Plot That Failed

Plot That Failed

A Dramatic Incident That Occurred During the Civil War.

How a Girl Tried to Effect the Escape of a Confederate Prisioner and Its Tragic Ending.

Annie Fickle was a girl who when the war began lived in Lafayette county, Mo., near what is now the town of Odessa. She was the daughter of a substantial farmer and of intense southern sympathies. Though a mere girl, she was a leader among her sex in the work of caring for the wounded, the burial of the dead or the rescuing of the captured. Armed men of either side, sometimes in companies of two or three or more, sometimes alone, rode up and down the country seeking each other with hostile intent and, fighting at every crossroads.

   In the midst of it all went Annie Fickle, flitting about hither and thither, sometimes like an angel of mercy ministering to some sick or wounded friend in concealment, sometimes boldly playing the spy on the enemy. It was all of a kind with her, anything to assist the men of the south.

   Her chosen one was Captain Andy Blunt, a dashing, daring fellow who followed the irregular methods of the guerrillas- here today, there tomorrow. One of his men, Otto Hinton, was captured in a skirmish and imprisoned in Lexington. Hinton was one of the handsomest young men that ever came from old Lafayette.

   Here came in Annie Fickle. Otto Hinton was her neighbor and friend. She went to Lexington to make her temporary home with a friend. The place was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops. Hinton's jovial good nature and musical accomplishments had so charmed the Federal authorities that he was allowed unusual liberties. In charge of a single guard, he was permitted to visit some of his friends and occasionally dine with them. At one of these places he often met Annie and thus became acquainted with the plan for his rescue. Annie resolved to take the guard into her confidence. He listened to her story and professed loyalty to her. Hinton was invited to take supper on a certain evening at the house of the friend where he had often met Annie. The night arrived, and Hinton and the guard came, Annie, too, was there. Blunt and one of his men were to be in town in disguise, call at the house and knock at the door at a certain time. They were to be admitted, were to overpower the guard, but not harm him, and take Hinton away and restore him to his liberty. Annie had told the guard all, and he had assented.

  In the face of the plot now about to be developed Annie, the guard, Hinton and the people of the household sat down to supper just as the shadows of night came on.

   The supper was well nigh concluded, and the appointed moment had arrived. There was the knock at the door. Blunt was there. Annie knew it. Hinton knew it. The guard knew it. The guard knew what it meant. He arose from his sent at the table, drew his revolver and shot Hinton dead. This was the signal for the entrance through the rear of the house of a squad of soldiers who first arrested Annie and then rushed to the front door to secure Blunt, but and his man had fled as soon as they heard the pistol shot.

   Annie was hurried away to the same prison that had for many weeks been the home of Hinton.

   From Lexington she was sent to Warrensburg. Captain Jehu Smith was the provost marshal at Warrensburg, and he recently related the following incident that occurred in the time she was under his charge:   

   "Annie impressed me as an uncommon girl," said he, "and my attention was particularly attracted to her by the affair in which she was mixed up at Lexington. I was surprised one day to receive a note from her saying she wanted a private interview. I went to see her, and when we were alone she told me she wanted to lay a matter before me that concerned her honor and that she had detennined to tell me everything and trust to me for protection. She then proceeded to tell me of the proposal by an officer of the regiment, one of high standing and win had access to the prison.

   "She said she was helpless and that she did not know wha to do except to lay the matter before me. I was naturally indignant at the conduct of the officer, as Annie, whatever political crimes might have been charged to her, was a girl of irreproachable character. I told her she could depend upon me to protect her and that I would have the officer court martialed and driven from the army. 'No,' she said, 'do not do that. There is enough publicity about me already. I do not ask that and would not have you take such a step. Your word that I shall be protected is all I ask.' Thus the matter ended. Soon after that Annie was taken from my jurisdiction."

   From Warrensburg she was sent to the Gratiot street prison in St. Louis, where many Missourians of southern sympathies were confined. After she bad been there a few weeks she and a Confederate officer imprisoned there dug a tunnel under the prison walls, the officer doing the digging and Annie carrying the dirt away in her apron. They reached a point where they thought it safe to ascend to the surface and break through. They were, indeed, after weeks of patient toil, outside the prison inclosure and under the brick pavenient of the street. When they raised the bricks and were about to make their exit a prison guard discovered them and shot the offlcer. Annie went back to remain till the close of the war.

   In the meantime her betrothed, Captain Blunt,  was killed in a fight near Chapel Hill.     

  Where the war ended and Annie was released she returned to her old home in Lafayette county. As the years went by she met and loved a Mr. Parlier, whose wife she now is. She became the mother of many children, who grew up to call her name blessed, for she made a good and blameless woman. Recently she and her husband removed from Odessa. Lafayette county, to the state of Louisiaua.