A Desperate expedient.
--The Philadelphia
Inquirer starts a story of ‘"daring on the part of the rebels which can only arise from desperation."’ The strict military discipline of the
Federal camp on the
Virginia side of the
Potomac has completely ‘"blocked"’ the usual sources through which the rebels have heretofore obtained information.
A few nights ago they determined, at all hazards, to learn the pass-word, in order that their agent might enter our lines and reach
Washington.
To do this, they dressed two of their men in Government uniforms which had been captured, and succeeded in placing them between our pickets unobserved.
The impostors and true soldiers pursued the regular duty for a considerable time, when finally the rebels challenged one of our men, who was about to give the requisite pass-word when he discovered the cheat and gave the alarm, but not in time to effect the arrest or death of the daring but nonplussed adventurers.