The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-06-06

4
cerning the adventures of Cambrian in
the far South, the leading incidents of
which we herewith present to our readers !:
sSome weeks ago the city papers contain
ed various accounts of the capture at Fort
Pickens and subsequent confinement on
board Z. S. vessel in Pensacola harbor
of an alleged spy from the camp of the
rebels at Pensacola The accounts con-
Cured in the statement that the chap had
made his way to and gained admittancc
into the Fort under the guise of a desert
er from Gen. Bragg's army, (the core
spondent of Northern journal, who had
been impressed into the rebel service,
but that it was subsequently and speedily
asccrtained that the pretended dcscrtor
was nothing more nor less than spy from
the rebel camp, in consequence Of which
he was Immediately seized, confined in
irons, and placed on board vessel, where
he was doomed speedily to suffer the fate
of such prisoners at the yard-arm. The
name of kirby was given, and the convic-
| ton soon fixed itself in the minds of many
Of the citizens Of this county that the cap
tured spy was none other than Joseph 4.
Kerbey, son of our worthy fellow citizen,
George w. Kerbey, agent Of the Penna.
Railroad Company at Wilmore, who was
known to be in the South. So strong was
this conviction, that Mr.. Kcrbey visited
Washington with view of obtaining an
order from the Secretary of War for the
release of the prisoner, or at least re-
prieye from the death penalty. While
there, however, he read an account from
New York paper, which stated in substance
that the evidence against the prisoner was
positive, that he had been condemned to
death, and that he had ere then suffered
the penalty Of a spy. Under the impres
sion that this report was correct Mr.. *.
returned from Washington, and while be-
lieving his son dead, he cndcavorcd at the
same time TO forget both him and the dis
honorable manner of his death.
But to-day We have different version
Of the story. The pretended dcserter was
not dcserter in fact, and was not a spy in
Fort Pickens, but had Jcen q spy IN the
rebel camp! Instead of being placed in
irons on the Sabine, and subsequently
hung at the yard-arm, he was well received
at Fort Pickcns, Hospitality entertained on
board the government vessels, and finally
furnished with a first class passage on
board the steamer Philadelphia from Pen
sacola to New York, where he arrived on
the Goth ultimo, in company with Lieut.
Slemmer and the soldiers recently garri-
soning Fort Pickcns.
The New York Tribune of the 9th
ult contains q report of information rela-
tive to the rebel force OF Pensacola fur
ni8hcd the reporter Of that journal by
young Kerbey, and the issue Of the 28th
contains an account Of his visit TO the rcb-
el camp and his escape thcrcfrom, the
latter of which we copy:
ssWe have obtained from Mr.. j. ~ Kerbcy,
the young man who arrived from Pensacola
by the Philadelphia on Sunday, Il more detail
ed account of matters in the rebel camp at
that point where he sojoUrned sufficiently to
make accurate observations of what was be-
ing done. He was, of course, compelled to
travel in disguise, and certainly he succeeded
most admirably. He communicated the es-
senta facts at Fort Pickens, and to the Off
GERS of the feet. The manner in which he
was able 20 10 this was interesting. lie passed
two sentineIs az Pensacola, and engaging a
negro, compelled him to convey him across to
Fort Pickens in small boat. When he had
reached the middle of the bay the negro re-
fused TO go Iurder.' rs he was 'afeard of de
Yankees on dc island.' He importuncd him
kindly, however, and at length succeeded in
passing series OF guard boats, and getting
in front of Fort Pickcns, where the negro was
taken prisoner, and subsequently, sent back to
tell the story of his adventure with the Yam
kee whom he conveyed TO Fort Pickens.
''Iaving arrived at the Fort, Mr.. kerbey
stated his crrand and was Immediately wei
coined. lie was the first TO convey the intel
ligencc of the attack On Fort Sumter, and the
result, having had a file of papers which CON
tanned all the latest news. He also communi-
Gated the result Of his observations on the op-
posite shore, which was received in the most
appreciatiye manner.
THE Pensacola Observer having furnished
Mr.. X. with allits late Northern exchanges, as
soon as it discovered the use he had made of
them, Immediately set to work to cover lis
own mishap by announcing to the Secession
lists that their old friend and acquaintance
kerbey, had been hung in Fort Pickcns, and a
New Orleans paper stated that he was in
double irons ON board the Sabine. He was
however, well received. snd treated with re-