xt74j09w1075 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt74j09w1075/data/mets.xml Kerbey, Joseph Orton, d. 1913. 1890  books b9297378k4522009 English M. A. Donohue & Co. : Chicago, Ill. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. United States --History --Civil War, 1861-1865 --Secret service United States --History --Civil War, 1861-1865 --Personal narratives. The boy spy; a substantially true record of secret service during the war of the rebellion ... the only practical history of war telegraphers in the field ... thrilling scenes of battles, captures and escapes. text The boy spy; a substantially true record of secret service during the war of the rebellion ... the only practical history of war telegraphers in the field ... thrilling scenes of battles, captures and escapes. 1890 2009 true xt74j09w1075 section xt74j09w1075 
    
    
    
    
   The Boy Spy

a substantially true record of secret service during the war of the rebellion.   a correct account of events witnessed by a soldier attached to headquarters

the only  practical   history of   war  telegraphers   in   the   field     a full account  of  the  mysteries  of signalling by flags, torches, and rockets   thrilling scenes of battles. captures and escapes

bv

MAJOR J. O. KERBEY

CHICAGO

DONOHUE, HENNEBERRY & CO. 407-429 DEARBORN STREET 
    
   PREFACE.

The following unpretending narrative of Borne of the actual experiences of a boy in the War of the Eebellion is fraternally dedicated to my comrades of the G. A. E.

Part of these adventures were recorded in the press of the country at the time of their occurrence, and more recently, in detached and crude form, in different papers.

Through the kindly interest of many friends, and especially that of my relative and comrade, Col. J. H. Madden, of Danville, Illinois, the revised and collated Story is now offered to the public and corrected from the original notes and MSS.

Yours in F. C. & L.,

The Authoe. 
    
   CONTENTS.

chapter. paoe

I.   Introductory............................................ 9

II. On Duty as a Spy at the Rebel Capital, Montgomery, Ala-

bama    Living in same Hotel with Jeff Davis and His Cabinet    Conspirators from Washington Interviewed   Bounty Offered by Confederates before a Gun Was Fired     Port Sumter and Fort Pickens............................... 19

III. Pensacola, Florida     In Rebel Lines   Fort Pickens   Ad-

miral Porter and the Navy.............................. 28

IV. Crossing the Bay to Fort Pickens, etc...................... 38

V.   Rebel Newspapers     On Admiral Porter's Ship ........... 52

VI. Admiral Porter Saves the Boy's Life   Interview with the Rebel Flag-of-Truce Officers, Who Claim Him for a Victim

    Scenes on Board a Man-of-War    Return Home by Sea-    Reception in New York    Telegraph Acquaintances   New York Papers Record the Adventure in Full Page.......... 65

VII. Reporting to the Secretary of War, at Washington   Ordered on Another Scout to Virginia   In Patterson's Army,

in Virginia, before the Battle of Bulf Run................ 80

VIII. A Night's Scout in Johnston's Army    Rebel Signals     Visitors from the Union Army Headquarters Report to Rebef Headquarters   General" J. E. Johnston's Escape to Beauregard Reported to General Patterson   Fitz-John Porter Responsible for the First Battle of Bull Run, as He Was Cashiered for That of the Second Bull Run     An Important Contribution to the War History of the Time    The Story since Confirmed by the Century Historians of

Lincoln, Secretaries Nicolay and Hay.................... 94

IX. Reporting to General Bank's Headquarters for Duty   The Life of Jeff Davis Threatened   Captured at Harper's Ferry     Interesting Personal Letters Corroborating the Supposed Death of the " Boy Spy."...................... 114

X. At Beauregard's Headquarters   On Duty at Manassas...... 125

XI. Important Documents Intercepted at Manassas, which Esta-

blished the Fact that the Rebel Army had no Intention, and Were not Able to Advance after Manassas   The Rebel Army Demoralized by Success, and Twenty-five Per Cent. Absent from Epidemic   on the Field after the Battle   Observation Inside Rebel Camps   Talking with Richmond by Wire   Captured by Rebel Picket in Sight of the Signal

Lights at Georgetown College........................... 134

XII.   Another Escape, etc....................................... 154

XIII. One More Escape   "Yanking" the Telegraph Wires   "On

to Richmond I"    A Close Shave......................... 166

XIV. On to Richmond    A Night of Terror    A Ghastly Find

in the Woods     Attacked by Bloodhounds     Other Mini-     culous Escapes   First Visit to Fredericksburg   A Collection Taken up in a Churchin Virginia for the "Boy Spy"

    Arrives in Richmond................................ 178

v 
   CONTENTS.

