The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-11-13

weather, anu nS lOaSltU nlnlSell DelOre MS
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, fund
Of valuable information respecting the rebels
of Kentucky and Tennessee. He was man
Of fine address and good intellectual attain
ments. When our man concluded it was
about time for his return TO Bragg's army,
he was politely escorted by our mounted
police 10 proper point beyond our lines.
and BY a route where he would see nothing
Of our forces. The reader will now appreci-
a;e the grounds of our confidence, we doubt
not, in the worthlessness of at least one of
Gen. Brags's spy reports
In due time this nameless gentleman again
enters our lines, and is escorted in by our
pickets to the general commanding. TO whom
he reports in person concerning all that is
;ranspirirs in Bragg's army at Murfreesboro,
ard then he resumes his pleasant private
quarters at the army police building. After
a brief stay another trip was made by our
man to Brass's headquarters, We using the
same precautions as previously. La fact, our
spy desired and even demanded such aiten-
ton al The hands Of the chief of police. Said
lie : " az, stranger to you all. l can give
you no guaranty whatever of my good faith.
|: is alike due to you and to myself that
| be allowed no opportunities for deceiving
you."
The report he carried to Bragg on his
second trip delighted the latter. His officers
talked with our men freely, and after STAYING
at Murireesb 1ro' two or three DAYS and
riding and walking about in the most inno-
cent and III concerned manner, he was again
sent back 10 Nashville 10 fool that slow
Du,chman, Rosecrans." as one of the rebe.
1iiicers remarked. OF the Importance of the
report now brought to the '.slow Dutchman"
We need not state further than that il contri-
buted lis due weight TO a decision fraught
wiki tremendous consequences to the army
and TO the country. Marching orders were
soon after issued for the advance of the army
Of the Cumberland upon Murfreesboro.'
Now commenced a period of excessive Ia
hor and peril for the nameless spy. Gems.
Ro>ecrans and Bragg each wanted instant
and constant information as the armies ap-
preached. The minut;P Of this mans work
ior four or tire days We need not stop TO re-
late; i IS easily imagined. Within that
tine he entered the rebel lines and returned
three times. He gave the outline of Braggs
line q: hattie, close estimate of his force. |
an accurate account OF his artillery and his |
ca. .h.orks, the movement of the rebel wag-
ons and railroad trains, Axe. He was very |
earnest in assuring Rosecrans that Bragg !
intended TO give severe battle with superior |
numbers. This Information proved true in |
all essentials. and its value to the country |
was inestimabIe. We had other spies pierre
ing the rebel lines at this time, but they did
not enjoy the facilities possessed by the name
less one. Almost with anguish did he ex-
claim against himself, in presence of the /
author, for the severe manner in which he 1
was deceiving the rebel general and involv- |
ing The lives OF his thousands of brave but 1
deluded followers.
After the first great battle the work of
such spy is ended, or rather it ceases when
the shock Of arms comes on. Thencefort1 /
the armies are moved upon the instant, as
circumstances may require. Our man, who
during the four days had been almost inces-
sanity in that saddle, or with his ears and |
eyes painfully obserrant while in the camps,
took leave Of our army upon the battlefield,
and retired to place of TEST.
One incident occurred during his last visit
to Bragg which is worthy of mention. That
Genera. took alarm in Consequence of his re-
port, and at once started a special messen-
ger 20 Gen. john III. Morgan-who was theE
absent with his cavalry in kentucky to de-
strOy RosecraEs' railroad communications
lin which Morgan sueceeded)-to return
with bis command by forced mar
ches 10 Murfreesboro.' That same night our
man reported this fact to the Federal COM
mander, described the messenger and wha.
route re was to take, &c. Inc information
was telegfaphed at once to Nashville, Gala
tin and Bowling Green, aud force was sent
from each of those posts to intercept the
messenger. They failed TO apprehend him,
which, however, proved of no consequence,
as the battle Of Stone river was fought and
Bragg was on his retreat from Murfreesboro'
by the time Morgan could have received the
orders.
Our spy was brave man; yet during the
last three days of his service be was most