The Spy of the Rebellion Being a True History of the Spy System of the United States Army during the Late Rebellion,   By: Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884)

[Illustration: 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.

Introduction 17

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.