The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-04-09
THE STORY OF A SPY
4 SECRET OF THE WAR JUST CONE
TO LIGHT.
Samuel kenney Went tn the Entered
the Confederate Ranks rs spy-Disap-
pesred Prom Human View-His skeleton
Found by His sons After "a Years.

the Soheuefate Nanhs rs Spy-Disa
peared Prom Human view-His skeIeto
Found by His sons After 81 Years.
Here is n short story that il has take
history "a years to write:
AT the beginning of the great civi
war in 1861 Samuel w. Kenney,
Pennsylvania by birth, was engage,
in business in Pulaski, Tenn. He owne,
farm Of 23l acres near that place ant
had 81, coo worth of cotton stored there
He was strong Union man, and tn,
southerners burned his cotton and mad,
impossible for him 10 live among them
A mob attacked his house, and he anC
his family, after hiding several days il
the woods, made their way northward
and went To their old home in Pennsyl.
vania.
In September, 1862, Kenney Joined
the command of General James 5. Neg
ley at Pittsburg and entered active serv-
ice as spy. He went to Louisville and
thence entered the Confederate lines
He was recognized and betrayed by one
of his old Tennessee neighbors and was
arrested by Bragg forces at Lynchburg.
From this point Samuel w. Kenney
disappeared. His family knew that he
had been captured, and believed that he
had been executed, but proof of that
fact was unobtainable In 1867 Mrs.
kenney left Pennsylvania and removed
to Dwight, Ills. where she has resided
ever since. Two sons, now grown to
sturdy manhood, live in Chicago-Alex-
ander at 63S Monroe street and John at
3401 Parnell avenue.
Twenty years ago they made an at
tempt to obtain pension for their
mother, but failed because the depart,
ment records at Washington did not show
that the missing spy of 1869 had been
regularly enlisted, and there was no
proof of his death. Quite recently, how
ever, Congressman Woodman found in
the war department an unofficial refer |
ence TO the execution of a northern spy |
named Kenney at Tullahoma, Tenn,
Feb. ID, 1868. This proof was regarded |
as sufficient and a pension has just been
granted to the aged widow in Dwight.
Recently Alexander kenney and his
brother John went to Tennessee to dis
'over If possible any further facts about
he fate of their father. They visited
Cullahoma and were most Hospitality
received by the town officials. 1t was
uggested by the mayor that an aged
woman who had lived in the place ever
ince the war might know something
bout the death Of the northern spy, and
he was visited
There were only four men killed in
oklahoma during the war;" she said
"Three Of them were Confed-
rates, and they were buried in the
own cemetery. The other one was
Ply who had been caught by Bragg's
men. l saw them take him out of the
all and put him into a wagon, and saw
lin sitting OH coffin. They drove
way with him, and / heard that he had
'een hanged, but l don't know where. 4"
Can you remember the name of that
py?'' asked one of the Chicagoans.
Yes, she replied slowly, "his name
vas Kenney"
But this seemed to be as far as the
earch could be carried There were 10
own records which would throw lipht
lpon the matter and no additional facts
ould be learned. Returning TO the rail
way station, the two Chicagoans fell
nto conversation with the railway
gent, Archibald Smith, and incidental
Y mentioned their mission while wait
ng for a train.
Well, boys, I'm sorry for you" he
aid, "but guess can help you some.
saw your father hanged. | was only
2 years old then, and the sight was
tamped upon my mind indclibly, for |
ras scared nearly TO death. Besides, the
ody was buried on my fathers farm,
nd for many years afterward / used to
hudder and run as fast as | could when.
yer had to pass the spot "
The trio, led by the southerner, quick
passed through the little town, and
ust outside the suburbs, on the north
est side, halt was made.
They hanged your father to that
7camore tree there by the spring" said
ne guide. His body was buried about
alf way up that hill over there and the
rave wasn't marked. You'll never find
now.''
But the two Chicagoans went over ev-
~ foot of the hillside. A recent freshet
ad washed away part of the bank and
Undermined the hill so that part of the
'gged edge gave way beneath the feet
Alexander Kenney, and he saw pro.
uding from the bank the two lower
g bones of skeleton. The spy who
sappeared "a years ago had been
)und.
The remains We're brought to Chicago
ld will be inferred in the family lot in
wight Frank S. Pixley in Chicago
ines Herald.