great many problems with Confederate spies running about the city and passing on information. We’ve arrested most of the native citizens, but more seemed to be coming in through the lines.”

  “Sir, I can help you with that. Having lived for a time in the South, I might be able to recognize some of those traitors.”

  Loreta held herself as still as possible, trying not to fidget as Baker’s colorless eyes examined her from bonnet to slipper. He began to bombard her with questions. Loreta answered them as quickly as she could, thinking that his questions about her background and employment desires were asked in a less skillful way than Winder would have done. She told him that all of her relatives had fled to Spain or Cuba before going into detail on how she had won William away from her roommate, thinking that Baker would be impressed with her cunning.

  Throughout Loreta’s long-winded explanations, Baker kept his hand under his full beard. When she finished, he sat back in his chair. “We have been investigating possible Confederate plots to release prisoners.” He held up his hand and examined his fingernails. “While we are always hearing of far-fetched plans such as these, I have reason to believe this might be one to keep abreast of.”

  “Oh yes, sir,” Loreta said, leaning forward. “You can send me to Richmond and I will find out what I can about the plot, as well as pick other information that might be of value to compensate for what it would cost the government.”

  Baker laughed. “The Rebs would capture the likes of you straight away if you attempt to get through their pickets.”

  “I can get through on my own accord. I just need you to supply me with the means of making the trip and write me a pass so I can make it through the Fed lines.”

  “Aren’t you a plucky little woman?” He scribbled something on a piece of paper. “Here is your pass. But…” he continued, pulling his arm back as Loreta reached for it. “You must not blame me if you’re caught. They have a nasty habit of hanging people they catch in the business of spying.”

  Loreta reached out and plucked the pass from his fingers before placing her other hand over her throat. “I don’t think this neck was made to fit in a noose, but I am willing to risk it.”

  He bent down and Loreta heard a dial spin. After a moment, he set a pile of money on the desk and pushed the stack toward Loreta. “There’s a thousand counterfeit Confederate bills in there as well as a hundred and fifty dollars of real greenbacks.”

  “If the rebels catch me carrying bogus bills, my punishment will be a mite harsher than for just spying.”

  “Ah, don’t worry. These fake bills pass readily down South, even more so than the real ones. Which lends proof to the fact that the Confederacy is a fake government.” He gave another deep laugh as Loreta scooped up the money and offered him a faint smile in return.

  Chapter 59

  Belle

  July 1863


  General Lee’s failed Gettysburg Campaign resulted in overwhelming losses, and, although the B and O Railroad seemed to be running continuously, Belle had a hard time securing a ticket as every train carried hundreds of wounded Confederate men into Martinsburg. She finally arrived at her childhood home to find that it had been delegated as a provisional hospital. Belle’s father was still on leave, having been sent home due to exhaustion after General Jackson’s death and Mauma Eliza had confined Mrs. Boyd to her room. Consequently, Belle had to act as nurse to both her parents and the patients lying in the parlor and hallways of the Boyd home. Medical and food supplies in Martinsburg were scarce, and the town showed the wounds of a never-ending battle. A courier had just relayed the message that the Union army was again approaching the town when Mrs. Boyd went into labor.

  Three days later, Belle was not overly surprised to hear a loud knocking on the door, and, a few minutes later, Mauma Eliza announced that “Them Yanks are here agin.”

  Belle slowly descended the stairs from her mother’s room, where she had been keeping her and her new sister company. The man standing on the threshold was young, with a pudgy face and build. “Miss Boyd, I am Major Nathan Goff of the Third West Virginia Infantry.”

  Belle wanted to remind him that, to her, there was no such state called West Virginia, but she bit her tongue as the young man continued, “General Kelly has received a report that you have arrived home. As he did not credit it, I have come to ascertain the truth.”

  “Well, surely you can see that the report is true.” She halted a few steps above the bottom of the stairwell. “Is there something so peculiar about me returning to my own home to be with my parents in their time of need?”

  “Why, there is, of course. Are you not afraid of being arrested?” The major glanced into the parlor and Belle wondered if he was aware she’d shot one of his comrades nearly two years ago.

  “What grounds would they have? I am no criminal.” Belle could hear the baby begin to wail upstairs.

  “That may be, but you are a Rebel.”

  “There are other rebels who remain in this town.”

  “Yes, but then not so dangerous as yourself. You will do more harm to our cause than half the men could do.”

  Normally Belle would have been pleased by such praise, but she was too worried that Major Goff would force her to leave her home to pay much attention. Her mother was doing poorly after giving birth and needed constant nursing. The summer was heating up, and the dark circles under her father’s eyes were expanding daily.

  Major Goff returned after a few days with an order to place Belle under house arrest. He stationed several soldiers on guard around the perimeter and told Belle that her movements would be restricted—she would not even be allowed to go out onto the balcony—but at least she could stay and give her mother the care she needed.

  But only a week passed before another soldier rang the doorbell, carrying a message stating that Belle was to be in Washington City by eleven the following morning.

  “Sir,” Belle’s father begged. “My wife is very sick, and Belle’s departure might kill her.”

  “I’m sorry,” the soldier indeed looked sorrowful. “But I have my orders from Secretary of War Stanton himself.”

