War+Spies

by: Liam Egan
 * __SPIES IN THE CIVIL WAR:__**

Table of Contents
 * Introduction ||
 * The First Spies ||
 * Northern Spies ||
 * Allan Pinkerton ||
 * Woman Spies ||
 * Conclusion ||

__Introduction__

The bloodiest war in American history was not only significant because of the casualties, or the advances in military technology, but also because it was the first war in which spies were used widely, both men and women, on both sides. During the war, though, spies proved very useful in many ways, from discovering enemy tactics, positions, or even stealing the ideas and designs from the respective countries. Because of the high efficiency the Civil War spies, spying agencies have been successfully carried out for generations across the world.

__The First Spies:__

Before the Civil War, spies had never been used as a widespread way to wage silent war. Because of this, in the beginning of the war, neither side had a very effective or organized agency for spying. In these early stages, most of the spying was generals sending out individual soldiers to report the enemy positions, and small, relatively unimportant tasks. But as leaders in both the CSA and USA began to notice how much damage so few people could do, they organized larger groups, meetings, and eventually, organizations of spies that began to convey information for the opposing sides. The humble beginnings of spies in America became one of the most effective ways to wage war today.

__Northern Spies:__

Despite being the side that believed in federalism and government-run organizations, the North did not produce the first spying organizations in the Civil War. Although the first american spy was hired by the North, a man named William A. Lloyd. Abe Lincoln hired him to find out what the south was planning, before the war started. Lincoln did not proceed to make a spying agency. It was, as a matter of fact, George McClellan, the Virginia Creeper, who created the first organization. Called the 'Secret Service' which was run by Allan Pinkerton, who later went on to run the Pinkerton Agency which eventually developed into the U.S. secret service.

__Allan Pinkerton:__

Born on August 21st, 1819, in Glasgow, Scotland, born into poverty, Pinkerton had no idea of what he would become. As a young man, he became involved in the [|English Chartism Movement]. At the age of 23, Pinkerton discreetly married a woman named Joan Carfrae, then immigrated to America in 1842. For seven years, Pinkerton tried desperately to find work, doing small jobs at local businesses for a salary. One night, he saw a couple counterfeiters, and called the deputy. Seven years later in 1849, he was appointed First Detective, in Chicago. His radical abolitionist beliefs and political opinions soon brought the attention of many high-up politicians, such as Lincoln himself. Lincoln immediately made him his bodyguard, and he was a good one. On the way to his inauguration, Pinkerton foiled an assassination plan. He went on to create the Pinkerton Agency, a world-renowned private detective association. From humble beginnings, Allan J. Pinkerton rose up and became one of the famous detectives of all time.

__Women Spies:__

In the Civil War, not only were spies used for the first time, but as tactics developed, women started to be used as spies for a variety of reasons. Not only did they get off a lot easier than men when their identities were exposed, but they could disguise themselves as nurses for the opposing side, seduce generals, and smuggle documents very effectively. One very famous union woman spy was Sarah Emma Edmonds. She covered as a man, or a black man, and gathered information from the confederate troops. She was very effective for a long time, but when her identity was finally discovered, she assumed a position as a union nurse.

__Conclusion:__

The Civil War was a breakthrough war in many aspects, but no way more than the development of spying. The Civil War ignited the start of spying agencies that still exist today, some known all over the world for their work.

For information on tactics, click here For information on Civil War weapons, click here

__Bibliography:__

"Civil War Spies." 1 Apr. 99. Web. 10 May 10. .

"Civil War Spies." 15 Dec. 02. Web. 13 May 2010. .

Stratnam, Jason D. "Spying in the Civil War." //The American Civil War Home Page//. 12 May 08. Web. 13 May 2010. .

"Allan J. Pinkerton." //Allan J. Pinkerton//. 3 Apr. 03. Web. 20 May 2010. .