Different Spies
INTRODUCTION
Allan Pinkerton, Pauline Cushman, Harriet Tubman, Sarah Emma Edmonds, Belle Boyd, and many more served as spies in the Civil War. They all influenced the war in different way. Read below to learn more about different civil war spies and their individual impact on the war.
CIVIL WAR SPIES
Allan Pinkerton- Founded The Pinkerton spy agency. He became a detective after he accidentally discovered a band of counterfeiters and had them arrested. One of the most important things his agency did was stop an assassination plot aimed at president-elect Abraham Lincoln. While working for the Union during the Civil War, he headed a group whose purpose was to obtain military information in the southern states. After he retired he wrote three book that described his journey and missions as a spy.
Pauline Cushman- An actress who toured with Confederate troupes. She discovered important information which she then relayed back to the Union. After visiting the camp of Confederate General Braxton Bragg, she managed to discover his battle plans. She aroused suspicions and was finally caught with his papers. Cushman was tried in military court and sentenced to death. She was saved three days before her hanging by the invasion of Union troops. Despite her close call she agreed to continue spying behind the Confederate line. She was awarded the rank of Brevet-Major by General Garfield and commended by President Abraham Lincoln for her service to the Union cause, and became known as Miss Major Cushman.
Mary Elizabeth Bowser- A Union Spy who infiltrated the Confederate White House. This was very dangerous because she was an African-American women who worked for the government. This was a risk, as many people did not agree with the use of people of color in high positions. She played a large role in gathering intelligence for the North.
Belle Boyd-Well known for her perseverance and "love story". She began spying at the age of seventeen. Boyd is credited with securing the capture of Shenandoah Valley by alerting Thomas. J. "Stonewall" Jackson of the Union soldiers positions and plans. She was captured taking Confederate papers to England. After being captured she fell in love and married her captor. |
Sarah Emma Edmonds - A Union soldier and spy. Edmonds disguised herself as a man in order to enlist in the United States army. She acted as a mail carrier, which often involved journeys of over 100 miles through enemy territory. She contracted malaria in the spring of 1863, and deserted the army for fear of being discovered while receiving medical attention. After her recovery, Edmonds, no longer in disguise, worked as a nurse, tending to wounded soldiers.
Elizabeth Van Lew - Joined other Richmond Unionists to create an underground network to hinder the Confederate war effort and give aid and comfort to captured Union soldiers. Elizabeth, also known as "Crazy Bett," ran a spy operation out of her family farm. Libby Prison, a famous prison holding dozens of Union officers in poor conditions, was very close to her house, so she was in the perfect position to help these Union officers. While helping these prisoners Van Lew found out useful information concerning troop movements, and helped pass this information onto General Grant, who later commended her work. Elizabeth also created an underground network to hinder the Confederate war effort.
Rose O’Neal Greenhow - A recruit in John Letcher's spy network in Washington D.C., Greenhow spied for the Confederates. She used powerful social connections to get information about military activity. Some of the Northern politicians she was friendly with were Secretary of State William Seward and Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson. She also helped the Confederates win Battle of Bull Run by sending a ten-word secret message to General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Allan Pinkerton arrested her and she was sent to Old Capitol Prison.
Antonia Ford - A daughter of dedicated secessionist Edward R. Ford. She was a secessionist herself, and gathered information on troop strength and movements from Union officers billeted around the Fairfax region in mid-1861, which she then passed on to her brother's commander Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuart. Ford reportedly also spied for Colonel John S. Mosby, leader of a band of Confederate rangers in Northern Virginia.
LaFayette Baker - Spied against the Union government. He was interrogated multiple times but never gave up any Confederate secrets. He had a very interesting life interesting story. He also killed Abraham Lincoln's assassin. This was very surprising because he was a Confederate, but supported Lincoln. There are many conspiracy theories about him.
Timothy Webster - Timothy Webster was the Civil War's first double agent. Pinkerton sent Webster to Richmond, where he gained the trust of Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate secretary of war. Benjamin had him send documents to a secessionist in Baltimore, but Webster gave those documents to Pinkerton. Eventually he was arrested and sentenced to death. His most influential and well-known action was preventing the Abraham Lincoln assassination attempt in 1864, even though he had been executed two years prior in April 1862.
Spies: Males
In this society men were given many more opportunities and jobs. This allowed for easier ways to gain information but in a different way than the slaves and women. Being a man during the Civil War was useful because their social status was much higher and therefore they could interact and collect information from secret areas and people. The disadvantage of being a male spy was that they were more conspicuous. Men were expected to be fighting, so male spies could not move around as freely as women spies.
Rose O’Neal Greenhow - A recruit in John Letcher's spy network in Washington D.C., Greenhow spied for the Confederates. She used powerful social connections to get information about military activity. Some of the Northern politicians she was friendly with were Secretary of State William Seward and Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson. She also helped the Confederates win Battle of Bull Run by sending a ten-word secret message to General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. Allan Pinkerton arrested her and she was sent to Old Capitol Prison.
Antonia Ford - A daughter of dedicated secessionist Edward R. Ford. She was a secessionist herself, and gathered information on troop strength and movements from Union officers billeted around the Fairfax region in mid-1861, which she then passed on to her brother's commander Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuart. Ford reportedly also spied for Colonel John S. Mosby, leader of a band of Confederate rangers in Northern Virginia.
LaFayette Baker - Spied against the Union government. He was interrogated multiple times but never gave up any Confederate secrets. He had a very interesting life interesting story. He also killed Abraham Lincoln's assassin. This was very surprising because he was a Confederate, but supported Lincoln. There are many conspiracy theories about him.
Timothy Webster - Timothy Webster was the Civil War's first double agent. Pinkerton sent Webster to Richmond, where he gained the trust of Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate secretary of war. Benjamin had him send documents to a secessionist in Baltimore, but Webster gave those documents to Pinkerton. Eventually he was arrested and sentenced to death. His most influential and well-known action was preventing the Abraham Lincoln assassination attempt in 1864, even though he had been executed two years prior in April 1862.
Spies: Males
In this society men were given many more opportunities and jobs. This allowed for easier ways to gain information but in a different way than the slaves and women. Being a man during the Civil War was useful because their social status was much higher and therefore they could interact and collect information from secret areas and people. The disadvantage of being a male spy was that they were more conspicuous. Men were expected to be fighting, so male spies could not move around as freely as women spies.
Spies: Women and Slaves
Many spies were slaves, free blacks, and women who could easily eavesdrop and listen to conversations. Many white men believed that African Americans and women could not understand their plans because they were too stupid. This resulted in military secrets to be overheard by women and slaves because the white men were not careful around them. Women could also travel easily, while men traveling around alone were suspicious. Because of these factors, women and African Americans were some of the most important spies for the Union during the Civil War. The Confederacy also used women, but not slaves. The South did not trust blacks to do their spying properly.
Many spies were slaves, free blacks, and women who could easily eavesdrop and listen to conversations. Many white men believed that African Americans and women could not understand their plans because they were too stupid. This resulted in military secrets to be overheard by women and slaves because the white men were not careful around them. Women could also travel easily, while men traveling around alone were suspicious. Because of these factors, women and African Americans were some of the most important spies for the Union during the Civil War. The Confederacy also used women, but not slaves. The South did not trust blacks to do their spying properly.