CHAPTER.

XV

XVI.

XVII. XVIII.

XIX.

XX,

XXI. XXII.

xxm.

xxrv. xxv.

XXVI. XXVIL

19a

MM

Sick in Richmond    Concealed by a Colored Boy and Unable to Move   An Original Cipher Letter Sent Through the Blockade to Washington that Tells the Whole Story in a Few Words   Meeting with Maryland Refugees   The "Boy Spy" Serenaded   "Maryland, My Maryland*'    Jeff Davis' Office and Home   A Visit to Union Prisoners at Libby Prison, etc...................                           .....   ----

Richmond   Hollywood   Jeff Davis   Breckenridge    Extra Billy Smith   Mayor, Governor, etc.....................21C

Richmond    A Colse Shave............................... 221

Richmond on an Autumn Morning   A Group of Good Looking Soldiers   Jeff Davis Passes By   The Battle of Ball's Bluff    Richmond Newspapers...................... 238'

A Narrow Escape     Recognized by Texas Friends at a Richmond Theatre    Personnel of the Maryland Battery   Refugees from Ireland   Camp Lee, near Richmond   Our Captain   Lieutenant Claiborne, of Mississippi   Our Section Drills   Horses for Our Use in Town and Adjoining County   Visits of Ladies   Capitola   Popularity of Refugees    The Entertainment for Marylanders   Tableau    Jeff Davis Strikes the Chains from the Enslaved Maryland Beauty............................................24C

Richmond, Fall 1861   Daily Visits to the War Office, Mechanics Hall   Evenings Devoted to Visits In Town   Mixed up with Maryland Ladies   Fort Pickens Opens Fire on Pensacola|Batteries   General Winder, of Maryland   Jeff Davis Inaugurated President   Shake Hands with Jeff Davis................................................. 261

One Sunday in Richmond   Jeff Davis' and General Lee's Homes and Church   Recognized at Libby Prison   Visit to Texas Camp   A "Difficulty" Renewed   Thrilling Experience   A Night in Richmond with Texas Boys....

Maryland "Refugees    Coercing into the Union in East Tennessee" Refugees"   Parson Brownlow Interviewed    A Happy Experience with Maggie Craig   The Battle of Mill Spring   First Union Victory as Seen from Inside the Rebel Army....................................

Cruelty of General Ledbetter   Another Narrow Escape    Ordered to Cumberland Gap   A Wearisome Journey    Arrival at the Gap     The Stolen Letter   Alone in the Darkness   The North Star   Day Dawn.......... ........

Return Home from Cumberland Gap   Meeting with Parson Brownlow on His Trip to Washington.................. 83S

Arrival at Washington     Meets Hon. John Covode   J. W. Forney and Senators   Testimony Before Committee on the Conduct of the War   Remarkable Interviews with Secretary Stanton     A Visit to Mr. Lincoln, at Washington   The Telegraph Corps   Again Ordered to the Front, at Fredericksburg, Virginia.................................... 35*

Geno    Fredericksburg    A Chapter of War History not in The Century Papers...................................877

A Scout to Richmond Develops Important Information   No Force in Front of McDowell to Prevent his Co-operating with McClellan   The Secretary of War Responsible for the Failure of the Peninsula Campaign   Our Spy as a War

273

293

314 
   CONTENTS.

vi;

CBjLPTm. PAGS

Correspondent Antagonizes the War Department by Criticism in the Papers   Is Arrested on a Technicality and Sent a Special Prisoner to Old Capitol by the Secretary of War's _ Orders...............................................396

