Chris' Blog: The spy of the Civil War

A note: all songs are both Union and Confederate -- historically they were sang in camps or used in marching or used to boost moral.

Let me take you back to a time of division,

A time of pain and destruction,

Where families, friends and a nation was torn apart.

Welcome to the American Civil War.

So recently, I was watching the TV show called Turn.

Now yes, this was during the American Revolution.

But, it gave me a question.

"What was the Spy Networks like during the American Civil War?"

Well that question led to a long night of research -- which I thoroughly enjoyed 😀

Well I uncovered this amazing story about a Union Spy named Timothy Webster.

Well as you can see by the wiki page, there isn't much basic information about Mr. Webster.

So I went into a little more detail in my research:

Timothy Webster was born in Sussex County, England on March 12, 1822 to Timothy Webster Sr. and his mother (I cannot find his mother's name).

At the age of eight, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Princeton, New Jersey[1].

Around 1840, after finishing school, Timothy Webster moved to New York City. There, he met Charlotte Sprowls, who he married in 1841. He was 19 and she was 23. A year later, their first child was born[2]. Timothy Webster Jr.[1].

As their family grew (eventually to four children), Timothy's original work as a Machine Machinist was not enough to support them. But, in 1845 New York passed the Municipal Police Act, which set up a larger police organization (which actually became the foundation for the modern New York Police Department)[2]. Around 1853, Mr. Webster became a New York Policeman [1].

1853 was the first year that Timothy Webster came into contact with Allan Pinkerton - a self made detective who was kinda important 😀

Now, during this time in New York, nativism in the US began to grow. It caused a hindrance to all immigrants and their families. Most of the nativism policies were directed at Irish Immigrants who were fleeing Ireland due to the Potato Famine (1845-1849) and other reasons. This massive increase in the Irish population caused a ton of backlash from Americans who were nativists [3]

A feeling among some in New York City was that there were too many foreign-born police officers in the New York Police Force [3]. Webster was called to testify but refused to take the stand in all of the cases related to the xenophobia. The investigation led nowhere, and soon after, Webster left the NYPD [3].

Now, Timothy Webster was a good cop. He was recommended by one of his captains to Allan Pinkerton. Pinkerton approved of Webster as well, and soon after Webster joined Pinkerton's private detectives. After joining and going on several missions, Webster would soon be regarded as one of Pinkerton's best detectives [4].

A lot of the records in regard to Timothy Webster's work for Pinkerton's National Detective Agency were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. However, what survived has shown an impressive career as a private detective, demonstrating intelligence, cunning, and leadership skills over the first years of him joining [3].

One of his more noteworthy cases invloved him tracking down renowned forger Jules Imbert, even jumping from a moving train to keep up with the man. He also investigated grave robberies in a Chicago cemetery, and spent two years in Davenport, Iowa, working to find the culprits behind an attempt to burn down the Rock Island Bridge. Had he continued on this path he likely would have headed one of the many branches that Pinkerton’s agency would open in the coming years, but unfolding events changed his future [3].

In the 1850s another problem was about to explode. Slavery. Ever since it was told to be left alone during the Founding of the United States - in order to keep the original states unified - it had been an issue of debate. Many countries in Europe had already abolished Slavery. The British got rid of it in 1833 and the French truly abolished it in 1848. The United States Abolitionists became more and more violent - and the Slave Holders became more and more violent.

(OPINION!!!!)

It's not a "who started it thing." Slavery was a weed that was freely allowed to grow in the United States. Now it had stipulations and was trimmed every now and again. But it was never truly cut. The push back was to great. There was almost a civil war in the 1820s because someone rocked the boat in regard to slavery. During the 1850s, abolitionism was at the forefront. And Slaveholders refused to let their slaves go - claiming their slaves were happy.

Well, when people disagree about core issues, things can get violent.

From 1854-1861 violent confrontations occurred over the entrance of a non-slave or slave state (Kansas Territory). This was a mess - and would take a whole other post to explain it lol. It was called the Border War or better known as Bleeding Kansas.

Well tensions were high. And then the election of 1860 happened. Abraham Lincoln was elected [3]. And talk of breaking away from the union ran rampant. Secessionist groups had already formed. Violent attacks and riots began.

During this time, Pinkerton was asked to investigate threats to destroy railroad bridges from D.C. to New York. Pinkerton took a small group of operatives with him - including Timothy Webster - with him to Maryland. There, Timothy and his partner - Hattie Lewis (who posed as his wife) - infiltrated a Secessionist militia who called themselves the Sons of Liberty [2]. Webster soon learned of a plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln, in what became known as the Baltimore Plot [1]. Webster alerted Pinkerton, and Lincoln's life was saved for the first time.

