Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-04-25
UNION SPIES.
Thrilling Story of Adventure
During the Late War.
BY PERCY III. MORRIS.

Ten days before Rosecrans moved
from Nashville to attack Bragg at Muir.
freesboro he knew the Confederate
strength to a man and a gun. THAI
was, perhaps, the best piece of scout
and spy work on large scale performed
during the war. There were twenty
two of us, male and female, engaged in
the enterprise for three weeks, and
four of us remained with Bragg's line
up to within twelve hours of the march
out Of Nashville.
On the other hand, Bragg was receiv.
ing hourly information from a hundred
different sources, and his estimate oil
the Federal strength was found to be
only 152 out of the way. To get these
figures on either side required much
personal sacrifice at great peril, and
during the three weeks mentioned three
of our spies were captured and we got
two Confederates. Two of ours were
shot while making break for liberty,
and the third died in prison. The two
Confederates were killed within our
lines and guard of four men with them,
by the explosion of an ammunition
wagon.
It was required of me to enter
Murfreesboro and remain for couple
OF weeks to get the headquarters gossip
Such pointers as picked up were to be
forwarded to certain spot on the Nash
vile pike by young man who accom-
panied me to act as messenger. His
name was Charles jackson and he was
private in an Ohio regiment. 1t was
arranged that should hail from Louis
vile and he from Lexington, and for
two days before leaving Nashville we
were busy posting up on the streets,
prominent people, public buildings, ETC.,
of the cities named. 1t was an easy
matter to get into the town, but it cost
Uncle Sam considerable cash in advance.
I was furnished with twenty-five revolt
vers as proof that was the agent of a
firearms house in Louisville, and Jack
son got in with three fine horses to sell
for Lexington speculator.
. So far so good. When one has act
ually entered upon the dangers of an
expedition the perils seem to lessen. I
took up my quarters at hotel, and
made no attempt to avoid any one
Jackson put his horses into the hotel
stables, but took up his own quarters at
private clearinghouse. There was
much confusion and excitement, and no
one seemed to give us any attention.
On the first day of my arrival l sold a
revolver to an infantry captain named
Williams, and he informed me that he
would return next day with couple Of
friends. / was in no hurry to sell out
my stock, as / calculated on stay of
ten days at the least, and I made no adj
vance to the many officers coming and
going. kept my eyes and ears open
for pointers, and something worth say
ing was picked up every hour. jack
son put such high price on his horses
that he found no takers on the first day,
but on the second sold one.
On the second day about mid after
noon, singular adventure occurred.
i sat talking with a lieutenant
of cavalry, who was anxious for
me to get him sabre of
particular style. when / saw civilian
enter the barroom and look furitively
around. Intuition told me that his
business was with me and his presence
was manage. Bragg knew that his
camp was overrun with spies, and he
had appointed number of picked men
to move about and spot every suspicious
character. They had written authority
to interrogate and make arrests, and
their hunt was SO vigorous that several
OF our men were speedily driven out.
There we're other civilians about the
hotel, but OWNED this man had come
to interview me, and he had no sooner
located me in the corner where ] sat
than rose and went over to him and
said:
Il was expecting you, and am willing
TO give you all possible information.
Have cigar and sit down. Here is my
card, and il my room up stairs have
consignment Of revolvers. Please ex-
cuse me Lieutenant, and If yon win call
again I will give decided answer