XX V 111. Old Capitol Prison   Belle Boyd, the Rebel Spy, a Companion and Friend   A Disguised. English Duke   Interesting Scenes and Experiences in this Famous State Prison   Planning to Escape Disguised as a Contraband   Released on

Parole by Order of the Secretary of War..............412

XXIX. Fired Out of Old Capitol Prison   " Don't Come Here Again 1"   My Friend the Jew Sutler   Out in a New Rig

    At the Canterbury Theatre..........................431

XXX. Life at Headquarters Army of Potomac   Some Startling Revelations as to the " True Inwardness," not to say Cussed-ness, of Our High Union Officials   Interesting Descriptions of Family Life at Headquarters   "Signals"   Ciphers     Again Volunteering for Secret Service Inside the Rebel Army   A Remarkable Statement about Burnside and Hooker   Introduction to General Meade   A Night on the

Rappahannock Interviewing Rebel Pickets..............451

XXXI. Conspiracies among Union Generals and Northern Politicians   The Defense of that Unappreciated Army, the Cavalry   Hooker and Dead Cavalrymen   Stoneman's Celebrated Raid to Richmond Truthfully Described, and Its Failure to Capture Richmond Accounted for   A Chapter on the "Secret Service" not Referred to in Official Reports or Current War History................................. 480

XXXn.   Farewell to Fredericksburg   General Pleasonton     Cavalry Fighting at Brandy and Aldie   Looking after Stuart's Rebel Cavalry   A Couple of Close Calls   Chased by Mosby's Guerrillas   With Custer in Frederick, Mcl., the _ Day before the Battle, Flirting with the Gins.............510

XXXm. Sent to Find General Buford    A Hasty Ride   The Battle of Gettysburg   Cemetery Ridge   General Doubleday     General Hancock   The Second Day of the Battle........518

XXXIV.  Closing Chapter,.........................................548 
   ILLUSTRATIONS.

page.

" If You are around Here when "We Begin the Job, You Will Find out

all about That."......................................... Frontispiece.

A Close Call at Gettysburg................. ......................... 537

"Ah! Sketching, Are You?"......................................... 66

An Interview with Parson Brownlow................................. 304

"Are You Union, or Confederate? ".................................. 338

"Bill, Ain't He the Fellow ?".......................................... 282

Cavalry Picket on the Rappahannock................................. 473

"Colonel Mosby's Soldiers, I Reckon, Sir?"...........................516

Cumberland Gap     This Was Enough for Me........................... 329

Geno Was Not only the Prettiest, but the Sweetest Girl I ever Saw.......381

"Get Up Here, You Damned Old Traitor."............................ 316

"Halt!"........................................................... 150

He seemed to have Forgotten all about Dressing Himself................ 359

I'd Cut Him and Feed the Pieces to the Sharks....................... 44

I had Stepped onto the Decaying Body of   a Man!.................... 181

In an Instant He Put the Point of His Sword against My Breast......... 347

In Old Capitol Prison   Disguised as a Contraband.....................427

In Old Capitol Prison   I Admit that I Broke Down Completely......... 413

I Was Being '' Toted " Back to the Rebel Army........................ 158

I Whispered to Him as I Went Past: " Norfolk is Taken."..............223

I "Yanked," or by a Dexterous "Twist of the Wrist," I Was Able to

Break the Wire.................................................. 170

Landing Kerslop over the Side onto the Ground........................ 177

Miss Mamie Wells Ministering to the Wounded.........................400

On a Scout to Richmond.............................................. 396

Recognized by Texans at Richmond Theatre............ .............. 248

Refusing in Her very Decided Manner to Walk under " That Flag."____383

Tail Piece   To the Boy Spy........................................556

Tapping the Telegraph Wire    '' Are the Yanks in Fredericksburg 1"----493

" Thank God, I'm Safe among my Friends."............................ 121

The Sergeant kindly Gave Him the Steel............................... 441

" To Father     I am Safe. Are All Well at Home? ".................... 352

We hastily Dressed and Ran Back from the Bank....................... 95

You always Say Down Here, and That You're Going to go up Home____197

S 
   THE BOY SPY.

