The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-11-13
THE ROMANCE OF WAR.
Extraordinary Account Of Il Federal Spy
and Ills Operations.
From :" The Annals of the Army Of ;he Cumber-
land new be, X, by an officer thereof
Adiutant and Inspector Genera

From " The Annals of the Army Of TIE Cumber-
land. new DO, X, by an officer thereof
liz 1862, there lived in the State OF -
- Union man, with wifi, and chiiiirsn
lie was friend of the Union and anli-slav-
cry men upon princirls- After the rebellion
broke ou,, and when the Southern heart =
had become fired, this man, living IL stron.
pro slavery region, and surrounded by oPu-
lent shareholders, his OWE family connections
and those OF his wife being wealthy and bit
tef secessionists, very prudentiy held MS
peace, feeling his utter inability TO stem the
tide of rebellion in bis section. Thus. with
out tacit admission, or any direct action on
hi, part, the gentleman OF whom W. wri te
was cl.ssed by the people OF his section as a
secessionisi.
Circumstances occurred during that wear
by which this person was brought iato con-
tact with Federal commander in kentucky,
Gen. Nelson. Their meeting and acqu4in-
,ance was accidental. Mutua! Union senii-
ments beat personal sympathy and friend
ship. Nelson wished certain service per
formed in the rebel territory, and he per
suaded the citizen to undert axe II. which the
latter finally did as a matter of duty. we are
assured, rather than of gain, for he made 10
charge for the service after lis speedy and
successful! performance. Soon after a similar
work was necessary and again was the ci;;-
zen importuned and he again consented,
hut not considering himself as a professional
spy.
During this or q similar trip, and while at
Chattanooga, our men heard of the sudden
death of Gen. Nelson. He was now at loss
what to do. Finally he determined to re-
turn and repor: his business to Nj. Gen.
RoSecran., who had assumed command Of
the Federal army. Thus resolved, he pro-
ceeded 20 finish his mission. After asceI-
tanning the position of military affairs at Chat
tanooga, he came to Muifreesboro,' where
Bragg's army was then collecting. staying
here several days, he was urged by his Sou
thern army friends to act as their spy in
Kentucky. The better to conceal his own
feelings and posi- ion, he consented to DO 50,
and he left Gen. Bragg's headquarters TO 60
to that State by way of Nashville, feigning
important business, and from thence to 20 10
his home, passing by and through Rosecrans'
army as it lay stretched ou. between Nash
vile and Louisville
The nameless man now makes his way to
the Federal headquarters, seeks a private in
tersiew with Gen. Ro,ecran>, and states his
case fully as We have lst related. Here was
something remarkabl:, surely-a spy in the
confidence OF the commanders Of two great
opposing armies. Our general took great
pains to satisfy himself Oh the honesty and
souudaeSs of the stranger. He was pleased
with the mans candid manner, and his story
bore an ar Of consistency and truth. Yet he
Was souiherner, surrounded by rebellious
Influences, and enjoyed Bcags's confidence;
and what guaranty could be given that he
was Union man at heart ? None; and our
general, in great perplex.ty. held council
with his chief of police, and requested the
latter to dig up" the case 10 lis very root.
This was done /; but in what manner We need
not specially state. Satisfied that it would do