American Civil War spies

The most useful military intelligence of the American Civil War was probably provided to Union officers by slaves and smugglers. There were, however, conventional spies working for each side.

Union

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Pinkerton with Abraham Lincoln.

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Allan Pinkerton of the Union ran the Federal Secret Service and Brig. Gen. Lafayette C. Baker was the chief of War Department detectives.

Related Topics:
Allan Pinkerton - Secret Service - Lafayette C. Baker

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Famous female operators included Elizabeth Van Lew, a Richmond, Virginia resident who managed to plant a spy among Jefferson Davis's own slaves; Sarah Emma Edmonds, who gained entrance to Confederate camps near Yorktown, Virginia disguised as a black slave; and Pauline Cushman who was captured, but escaped after being sentenced to execution, enabling her to provide further important intelligence.

Related Topics:
Elizabeth Van Lew - Richmond, Virginia - Jefferson Davis - Sarah Emma Edmonds - Yorktown, Virginia - Pauline Cushman - Execution

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Major Henry Young of Rhode Island commanded a 58-man band of scouts and served Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan during the last year of the war.

Related Topics:
Major Henry Young - Rhode Island - Philip H. Sheridan

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