CHAPTER I.

introductory.

A successful scout, or spy, is like a great poet in one respect: he is born, not made   subject to the requisition of the military genius of the time.

That I was not born to be hanged is a self-evident proposition. Whether I was a successful scout or not, the reader of these pages must determine.

It was my good fortune to have first seen the light under the shadow of one of the spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the beautiful Cumberland Valley, in the State of Pennsylvania, near Mason and Dixon's line.

This same locality is distinguished as the birth-place of President James Buchanan, and also that of Thomas A. Scott, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad and its system, under whom I served. Mr. Scott used to say he had leased this position for ninety-nine years with twice the salary of the president of the United States.

My grandfather, who had been an officer in the Royal Navy, of Great Britain, served in the same ships with Lord Nelson, had after the manner of his class kept a record of his remarkable and thrilling services in the British Navy during the wars of that period.

The discovery of this, grandfather's diary   amongst other war papers   after his death, I may say, here, accounts in a manner for the spirit of adventure in my disposition. I come by it naturally, and following the precedent, submit this unpretending narrative, as another grandfather's diary.

It appears that during the embargo declared during the war between the United States and England in 1812, my grandfather was caught ashore, as it were, in America.

His brother, George, was in the service of the East India Company, as a judge advocate, and lived on the Island of Ceylon at that

9 
   to

THE BOY SPY.

time. Desiring to reach this brother, by getting a vessel at New Orleans, he started to walk overland, through a hostile country, to the headwaters of the Ohio and Mississippi Valley at Pittsburgh,

where he could get a canoe or boat.

It is a singular coincidence that this young English officer, in his scouting through an enemy's country, traversed substantially the very same ground   Winchester, Va., Harper's Ferry, Freder-icksburgh, etc.   that I, his youthful grandson, tramped over as a scout in another war half a century later.

It was while on this journey that he was taken sick, and during a long illness he was nursed back to life by my grandmother, whom he subsequently married, and there located as an American citizen.

He became the schoolmaster of the community, and in course of time, Thomas A. Scott was one of his brightest but most troublesome scholars.

In the process of this evolution, I became a messenger boy and student of telegraphy in the office of Colonel Thos. A. Scott, who was then superintendent of railways at Pittsburgh.

In the same office, as a private clerk and telegrapher, was Mr. Andrew Carnegie, now widely known as a capitalist.

"Andy," as this distinguished philanthropist was then familiarly known, and myself were "boys together," and the reader is permitted to refer to him for   as he recently assured me, in his laughing and hearty manner   that he would give me a good endorsement, as one of his wild boys.

"Under Mr. Andrew Carnegie's instruction I soon became a proficient operator, and when but a boy very easily read a telegraph instrument by sound, which in those days was considered an extraordinary acquirement. Through Mr. Scott's kindly interest in myself, I had been promoted rapidly in railway work, and before leaving Pittsburgh was chief or division operator. This gave me very large responsibilities, for a boy of my age, as the road then had but one track, and close watch had to be kept of the various trains moving in the same or opposite directions. It became a habit of Colonel Scott, on receiving news of any accident to a train or bridge along the road, to have an engine fired up and be off at once, with me along provided with a pocket instrument and a little coil of copper wire. It seems now to me that such trips usually began at night. 
   TEE BOT SPY.

