More on Stringfellow, and his exit from Washington.

[SSlater]

We know that Stringfellow was sent to Washington under orders from President Davis. I did not find what his assignment was, but I did find a record of his activities during his stay in Washington in March 1865.
Stringfellow used his previous effective "cover" , as a dental student again, but this time not in Alexandria, but in Washington, D.C.
As he moved about gathering intelligence, a female detective became suspicious that he was a spy. To trap him she proposed a toast to Lincoln. Everyone present participated, except Stringfellow. When she questioned him, he proposed a toast to Davis. He left the hotel immediately, but was captured and taken to prison. Before they could identify him, he escaped and left Washington for Virginia. It took him twenty one days to reach safety. By then the war was over.
(That matches the time-frame that we studied earlier in this thread)
This report is based on "Stringfellow of the Fourth" by R. Shepard Brown.

From another source I read that Stringfellow was originally assigned to go to Canada to work with the Confederate Commissioners there, but his assignment was changed, and John Yates Beall was sent instead. John Yates Beall was hanged 24 Feb 1865.

[SSlater]

"HISTORY" is not always an exact record of what happened. "HISTORY" is a series of events written by someone who has something they want to tell - but it is not always exactly what happened. My earlier post on Stringfellow, may be an example of this phenomenon. Once you know more about Stringfellow, you may accept my position.

Stringfellow was a very short man. So small the he was rejected by 5 or 6 different military groups, when he volunteered to serve with them. He was about 5'-6' tall, and weighed less than 100 pounds. He was so small and thin that on several occasions he dressed as a woman and went to dances - all in the name of "intelligence gathering". One not so gallant Union Officer propositioned her,and when they went outside, she took him prisoner. On another occasion, his mother was ill and hospitalized in a Union Hospital. Stringfellow wanted her to have the best of care, so, he dressed as a female nurse and stayed with her, until she was ready to go home. It's easy to put on a disguise and pass for somebody else, but in this case she needed the mannerisms of a female, which not everyone can do. Apparently, he did.

With all this in mind, I have some doubts about the veracity of the Post that I provided. I can't believe that there was a female detective present. I believe that Stringfellow was the " female at the party. I believe that they partied long and hard, before someone proposed a toast to Lincoln and it was readily accomplished. In the process, I believe that Stringfellow mumbled a wish to toast Jefferson Davis. She may or may not have been overheard by others. Stringfellow was too good a spy to jeopardize his mission to have "shouted it out". It appears that she was not arrested immediately but left for home promptly.

Let me divert for a minute to examine his apparent faux pas. He could not have made such a stupid mistake. If Stringfellow actually wrote the material that I presented in the Post, and the Author of "Stringfellow of the Fourth" used it, then Stringfellow was extending his skills as a spy on to posterity. I can't believe she would have been allowed to leave the hall. He is hiding other events from us.

Let's examine how or when he got arrested. My guess is that the Detective took his date home, so he knew where she lived, thus he knew where to look for her. At this point, the Union didn't know who they were dealing with. I suppose the Detective reported her Davis remarks, and his Boss said bring her in. Now comes what must have been the funny part. When the Detective went back to the house, was Stringfellow still in 'drag'? He could have said " Wait, I'll call her" and he went and put on a dress. I say that because he had to be a woman that was picked up. This may also explain why she was released after she apologized for her remarks. (Not an escape!).

It would be interesting to know whether or not the Detectives ever learned that one of their own, was dating a "Crass Dresser"?

To close this out, let me comment on the often used method for Spies to escape. I have read often that they hid under a "Hoop Skirt". NO WAY! First, there isn't room enough for two people in a the same skirt. I just don't believe the claim. Secondly, No self respecting lady would allow a male to get under her skirt, for any lame reason. (Notice, I said Lady) but I can see Him wearing one of her hoop skirts to effect an escape.

[RJNorton]

Fascinating, John! I tried to find a story to add to yours and I found this in The Dahlgren Affair by Duane Schultz. I don't know its veracity. It talks about Stringfellow and the George Washington's Birthday Ball.

Even a Confederate soldier attended, dressed as a woman. Benjamin Franklin Stringfellow was a twenty-one-year-old scout for Wade Hampton's cavalry. When the war began, Frank Stringfellow had been teaching Latin and Greek at a school for young ladies in Mississippi. He returned to his native Virginia to join the army but was turned down four times because he weighed only ninety-four pounds and with his long, blond curly hair looked like a "beardless youth with a waist like a girl's."

When he finally talked his way into service he became a scout for Jeb Stuart, and then for Hampton. He spent much time behind Union lines in Alexandria, Virginia, spying and gathering intelligence while courting his future wife, Miss Emma Green.

