CHAPTER XXXIV.
PLAYING A DOUBLE GAME.
Studying the Situation. I renew my Acquaintance with old Friends of the Federal Army. Half-formed Plans. I obtain an Introduction to Colonel Lafayette C. Baker, Chief of the United States Secret Service Corps. Colonel Baker and General Winder of the Confederate Secret Service compared. Baker a good Detective Officer, but far inferior to Winder as the Head of a Secret Service Department. I solicit Employment from Baker as a Detective, and am indorsed by my Friend General A. Baker gives a rather indefinite Answer to my Application. I go to New York, and fall in with Confederate Secret Service Agents, who employ me to assist them in various Schemes. Learning the Ropes. I send Intelligence of my Movements to Richmond, and am enrolled as a Confederate Agent. I have several Interviews with Baker, and succeed in gaining his Confidence. Baker's Surprise and Disgust at various Times at his Plans leaking out. The Secret of the Leakage revealed.
'N going to Washington I had no very definite idea of what I would do, or, indeed, what I could do. I was now about to work under different auspices from any under which I had hitherto been placed, and it was necessary for me to look around a bit and study the situation. In
a general sort of way I hoped to get access to the different departments, so that I would be able to find out what was going on, and to place myself in communication with persons who would be able to give me such information as I desired. It was also important that I should make the acquaintance of, and be on friendly terms with, officers of the army and others who would have the power to help me in case I wanted to run through the lines, or in event of my getting into any trouble through meddling with affairs that the government might not desire an irresponsible outsider like myself to know too much about.
The visit I had paid to the prison where my brother was confined, made me think deeply about the privations and sufferings endured by the brave Southern boys captured on a
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