11

Arrived at the place of wreck, I would at once shin up a telegraph pole, get the wire down, cut it, and establish a " field station** at once, the nearest rail fence and a convenient bowlder furnishing desk and office seat, where I worked while Colonel Scott remained in charge of the work. He was thus at once put in direct communication with every train and station on the road, and in as full personal control as if in his comfortable Pittsburgh office. Such work perfected me in field-telegraphing. At times, when a burned or broken bridge or a wrecked train delayed traffic, trains would accumulate at the point, and the noises of escaping steam from the engines, the progressing work, and the babel of voices about me, made it utterly impossible to hear any sound from my little magnet, or pocket instrument. I then discovered, by sheer necessity, that I could read the messages coming, by watching the movement of the armature of the magnet. The vibrations of a telegraph armature are so slight as to be scarcely perceptible to the naked eye, yet a break, or the separating of the points of contact, are necessary to make the proper signals. Further experiences developed the phenomena that when sound and sight failed I could read still by the sense of feeling, by holding my finger-tips gently against the armature and noting its pulsations. I thus became by practice not only proficient, but expert in telegraphy Telegraphers know, though the general public may not, that messages can be sent by touching together the ends of a cut telegraph wire, and can be received by holding the ends to the tongue. My tongue, however, has always been too sensitive to take     that kind of "subtle fluid."

Telegraphers have many methods of secret communication with each other: rattling teaspoons or tapping knives and forks at the table, or the apparently aimless " Devil's" tattoo " of the fingers on the table or armchair are common methods, and I have heard of one in a tight corner who winked out a message appealing for help. It might be well to avoid playing poker at a table where two telegraphers are chums, for it is possible that one might learn when to stay in a little longer for the raise and make a pot a little bigger.

"When Colonel Thos. A. Scott became Assistant Secretary of "War he called into his service the railroaders and telegraphers whom he knew would be serviceable and faithful to the government.  I record 
   12

THE BO 7 SPY.

here the statement that the first to .reach Washington upon Secretary Cameron's call, was Mr. Scott and his Pennsylvania railroaders and telegraphers, who rebuilt and operated the destroyed Baltimore & Ohio railways and telegraphs, that enabled the first troops to reach the Capitol.

It was on account of my supposed qualification as a telegrapher that I was subsequently detailed to enter the rebel lines and intercept their telegraphic communication at their headquarters.

On one occasion, mentioned further on in this narrative, I was lounging near the old wooden shanty near General Beauregard's headquarters at Manassas Junction. I easily read important dispatches to and from Eichmond and elsewhere, and repeated the operation hour after hour, several days and nights. It was unfortunately the case, however, that I then had no means of rapid communication with Washington to transmit the information gained, although in later years of the war it would have been easy, as I was then a signal officer in the Army of the Potomac, and might have utilized some retired tree-top and signaled over the heads of the enemy to our own lines. This is rather anticipating my story, and, as Uncle Eufus Hatch once said, when I was acting as his private secretary, and he would become a little mixed in dictating letters to me, " We must preserve the sequence."

It is more than likely that I was too young in those days to properly appreciate the advantages of the rapid advancement I had gained in position and salary, especially as the latter enabled me to make a fool of myself; and here comes in my "first love story," which I tell, because it had much to do with the adventures of which this narrative treats.

" I loved a maid, And she was wondrous fair to see,"

and I will designate her as No. 1, to distinguish this from numerous other such affairs     on both sides of the lines. This affair, which served to further train me for the duties that lay before me, resulted in a visit, during the winter before the war broke out, to "Western Texas, where a wealthy bachelor uncle had a well-stocked plantation, between San Antonio and Austin. There I became associated with the young sons of the best Texas families, and acquired the ability    
   TRB BOY SPY.

IS

I had nearly written agility   to ride a bucking broncho and become an expert shot with a Colt's revolver.

My experience as a rather fresh young Pennsylvania boy among .the young Southern hot-bloods would make too long a chapter here, but suffice it to say that a youthful tendency to give my opinion on political questions, without regard to probable consequences, kept mo in constant hot water after President Lincoln's election.

Among the young men with whom I associated, through my uncle's standing and influence, was a grandson of the famous Colonel Davy Crockett, with whom I became involved in a difficulty, and, greatly to the astonishment of the "boys," I promptly accepted his challenge to a pistol fight.   Some of our older and more sensible [friends quickly put an end to the affair.   When my uncle (who was I absent at Austin at the time) returned, he furnished me with a pocketful of gold double-eagles and shipped me off by stage to Gal-i veston, whence I crossed the Gulf to New Orleans and came up the Mississippi to my home.

