The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-02-20
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.


of one of the numerous spies employed by GU
commanders
This man, says the author of the annals, swen
into and came out from Bragg's army at Muir
freesboro, three times during the week OF battle
at Stone RIger7syen dined at the table of Bragg
and Of tis other generals-brought US Correct IN
formation as 10 the force and position OF tile reb
81 army, and of the boast of its head-Oficers
He was the First to assure us positively that Bragg
wonld hight at Stone River, telling US of that
generals boast that : he would whip Rosecran;
back To Nashville il it cost ten thousand men.
For the four days service thus rendered by our
spy he was paid five thousand dollars by order OF
our general, and the author saw the money pass
cd to him.
Z" In 1862 there lived in the State of -- a
Union man, with wife and children He was a
friend of the Union and an anti-slavery man upon
principle. After the rebellion broke out, and
when the 8 southern heart had become fired, this
man, living in n strong pro-slayery region and
surrounded by opulent shareholders, his own fam
lily connections and those of his wife being also
wealthy sid bitter secessionists. very prudently
held his peaee, feeling his utter inability to stem
the tide of rebellion in this section. Thus, with
out tacit admissions, or any direct action on his
part, the gentleman of whom we write was class
ed by the people of his section as a secessionist.
Circumstances occurred during that year by
which this person was brought into contact with
"a Federal commander In Kentucky, Gen. Nelson.
Their meeting and acquaintance was accidental.
ODiOu bcuLlulcuLs DcRdL pel5OIldl sym pa
thy and friendship. Nelson wished a certain
service performed in the rebel territory, sand he
nersuaded the citizen to undertake it, which the
latter finally did Us a matter of duty, we are as
sured, rather than of gain, for he made no charge
for the service after it, speedy and successful per-
fOrmance. Soon after. q similar work was neces-
sary; and again was the citizen importuned, and
he again consented, but not considering himself
as a professional spy.
During this or a similar trip, and while at
Chattanooga, our man heard of the sudden death
of Gen. Nelson. He was now at u loss what to
do. Finally be determined to return and report
his business to Major General Rosecrans, who had
assumed command of the Federal army. Thus
resolved, he proceeded 20 finish his mission.
After ascertaining the position of military affairs
at Chattanooga, he came to Murfreesboro', where
Bragg's army was then collecting. Staying here
several days, he was urged by his southern army
friends To net as their sry in Kentucky. The BET
ter to conceal his own feelings and position, he
consented TO do SO, and he left General Bragg's
headquarters to go to that State by way of Nash
vile, feigning important business, and from
thence to go to his home, passing by and through
Rosecrans' army as it lay stretched out between
Nashville and Louisville.
1.-THE nameless man now makes his way to the
Federal headquarters, seeks a private interview
with Gen. Roseerans, and states his case fully
rs we have Just related Here was something re-
markabie, surely-a spy in the confidence of the
commanders OF two great opposing armies! Our
general took great pains to satisfy himself of the
honesty and soundness of the stranger. He was
pleased with the mans candid manner, and his
story bore an air of consistency and truth. Yet
he was n Southerner, surrounded by rebellious
influences, and enjoyed Bragg's confidence and
what guaranty could be given that he was a Union
man at heart? None ; and our general, in great
perplexity, held council with his chief of police,
and requested the other to dig up the case to
its very root. This was done but in what man
ner we may not specially state. Satisfied that it
would do to trust the spy, to a 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 report was
made at the rebel headquarters Il few days after
wards His information was very acceptable to
Bragg but we strongly question its value to
rebeldom, rs the spy only reported what he was
told by that old fox Col. Truesdail.
Z" Perhaps the reader will inquire, How can we
answer for the report thus made to Bragg? 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 a private
room in the Police building at Nashville. His
meals were carried to him by a trusty servant.
His door was 3 Swallowed constantly by our best
detectives, and so were his steps If he ventured
upon the street n few moments after dark. 1t
was cold and bleak wintry weather, and he toast
ed himself before his comfortable fire, read books
and papers, and conferred often with the Chief of
Police and his assistants, a~ffording them. stran-
gers as they were to- that region of the country, a
fund OF valuable information respecting the rebels
of Kentucky and Tennessee. He was Il nan of
fine address and good intellectual attainments.
When our man concluded it was about time for
his return to Bragg's army, he was politely es-
corted by our mounted police to a proper point
beyond our lines, and by a route where he would
see nothing of our forces. The reader will now
appreciate the grounds of our confidence, we
doubt not, in the worthlessness of ut least one of
Gen. Braxton Bragg's spy reports.
In due time the nanieless gentleman again
entsf1 line, and is escorted in by our pickets
to the general commanding, to whom he reports
in person concerning all that is transporting in
Bragg's army at Murfreesboro', and then he re-
sumes 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 at
.tention. at the hands of the Chief of Police. Said
he
"'I am a stranger to you ali. | can give you
no guaranty whatever of my good faith. 1t 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
delighted the latter. His officers talked
our man freely, and after staying at Muir
freesborO' two or three days and riding and walk
ing all about in the most innocent and uncon-
cerned manner, he was again sent back to Nash
vile to 8 fool that slow Dutchman, Rosecrans,'
as one of the rebel officers remarked. OF the
importance OF the report now brought to the
slow Dutchman' we need not state further than
that it contributed ats due nceghk Ia a decision
,cith tremendous consequences 10 the army
md the country. Marching orders were soon af-
ter iOFHm for the advance of the ARMY of the I