Shortly before the George Washington's Birthday Ball, Stringfellow and others of Hampton's scouts captured a Union captain who was carrying a pass through federal lines for a woman who lived near Culpeper Court House, permitting her to attend the dance as his guest. Frank knew the girl and her family, and he asked them to loan him a ball gown and "other feminine fripperies" to disguise himself as Miss Sally Marsten.

Sally and her mother drilled Stringfellow in etiquette and feminine behavior and outfitted him for the dance. Under the hoop skirts he wore trousers, rolled up, so he could carry a pair of derringer pistols. When the ladies were finished, Sally burst out laughing. "Why, Frank!" she said. "You're positively beautiful."

At the Union checkpoint, a lieutenant examined Stringfellow and his pass with skepticism but decided to let him through. The new Miss Sally Marsten did not have to wait long for dancing partners. And how those Union officers loved to talk. Sally seemed so interested in their activities and asked so many charming and naive questions.

Before long, Stringfellow had learned that Fourth Corps was being moved from the West to Virginia and that the Army of the Potomac would soon have a new commander, one U. S. Grant. A talkative major let that slip two weeks before the official announcement was made.

Suddenly Miss Sally was confronted by the lieutenant from the outpost. Still suspicious, he had inquired about her escort and discovered that no one had seen him for days. Quietly, the guard took Stringfellow’s arm and compelled the impostor to accompany him to the provost marshal’s office.

They had not gone far when Stringfellow pulled out his derringers and took the lieutenant prisoner. He forced the Yankee to drive Miss Sally's horse and buggy back through federal lines. "My God," the man muttered, "how did this ever happen to me?"

[HerbS]

Very interesting story indeed! I have always felt that history is the key to past and door to the future!When I was teaching high school,and adults,I would use unique stories to,"hook before I pulled".

[SSlater]

I have been concerned about Stringfellow's cross-dressing, so I have to tell you, he did get married (to a girl), Emma Green and they had 3 girls -Ida, Alice and Jane, and one son Martin.
Now get ready for this, Martin had a son JOHN STANTON STRINGFELLOW. How bout dat? I'll tell you, I am honored.
Also of interest, Frank attended the Episcopal Seminary in Alexandria, Va and was ordained 1876, and spent the remainder of his life Preaching.
He died June 8, 1913. Burial Ivy Hill Cemetery (On Rt 7, west of Alexandria)In conclusion, I see that his disguises were all business. I'm sure they figured in his many escapes. PS. In a passport application, at 66, he was 5' - 8 1/2' tall, Blue eyes, gray hair,. etc.

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(12-01-2014 10:31 PM)SSlater Wrote:  I have been concerned about Stringfellow's cross-dressing, so I have to tell you, he did get married (to a girl), Emma Green and they had 3 girls -Ida, Alice and Jane, and one son Martin.
Now get ready for this, Martin had a son JOHN STANTON STRINGFELLOW. How bout dat? I'll tell you, I am honored.
Also of interest, Frank attended the Episcopal Seminary in Alexandria, Va and was ordained 1876, and spent the remainder of his life Preaching.
He died June 8, 1913. Burial Ivy Hill Cemetery (On Rt 7, west of Alexandria)In conclusion, I see that his disguises were all business. I'm sure they figured in his many escapes. PS. In a passport application, at 66, he was 5' - 8 1/2' tall, Blue eyes, gray hair,. etc.

It just dawned on me - how can I be critical of him for dressing as a lady - while I dance around here with the Name SSlater.

[HerbS]

True-But,some people have to do what they have to do in order to survive.In my career,just when you think you seen it all,something new pops up!

[Gene C]

In post #2 Strengfellow is mentioned as a very short man, his heigth is mentioned as 5' 6" (which back then wasn't that short)

In post #5, he is very tall at 5' 8 1/2"

Or have I just read this wrong, we are talking about the same person?

[L Verge]

I noticed the very same thing, Gene. And, either 5'6" or 5'8" would be a fairly normal height for men of that period, IMO.

[SSlater]

(12-02-2014 01:09 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I noticed the very same thing, Gene. And, either 5'6" or 5'8" would be a fairly normal height for men of that period, IMO.

Sorry about the conflict. The 5'-6" , with curly blond hair, came from a book on Stringfellow, and the 5'-8 1/2" and Gray Hair,came from a Passport application. the first source said he was less than 100 lbs. The second source said he was 94 lbs. Yet, there are pictures of Stringfellow on the internet, with a full beard and black hair, and a reasonably muscular body. So, you takes your pick. He could have been changing his appearance, daily (except the beard).

[Gene C]

Thanks John, and I can see some of the confusion. It appears there is another gentleman of the same name who was active in Missouri politics who was also born in VA about 24 years earlier than the man we have been discussing. An article in Wikipedia seems to have combined the two into one biography.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Fr...ringfellow

[HerbS]

Thanks for the clarification,SSlater!