John,
Lots of those stories handed down have to be taken with a large grain of salt. Over the past 150 years its not unusual to find some embellishment added by an old vet or adoring family members. Looking over his actual record, there is no mention at all of spying for anyone. He is present with the battery for most of his enlistment; AWOL once for two days; absent - under arrest at one time; subject, for an unstated reason, to a court martial; and on detached duty, while his unit was in the defensive lines at Petersburg, building chevaux de frise. He was present for the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.