I'm hoping that maybe someone could help me or direct me to a source. I have an old family story that says my gggm Elizabeth (Rachel) McLaughlin (Maiden name Scranton) was a spy in the Civil War and was caught and then escaped before being hung. Not sure if any of this is true but it seems two sides of the family know this story. I would love to put some facts to it if I can.

Elizabeth was newly married when she came to St. Louis area around 1860. She had one little girl in March of 1861 and then another girl in 1863 also in the St. Louis area. Her husband was John L. McLaughlin, very Irish. The story tells that after Elizabeth is caught she escapes and is helped by General Lee's sister or wife's sister who takes not only Elizabeth but also the two girls and hides my ggm under the big hoop skirt in the wagon. They make they're way to the Mississippi and on a boat down to New Orleans. They then take a ship to Panama the to SF, CA. Not sure if her husband John McLaughlin joins her.

There maybe a chance her name was Rachel Elizabeth as I have found Rachel listed on one document. I do know she was always afraid they would come after her even in SF. They did get to SF by 1867. She died early in SF at age 40 in 1880.

I've looked on this women and children's list but don't see her name. Could she have been on another database? There also might be a chance she was caught down south from St. Louis.

Would LOVE to find some sources or help!!

Just a ggg granddaughter just trying to make sense of all these wild stories!!!

Thanks,
Cathie