  Belle plodded up the stairs to share the news with her mother, telling her not to worry, but hardly being able to convince her. Belle had been excited about prison a year ago, but now the whole thing just seemed depressing.

  Chapter 60

  Loreta

  July 1863

  Loreta had little trouble getting through the Federal lines with Baker’s pass. When she reached the Rebel pickets outside of Richmond, she told the scout that she was on a secret service mission for General Winder. The scout insisted on escorting her directly to General Winder’s office.

  Winder recognized her straight away. “Well, Mrs. De Caulp, did you end up finding your husband?”

  “No sir.” Loreta cast her eyes downward to the papers on his desk. She decided not to disclose what Dunham had revealed.

  “And why exactly have you returned to Richmond?”

  She produced the pass. “I am employed by the Federal government to look into a plot to rescue Rebel prisoners.”

  Winder gave a deep belly laugh. “Is that so? Most people caught committing espionage don’t confess to it so readily.”

  “Oh, but you see sir, I am what you call a double-agent,” Loreta tried unsuccessfully to keep her voice from sounding haughty.

  Winder’s tone was equally contemptuous. “I find that hard to believe, seeing as we never employed you.”

  “But won’t you now? I can freely move within the Union and communicate with the prisoners we plan on setting loose.”

  Winder targeted his slate eyes on her. After what seemed like hours of his staring, he finally let out a large breath. “I don’t fully trust you, but you do have a point. This plot of ours could end the war immediately in our favor.” He stood. “Give me a few days to think about it, make some inquiries. I will send for you when I’ve made my decision.”

  Loreta thanked him and left to check into the Spotswood Hotel. She realized that she was already running low on funds, and, as she couldn’t see herself convincing Winder to give her more money, decided to exchange the Confederate bills for greenbacks. The exchange rate was very low and she received only a modest sum in return, but it was necessary since most people up North didn’t accept Southern graybacks.

  As Winder promised, he sent for her in a few days. This time he agreed to let her operate under the Richmond Secret Service. He gave her a special package to take to Ohio and oral instructions to complete her mission. Winder stressed the great importance of the raid, but when she pressed for more details, he remonstrated that she need not know any more than her immediate duties.

  Chapter 61

  Loreta

  July 1863

  Loreta lingered in Richmond for most of the summer to help set the Confederate plans in place before she again crossed the Potomac. The idea of using the chief of Federal detectives for the advancement of the Confederate cause was a source of delight to Loreta, but she couldn’t help feeling that returning to Baker’s Washington City office was a bit like walking straight into the lion’s den.

  After a cordial greeting, Baker got down to business, demanding what she had found out in Richmond.

  Loreta fell upon her old ways of telling half-truths, figuring the detective would be able to see through complete lies. “Indeed, there are plans to arrange a great stampede of the Rebel prisons. The Underground has found a way to communicate with the Southern-sympathizing Copperheads up North.” She kept her voice neutral, hoping to play down the great raid as yet another idle threat about releasing Confederate prisoners.

  She moved on to what else she’d observed in Richmond, intending to fill his head with the minute details she’d acquired about the bread riots, but he waved his hand. “We know all about it. Is there anything else regarding the Johnson Island coup?”

  “Not that I know of at this time, but perhaps you could send me to Ohio to try to ferret out the Confederate contact. It will be easier for a woman to be granted access to the prisons. I can see if the prisoners really have the intention to make a break, and if so, if they also plan on attacking the Union.”

  Baker steepled his fingers and then cracked his knuckles. “While I do believe women are better suited for some tasks, I am not sure if you are the right woman for this particular task.”

  “Sir, I’ve the idea to pass myself off as a Confederate. That way the captives will be able to talk plainer to me.”

  After a pause that seemed to last an eternity, Baker finally consented. “All right. I’ll arrange for your travels and supply you with passes and a confidential letter to the prison marshal, but do not let anyone else see it unless you believe it will save you from harm. I don’t even want my own detectives to know of you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter 62


  Belle

  July 1863

  When Belle arrived at Carroll Prison, a group of buildings next to the Old Capitol, she found Superintendent Wood was still in charge. He told her that he would give her the room reserved for “distinguished guests,” but the cell was filthy, the smell of dirt and decay clinging to the chipped and broken furnishings in the tiny room.

  Although Belle resumed some of the antics she had performed during her last stay in prison, this time she did so half-heartedly. Her father had accompanied her to Washington City, and was reportedly staying with a friend nearby, but Secretary Stanton had issued an order that Ben Boyd was not allowed to visit his daughter. Thankfully she was not searched upon entering the prison, as her father had slipped a gun in her handbag before their tearful goodbye.

  She spent most of her time next to the window, where she often attracted onlookers—mostly diehard Confederate supporters with a few other people who wanted to set their eyes on the famous Belle Boyd.

  One evening, after she had entertained her fans by singing “Take Me Back to My Own Sunny South,” she felt a whoosh of air as something hummed past her ear and struck the wall opposite the window. The Yankees were trying to kill her!

  Belle grabbed a candle and went to examine the object. Instead of a bullet she found a small Confederate flag. She unfolded the paper that had been wrapped around it. It was from someone who called themselves C.H and claimed to be a Southern sympathizer, and “therefore her friend.” The letter also included detailed instructions on how to communicate further with her supposed ally.