Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/106

 100 Southern Historical Society Papers.

observations, the others from friendly parties within the lines." To the question, " What are the means of testing the credibility of friendly persons living in the enemy's country?" it is answered: " These agents were selected with great care and with an eye to their intelligence and devotion and energy. Actual experience alone, however, must prove their credibility."

"From the first of April to the last of September," continues Colonel Norris on another head, " we placed files of Baltimore papers, published one morning, in the hands of the President next evening. New York papers, of course, a day later."

Colonel Norris gives the history of the secret service branch of the Signal Corps in the following words : " In the fall of 1862 the necessity of having points on the Potomac river, at whicji Govern- ment agents and army scouts might promptly and without delay cross to and from the United States, was so seriously appreciated that the Secretary of War suggested the propriety of establishing one or more camps in King George and Westmoreland counties, with an especial eye to such transportation. The idea was immediately acted upon. In a short time the additional duties were assigned to these sta- tions first, of observing and reporting all movements of troops, etc., on the Potomac; second, securing complete files of Northern papers for Executive Department; third, upon requisition from heads of bureays to obtain from the United States small packages, books, etc. Here our duties, strictly speaking, ended. But as we were forced, in order to perform the other duties, to establish a line of agents from the Potomac to Washington, it was determined, as far as possible, to insti- tute a regular system of espionage. The Government having failed, however, to place at our disposal the necessary means to carry into execution this design, we have been forced to rely almost entirely upon the energy and zeal of a few devoted gentlemen of Maryland for such indications of the enemy's movements as they have been able to acquire from mingling in official circles about Washington, Balti- dmore, and New York."

It was the duty of Colonel Norris to wait on Mr. Davis every morning with the cipher dispatches from the generals of armies and department commanders. The burden of these dispatches was, to- wards the close, calamitous and importunate reinforcements and supplies were everywhere demanded. All looked to Mr. Davis for relief and support. It was the cry of the king to the prophet : " My father ! my father ! the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! " Colonel Norris bears testimony to the unruffled serenity of his chief