, 1863-01-27
Arrest OF two Rebel Spies.
I,

We are happy to be able to inform our read
e5s OF Two very important captures made by
Colonel Bakers detective force. At half.past
SIX the night before last, Col. Baker received
the rebel General stuaft's statf, vas iyinr
concealed within our lines, ut the house Of
his mother, at Upper Marlboro. He i1nme-
dlatcly sent five Of his men to capture him.
The night, as our readers will reccollect, was
one of the darkest md stornicst we hare had
this winter. Tho rain fell in torrents, while
cold east wind blew perfect guile Five
minutes exposure was enough to vet any
man to the skin. On arriving ut the ontposts
our little force WAS ovcrtaken by squad Of
men from the force Of Col. Doster, the Pro-
yost MARSHA, and after few hints from the
Sergeant in charge, found that they Lad re-
ccivcd the same information, and were in
pu rsuit Of the same party.
The provost men were not quite sure of
their road, and entrusted themselves to the
guidance Of the detectives. But after riding
together short distance, the Sergeant be-
came distrustful, and fearing that they might
be rebels leading him into some trap, parted
their company and went his own road. a hard
and dismal ride of twenty miles brought the
detectives to the house where they had been
informed that the rebel Captain lay concealed
They surrounded the house and went inside,
but found no one While they there, Col.
Doster's men came up to the same house,
thus proving conclueively to each party that
both were bound on the same errand. They
toltnd contraband in the barn, who said that
Capt. Boyle had been there, but had gone on
toward the Potomac. The detectives started
of, leaving the provost cavalry at the house,
and, before going far, met d negro, who in
formed them that Capt. Boyle was concealed
III house about three miles beyond. Thither
they went, Knocked at the door, and receiving
20 answer, burst It open. Upon this, out
Jumps our rebel Captain from q two-story
window, with his coat OH his arm Two shots
were fired at him as he passed through the
air, and as soon Us he touched the ground he
held up his hands and cried ont, II surrcn-
DER" He WIS taken to Washington and is
now In close confinement in the Old Capitol
Prison.
This Captain Boyle was with Stuart on his
last raid: He is the officer who parolcd the
prisoners taken at Dumfries, and Col Baker
has one Of the paroles in his possession. He
had, when captured, his Confederate commits
sion in lis pocket. His identity as an officer
Of the rebel army being, thus completely
established, as be was captured within our
lines, he is clearly, by the laws Of war, a spy.
No further proof is needed. But further proof
is at hand. in the form Of letters which he
had about him; aud those letters are not
merely private, but eomc OF them are com
1nunications to the rebel authorities, and arc
as spy; and If convicted-and nothing short
Of miracle can save him from TINT flte-hc
will be hung. Captain Boylc's fatl,er is in
the Navy Department at Richmond. Hc him
self has been to Washington before, as he
says, three times. -
The day before this Captain Charles Powell,
also Of Stuarfs cavalry, was captured within
our lines by some Of General 6igcrs force and
Colonel BaRcr;s detectives, He is very frank,
acknowledges his identity, shows his Confed-.
crate commission, acknowledging TINT lie was
netting as spy,, and on the whole: does not
seem to care whether school keeps or not.
BE wore, when taken, dark ovcrcoat, which
he said was taken at Dumfrics from one Of
our soldiers. It was originally. Light blue, like
all the soldiers oycrcoats, bnt was co]orcd by
the uec Of a buttornut dye: He says there Il
factory at Gordonsville. where there are
hundreds Of these oVcrcosts colored. The
proof against Powell is as conclusive as that
aguinst Boyle, and both will probably: share
tie same fate. When men undertake tho busi-
ness Of. epies, they do It knowing the risk,
and these two adventurous Captains cannot
complain Il they arc obliged to make n very
nngratefu1 exit from this world Of sorrows at
Tho end Of o halter, instead Of falling on. the
battlefield. :