The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-13
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

to Murfreesboro, where Bragg's army was
then collecting. Staying here several days
he was urged by his Southern army friends
to act as their spy in Kentucky. The
better to conceal his own feelings and posi-
ton he consented to do so, and he left
Gen. Bragg's headquarters to go to that
State by way of Nashville, feigning i'm
portant business, and from thence to go to
his home. passing by and through Rose
GRAMS army, as it lay stretched out be-
tween Nashville and Louisville.
GENERAL BRAGG TAKEN IN.
The nameless man now makes his way
to the Federal headquarters pri-
vate interview with General Rosecrans,
and states his case fully, as we have just
related. Here was something remarkable,
surely-a spy in the confidence of the
commanders oftwO great opposing armies
Our General took great pains to satisfy
himself of the honesty and soundness of
the stranger. lie was pleased with the
mans candid manner, and his story bore
an air of consistency and truth. Yet he
was southerner, surrounded by rebelious
influences, and enjoyed Braggs conf
dence; and what guarantee could be given
hat he was a Union man at heart? None
and our General, in great perplexity,
held council with his chief of police, and
requested the latter to ''dig up' the case
to its very roots. This was done; but in
what manner we need not specially state.
Satisfied that it would do to trust the spy,
to certain extent at least, he was now
sent on his way to perform his mission for
Bragg. AT all events, that scheming
General so supposed when our mans re
port was made at the rebel headquarters
few days afterwards. His information
was very acceptable to Bragg; but we
strongly suspect it's value to rebeldom, as
the spy reported only what he was told by
the old fox, Col. Truesdale.
Perhaps the reader will inquire, how
can we answer for the report thus made
BraggP 1t may have been more true and
valuable than we supposed. Well there is
force in the query. However, we were
then quite confident of the worthlessness
of the report of our spy to Bragg, because
he had nothing else to tell him. For five
days did our spy keep himself locked in
private room in public building at Nash
vile. His meals were carried to him by a
trusty servant. His door was s'shadowed"
constantly by our best detectives, and so
we're his steps if he ventured upon the
street for few moments after dark. It
was cold and bleak winter weather and he
toasted himself before his comfortable fire,
read books and papers, and conferred Of
ten with the chief of police and his assist
ant, affording them, strangers as they
were to that region of country, fund of
valuable information respecting the rebels
of Kentucky and Tennessee. He was
man of fine address and good intellectual
attainments. When our man concluded
it was about time for him to return to
Bragg's army, he was politely escorted by
our mounted police to proper point be-
yond 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
lessness of at least one OF General Brax-
ton Bragg's spy reports.
In due time this naneless gentleman
again enters our lines and is escorted by
our pickets to the general commanding,
to whom he reports in person, concerning
all that is transpiring in Bragg's army at
Murfreesboro, and then he resumes his
pleasant private quarters in the army po-
lice building. After brief stay, another
trip was made by our man to Braggs
headquarters, we using the same precau-
tions as previously. In fact our spy de-
sired, and even demanded such attention
at the hands of the chief of police Said
he:
am 4 stranger to you all. can
give no guarantee whatever of my good
faith. 1t is alike due to you and to my
self that be allowed no opportunity for
decieving YOU
The report he carried to Bragg on his
second trip, delighted the latter. His
officers talked with our man freely, and,
after staying at Murfreesboro two or three
days, and riding and walking all about in
the most innocent and uncOncerned man.
ner, he was again sent back to Nashville
to "fool that slow Dutchman, Roc1s ,rans,"
as one Of the rebel officers remar led. Of
the Importance of tho - SOW brought
to the "slow Dutch,nan," we need not
state further than that it contributed it's
due weight to a decision traught with ire
mendous consequences to the army and
the country. Marching orders were soon
after issued for the advance of the Army
of the Cumberland upon Murfreesboro.
Tolls AND DANGERS.
Now commenced a period of excessive
labor and peril for the nameless spy.
Gems. Rosecrans and Bragg each wanted
instant and constant information as the
armies approached. The minutia of this
mans work for four or five days we need
not stop to relate it is easily imagined.
Within that time be entered the rebel lines
and returned three times He gave the
outline of Bragg's line of battle, a close
estimate Of his force, an accurate account
of his artillery and earthworks, the move
ments of the rebel wagon and railroad
trains, etc. He was very earnest in as
surfing Rnsecrans that Bragg intended to
give severe battle with superior numbers.
This information proved true in all es-
sentials, and its value to the country was
inestimable. We had other spies piercing
the rebel lines at this time, 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