Immediately preceding the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, fol-; lowing closely upon my return from Texas, I came on to Washington ', City.   The purpose of this visit being solely a desire to gratify an aroused curiosity, by witnessing the sights and incidents consequent upon the impending change of the administration, about which there was much interest and excitement.   As I had plenty of time, j but not much money, to spend, I looked about for a cheap hotel, and was directed to the St. Charles, which was then, as now, located on the corner of Third and Pennsylvania avenues.   Here I became domiciled, for the time being, and it so happened that I was seated tat the same table in the hotel with Senator Andy Johnson, of Ten-| nessce, who was living there, and perhaps through this accidental (circumstance it came about that I was so soon to be engaged in the government's service.

K Mr. Johnson, it will be remembered, had obtained some distinc-gtion by his vigorous defense of the Union, in the Senate, at a time I when nearly all the rest of the Southern Senators were either openly mr.secretly plotting treason. In my youthful enthusiasm for the gjauso of the Union, which had become strengthened by the Southern associations of the preceding months, I naturally gave to Mr. Johnson my earliest admiration and sympathy.   One day, while 
   THE BOY SPY.

walking up Pennsylvania avenue, I was surprised to see standing in front of Brown's, now the Metropolitan Hotel, a certain gentleman, earnestly engaged in conversation with Senator Wigfall, whom I had known in Texas as one of the prominent State officials under the then existing administration of Governor Sam. Houston. This gentleman, whose name I withhold, because he is living to-day and is well-known throughout Texas, was also at that time a business associate and a personal friend of the Texas uncle before referred to.

I was pleasantly recognized, and at once introduced to Senator "Wigfall as the " nephew of my uncle." Mr. Wigfall's dogmatic manner impressed me unfavorably, being so unlike that of Mr. Johnson.

I spent a great many evenings at Brown's Hotel, in the rooms of my Texas friend, where were congregated every night, and late into the mornings, too, nearly all of the Texas people who were at that time in the city. In this way, without seeking their confidence, I became a silent and attentive listener to the many schemes and plans that were brewing for the overthrow of the government.

Among the frequent visitors were Wigfall and Hon. John C. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, both of whom are now dead; but there are yet among the living certain distinguished Congressmen, at present in Washington, who were of that treasonable gang, who will not, I apprehend, deny the truth of the facts I here state.

This gentleman's mission in Washington, as I learned incidentally during his interviews with Senator Wigfall and others, was to secure the passage through Congress of some appropriation bill of a special character, for the benefit of Texas, which, if I rightly remember, referred to lands or school funds, the object being to secure the benefit of the act before that State should pass the secession ordinance. It was understood and admitted during these talks of the plotting traitors that Texas should, as a matter of course, secede, but they must first take with them all they could obtain from the general government, the delay in passing the ordinance being caused only by the desire to first secure this money, which this agent had been sent here to press through Wigfall and others in Congress, and upon the advices of their success being reported to Texas, the act of secession would promptly follow this twin robbery and conspiracy.

I happened to be present, in the crowded gallery of the Senate, 
   THE BO 7 SP7.

IS

when Senator Wigfall, of Texas, during a speech in reply to Johnson, in an indirect and insinuating way, while glancing significantly toward Senator Johnson, quoted the celebrated words of Marmion: "Lord Angus, thou has lied." This incident being discussed at our table one day, at which Senator Johnson occupied the post of honor, I took a favorable opportunity to intimate to him that I was in possession of facts that would show Mr. Wigfall to be not only a traitor, but that he was then scheming to first rob the government he had sworn to protect, and afterward intended to destroy, and in my boyish way suggested that the Senator should hurl the epithets back at him.

I did not for a moment consider that I was betraying any confidence in thus telling of the traitorous schemes to which I had been an unwilling listener.

Mr. Johnson seemed to be impressed with my statements, and for a while lost interest in his dinner. In his free and kindly way he was easily able to " draw me out" to his entire satisfaction, and secured from me the story with the necessary "authorities and references. "As he rose from the table he walked around to my seat, shaking my hand cordially, while he invited me to his room for a further conference.

