The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-12-17

maui " I1IdS1S II GidJ nave DScL mutt
true and valuable than we supposed :
Well, there is force in the query How
ever, we were then quite confident of the
wortLlessness of the report Of our SPY to
Bragg, because he had nothing else to
tell. Fer five days did our spy keep
himself locked in a private room in the
police building at Nashville. His meals
were carried to him a trusty servant
His door was "shadowed" constantly By
our best detectives, and so were his steps
If he yentured upon the street for a few
moments after dark. 1t was cold and
bleak winter weather, and he toasted
himself before his comfortable fire, read
books and papers, and conferred often With
the Chief Of Police and his assistant,
affording them, strangers as they were to
that region of country,a a fund Of valuable
information respecting the rebels of Ken
| tucky and tennessee. lie was = man OF
fine address and good intellectual attain
ments. When our man concluded it was
about tine for his return to Bragg's
army, be was politely escorted by our
mounted police to a proper point beyond
our lines, and by route where he would
see nothing of our forces The reader
will now appreciate the grounds of our
confidence, we doubt not, in the worth
Iessness OF. at least one Of Gen. Braxton
Bragg's spy reports.
La due time this nameiass gentleman
again enters our line, and is escorted in
by our pickets to the general commanding,
to whom he reports in person concerning
all that is transpiring in Bragg army
at Nurfreesboro', and then he resumes
his pleasant private Quarters at the army
police building. After a brief stay,
another trip was made by our man to
Bragg's headquarters, we using the same
precautions as previously. In fact, our
spy desired and even demanded such
attentions at the hands of the Chief of
Police. Said he: 81 an. a stranger to you
all. | can give you no guaranty whatever
OF my good faith It is alike due to you
and myself that be allowed no opportu-
mites for deceiying you"
The report he carried to Bragg on his
second trip delighted the latter. His Off
GERS talked with our man freely, and after
staying at Murfrees5oro' two or three days,
and riding and walking ell about in the
most innocent and unconcerned manner,
he was again sent back to Nashville to
''fool that slow Dutchman, Rosecrans," as
one of the rebel officers remarked. Ofthe
Importance of the report now brought to
the "slow Dutchman,' we need not state
further than it contributed its true weight
to decision fraueht with tremendous
consequences to the army and 70 the
country. Marching orders were soon after
issued for the advance of the Cumberland
upon Murfreesboro'
TOLLS ANp DANGERS.
Now commenced period of excessive
labor aud peril for the nameless spy
Generals Rosecrsns and Bragg each want
ed instant information as the armies
approached The nlinutiae Of this mans
work for four or five days we need net
stop to relate; it is easily imagined
Within tsat time he entered the rebei lines
and returned three times. He gave the
outline of Bragg's line of battle, q close
estimate of his force, an accurate account
of his artillery and his earthworks, the
movements Of the rebel wagon and railroad
trains, &C., &c. He'was very earnest in
assuring Rosecraus that Bragg intended
to give severe battle with superior num-
bers.
Tie aa}o,muati0n prored true an al essen
ttaIs, and its value to the country was in
estimable We had other spies piercing
the rebel lines at t,iis tune, but they did
not enjoy the facilities possessed by the
| nameless one. Almost with anguish did
he exclaim against himself, in the presence
of the author, for the severe manner in
which he was deceiving the rebel general
and involving the lives of his thousands
of brave but deludcd followers.
After the first great battle the work of
such soy is ended, or rather it ceases
when the shock of arms comes on
Thenceforth the armies are moved upon
the instant, as circumstances may require.
Our man. who during the four days had
been almost necessarily in the saddle, or
with ears aud eyes painfully obseryant
while in the camps, took leave OF our army
upon the battle field, and retired .oa place
of rest
One incident occurred during his last
visit to Bragg which is worthy of men
ton. That general took alarm in conse-
ouence Of his report, and at once started
q speclal messenger to Gen. John III.
Morgan-who was then absent with his
cavalry in Kenrucky to destroy Rosecrans'
railroad communications Gnwhich Morgan
succedcd) to return instantly with his
command by forced marches to Murfrees-
boro'. That same night our messenger
told what route he would take, &c The