THE SPY OF THE REBELLION

Frontispiece. P. 158.
Allan Pinkerton and General McClellan in Private Consultation.

THE

SPY OF THE REBELLION;

BEING

A TRUE HISTORY

OF THE

SPY SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

DURING THE LATE REBELLION.

REVEALING MANY SECRETS OF THE WAR HITHERTO NOT MADE PUBLIC.

COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL REPORTS
PREPARED FOR
PRESIDENT LINCOLN, GENERAL McCLELLAN AND THE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL.

BY

ALLAN PINKERTON,

WHO

(UNDER THE NOM-DE-PLUME OF MAJOR E. J. ALLEN)

WAS

CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE.

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.

Introduction by Patrick Bass

University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln and London

Introduction copyright © 1989 by the University of Nebraska Press

All rights reserved

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Bison Book printing: 1989

Most recent printing indicated by the last digit below:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Pinkerton, Allan, 1819-1884.

The spy of the rebellion: being a true history of the spy system of the United States Army during the late rebellion, revealing many secrets of the war hitherto not made public / by Allan Pinkerton: introduction by Patrick Bass.

p. cm.

"Compiled from official reports prepared for President Lincoln, General McClellan, and the provost-marshal-general."

Reprint. Originally published: Hartford, Conn.: M. A. Winter & Hatch, 1883.

ISBN 0-8032-3686-7 (alk. paper) ISBN 0-8032-8722-4 (pbk.)

1. United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Secret service.
2. United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Personal narratives.
3. Pinkerton, Allan, 1819-1884. I. Title.
E608.P65 1989

973.7'86—dc20 89-33081 CIP

Reprinted from the 1883 edition published by M. A. Winter & Hatch, Hartford, Connecticut. An appendix, "Rebel Forces before Richmond," has been omitted from this Bison Book edition.

CONTENTS.

Preface 23

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

An Unwritten Page of History.—A Political Resumé.—Abraham Lincoln is Elected President. 33


CHAPTER II.

Opposition to Mr. Lincoln's Inauguration.—A Plot to Assassinate him.—The Journey from Springfield, Illinois. 45


CHAPTER III.

The Conspirators at Work.—Detectives on their Trail.—Webster as a Soldier. 58


CHAPTER IV.

The Conspirators in Council.—My Operative Joins the Conspiracy. 74


CHAPTER V.

The Presidential Party Arrives in Philadelphia.—Independence Hall.—The Departure from Harrisburg.—Telegraph Wires Cut.—Through the Lines of Treason.—Safe Arrival at Washington. 81


CHAPTER VI.

My Connection with the Rebellion.—Timothy Webster Accepts a Mission. 104


CHAPTER VII.

Webster on his Way to the Capital.—Wrecked Trains and Broken Bridges.—An Adventure with a Cavalryman.—A Rebel Emissary.—President Lincoln and Timothy Webster. 114


CHAPTER VIII.

Timothy Webster in Washington.—The Return to Philadelphia.—I go to the Capital.—An Important Letter. 131


CHAPTER IX.

An Adventure in Pittsburg.—A Mob at Bay.—An Explanation.—Good Feeling Restored. 142

CHAPTER X.

General McClellan in Command of Ohio.—I am Engaged for the War.—The Secret Service.—A Consultation.—Webster Starts for Rebeldom. 151

CHAPTER XI.

Webster Fraternizes with the Rebel Officers.—A Secession Hat.—A Visit to a Rebel Camp.—"The Committee of Safety."—A Friendly Stranger.—A Warning.—The Escape. 168

CHAPTER XII.

I Take a Trip to the South.—Danger in Memphis.—A Timely Warning.—A Persistent Barber.—An Unfortunate Memory.—Return to Cincinnati. 182

CHAPTER XIII.

East and West Virginia.—Seceding from Secession.—My Scouts in Virginia.—A Rebel Captain Entertains "My Lord."—An Old Justice dines with Royalty.—A Lucky Adventure.—A Runaway Horse.—A Rescue. 203


CHAPTER XIV.

The Rebels Attempt to Occupy West Virginia.—General McClellan Ordered to