The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-08-10
For The Cecil hig.
Scouts and Spies.

Among the many disadvantages undtr
! which our young army has to suffer is the
| lmpcitectlon of the scouting service and the
| want Of reliable spies. So our last reverse
as well as the one at Great Bethel. derived
then greatest extent from our ignorance of
the enemy sssrenglh. position and plans. a
few words in regard to these subjects may be-
Therefore IT, time.
When accommodating is done by single sol
dicrs mostly mounted. it is called scouting
and this definition shows alrcadv the impor.
lance and responsibility Of scouts. They
being single, can unseen. approach an enemy
much nearer than ARMED numbers, hence they
cothe ofIcnest IN difficult positions, where
nothing but then own bead or hand can extri-
cate them. For tins reason, it is not saving
| TOO much, that good scout should combine
| the strength uf the lion with the cunning Of
The fox. and no one but veterans and picked
men among them should e used for this ser.
vice. That under such circumstances the
want Of larger number of well mounted
and well armed cavalry is one more disad
vantage for our army nobody will doubt but
tins is not the only cause of lmpcifeclion
in our scouting. There is credulhly, twrfod
crcdulity. which docs the mos, harm. Once:
The crcdul,y of our green soldiers 10 state
mcnlS and appearances. they meet on their
excursions and then: c,cdull,y OF their ofIi
GERS TO the reports of even very reliable
scouts. Not that We should donbt the verac.
ity of we'll selected men, but senses will be
deceived. especially Under the excitement o.
danger. and daring good scout is seldom
w,lhou, the latter. Therefore the truth of
such statements ought 10 b. if possible con
hrIned ny reconnollcrlng expeditions in larger
numbers. which are less exposed TO deception,
yet require great military SIX in the leader or
they may involve serious loss and sometimes
betrar more than the, discover however no
report should be relied on if not credited by
positive internal or external evidence Of truth
a spy differs from scout, by using disguise
and acting nj his own discretion, whilst this
one acts under orders and in his military
array. We aie well aware, that from a
moral view, the usage of spies is Of am hisu.
GUS merit. yet 1t is undcniable, thut they are
from military aspect, an expedicncy of he
greatest Importance. The doubtful twilight
which human prejudice casts upon spy.
makes his position not very enviable hence
| but two classes of character are fit and can
br found Cor this Uflice one: men Of the
highest cast of patriotism and selfforge,,ing
readiness to serve their country the Other
s'lfIelying shrewd and bold but mcrccnary
fellows. who risk their life for profit. The
former class is exceedingly small IN nun Der
and not every generation brings forth mnn
Tor rather hero Of The purest lustre) like
Capt. Nathan Hall. II is therefore unprnc,i.
cable to wait for such phenix of patriotism
so much more as strange TO say, il is well
proven TACT. that. if such one should arise.
the nobler his nature is, the more doubtful is
his SUCCESS. The other class of spies, If well
capac'ated and reliable, can only be obtained
for high reward. yet their service is worth
high prfce or none. Why not then offer
princely premiums and grant secrecy to him
who renders it ?-As long as there nre men,
who seek q fortune by daily risking their
neck upon rope some hundred fee, above
the ground or gulf Of water. it would be
strange if none could be found, who dare to
tread fshort road, upon which one single
walk promises fortune or the rope-give
him no secrets to tell, and he cannot betray
you: try and control his filth bv proper
watchfulness and punish treason with death.
whilst useful service you reward with liberal
Independence for life or so highly that your
enemy cannot oulLid you. then yonr conf.
dcnce will uevcr bt deceived. Whatever