After that day, while I remained in Washington City, during the time preceding the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, and for some weeks following, I became a welcome visitor at the Senator's room, oscillating between the headquarters of the rebel conspirators at Brown's and the private rooms of the leader of the Union cause, and thus was begun my first secret-service work.

I had brought with me to Washington some letters from Mr. Scott and other railroad friends, and also enjoyed through this connection a personal acquaintance with " Old Glory to God," as the Hon. John Covode was called during the war. This name originated from a telegram which Mr. Covode wrote to a friend, in which he intended to convey the intelligence of a great Union victory; but in the excitement of his big, honest, loyal heart over a Union success, which in the early days was a rarity, he neglected to mention the important fact of the victory, and the telegram as received in Philadelphia simply read:

" To John W. Fokney:

     *  *  *  "Glory to God. "John Covode." 
   16

TEE BOY SPY.

He spelled God with a little g, Philadelphia with an F, but he got there just the same.

My days in the Capitol at that time were usually spent in the gallery of the Senate, where were to be seen and heard the great leaders -on both sides. Some of the Southern Senators were making their farewell speeches, the words of which I, in my youthful innocence, tried vainly to reconcile with their action, as well as with the proceedings of a peace Congress, which was being held at Wil-lard's old hall on F street.

The evenings of these days I devoted to the observation of the operations of the Southern conspirators at the hotel, and watched with concern the preparations for the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, who had secretly arrived in the city.

In the course of my amateur work among the Southern leaders, it so happened that Mr. Covode and Senator Johnson had been brought together, and they became mutually interested in my services.

One day Mr. Covode said to me: "See here, young feller, you might do some good for the government in this way. I've talked with Johnson about you, and he says he'll help to get you fixed up by the War Department."

When I expressed a willingness to do anything, the old man said, in his blunt, outspoken way:

Hold on now till I tell you about this thing first." Then proceeding to explain in his homely, honest words:

" There is a lot of money appropriated for secret service, and if you get onto that your pay will be mighty good; but," he added, "it's damned dangerous; for as sure as them fellers ketch you once they will hang you, that's sure as your born."

When I observed that I wasn't born to be hanged, he said further, as he fumbled over some papers in his hand:

" I don't know about that either, because Scott writes me a letter here that says, ' you are smart enough, but you have,' reading from the letter to refresh his memory, ' unbounded but not well directed energy'." Which I didn't know whether to consider complimentary or otherwise.

It was arranged that we should visit the Secretary of War together, to consult in regard to this future service. We called on General Cameron, the Secretary, one morning, to whom I was intro- 
   THE BOT SPY.

17

duced by Mr. Covode, who explained to the Secretary in a few words, in an undertone, what he deemed to be my qualifications and advantages for employment in the secret service.

There were no civil-service rules in force at that time. The Secretary's office was crowded with persons waiting an opportunity to present to him their claims. After looking around the room, the Secretary suggested that, as this was a matter he would like to talk over when he was not so busy, we had better call again.

In a few days afterward I went alone to the old War Department Building, where I stood about for an hour or two, watching the crowd of office-seekers, anxious to serve their country under the new administration, but without getting an opportunity to get anywhere near the Secretary's door.

This same operation became with me a daily duty for quite a while. One morning I went earlier than usual, and met the Secretary as he passed along the corridor to his office, and bluntly accosted him, handing him some letters. I followed him into the room, and stood by the altar, or desk, with a couple of other penitents who were on the anxious bench, while he put on his spectacles and began to read the papers I had handed him. Turning to me, he said: " Now I'm too busy to attend to this matter. I intend to do something in this direction, but I've not had a chance to look it up; suppose you come   " Here I interrupted him and said: " I'd like to go down to Montgomery and see what's going on there." This seemed to open a way out of a difficulty for the Secretary, and he at once said:

" That's all right; you just do that, and let's see what you can do, and I'll fix your matter up with Covode." Then turning to his desk he