Spies in the Civil War

The stories of the men and women who served as spies in the Civil War offer a fascinating glimpse into the strong passions that divided a nation. Many were otherwise "ordinary" Americans who had received no special training in intelligence gathering, but simply listened and watched what was going on around them and then passed that information on to those who needed it. Spies such as Allan Pinkerton, Elizabeth Van Lew, Belle Boyd, and Rose O'Neal Greenhow vividly illustrate the differing motivations and backgrounds of those who became involved in espionage. Additional critical information came from former slaves, nurses, and men and women who found themselves in hostile territory when the war began. Spies in the Civil War delves into these stories of courage in the midst of conflict, adding to the rich history of the Civil War.