By the following month, the first states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. This forced Lincoln to raise troops to retake the states, which only infuriating other states who were thinking about seceding. The American Civil War had begun.

And Timothy Webster maintained his cover in the Baltimore area. Webster became a spy for the union when Union General George B. McClellan hired Pinkerton's Detective Agency to gather intelligence for him. In his guise as a southern sympathizer from Maryland, Webster and his partner Hattie, were sent west to Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky. There, Webster developed good relationships with Confederate Officers, ranking from low to high [2]. He was so successful that he was even offered a commission as a Colonel in the Confederate Army [2].

He declined saying he decided to go to Richmond (The Confederate Capital). He was provided with letters of recommendation from many of his Confederate Friends. But rather than heading straight to Richmond, he visited his friends that were members of the Sons of Liberty in Maryland, and got letters of recommendation from them as well [4].

(OPINION!!!)

Timothy must have been a man who could easily form relationships.

He and Hattie had to of been able to fit in well with Confederate leaders and Secessionists.

And when he and Hattie were sent to Richmond - all the letters of recommendation to prove his loyalty to the Confederacy - are just proof of his ability to form relationships.

With all his letters of recommendation, Timothy had no trouble fitting in to Richmond Society. At this point in the war, Stonewall Jackson was preventing Union General McClellan from sieging Richmond. Timothy was tasked by the Confederate Secretary of War to deliver messages to Jackson and other people who were along the Confederate Secret Line (their spy network stretching from Richmond to Baltimore to Washington D.C.). Timothy and Hattie would copy these messages - hand the copy off to a Pinkerton Agent and deliever the original to a confederate [4].

However, during the winter of 1862 - after crossing back and forth across the Potomac River and sleeping on the cold wet ground - the 32 year old Timothy Webster got sick. When he got sick, no reports were given to Allan Pinkerton. This worried him - two of his best agents (Hattie and Timothy) had disappeared [3].

In response, Allan Pinkerton sent two Pinkerton Agents - John Scully and Pryce Lewis [2].

(OPINION?!!)

Now here is where my information gets a little odd. Most of my sources say Rose O'Neal Greenhow did the following: John and Pryce stayed in a hotel after they found and made sure that Timothy and Hattie were alright. At this hotel, a recently released Confederate Spy, Rose Greenhow - who may have had some part in the Confederate victory at the first battle of bullrun - was present. She saw John and Pryce - recognizing them because they had interrogated her - and had them arrested by the Confederates [1,2,4]. Another source says that it may have been a man named Chase Morton, whose house was searched at one point by Pryce and John [3]. Regardless of what happened, John and Pryce were arrested by the Confederates.

John and Pryce - one of them at least - to save their life, revealed that Timothy Webster was a Pinkerton Spy. When both of them reported this, the Confederates were completely surprised and embarrassed. Needless to say, they were furious. They arrested Timothy Webster and Hattie Lawson - who they still believed was Timothy's wife Charlotte - and put them on trial. Hattie was sentenced to a year, but Timothy was sentenced to die; both were held in a place called Castle Thunder, Richmond, VA [2].

On April 29, 1862, Timothy's sentence was carried out. The noose was tied around his neck and the lever was pulled. Only, his rope was not secure. It either snapped or it wasn't tight enough, so his neck slipped through, making him fall to the ground below. He was quickly picked up by Confederate Soldiers and a new rope was readied [5]. Timothy reportedly exclaimed, "I suffer a double death." He was then hanged and died shortly after [4].

(FINISH!!)

And that is the story of the Machinist turned Cop turned Pinkerton Agent turned Union Spy. haha. Timothy Webster was an interesting man. And I've decided to right a novelette about him as a result.

Hope you enjoyed.

Have an epic day!

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Source 1 - "Timothy Webster Biography Page." Civil War Medical Care, Battle Wounds, and Disease. Accessed October 01, 2018. https://www.civilwarhome.com/timwebsterbio.html.

Source 2 - Thrilling Detective. “The Pinkerton Detective and the Civil War Spy” by Corey Recko. Accessed October 01, 2018. https://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/civilwar/articles/timothywebster.aspx.

Source 3 - ""Timothy Webster: The Pinkerton Detective and the Civil War Spy" by Corey Recko." Cody Allen, Nick Ryder and Boz Bozinsky (Riptide). Accessed October 01, 2018. http://www.thrillingdetective.com/non_fiction/e020.html.

Source 4 - "Timothy Webster." American Civil War Stories. Accessed October 01, 2018. http://www.americancivilwarstory.com/timothy-webster.html.

Source 5 - Lab, Digital Scholarship. "The History Engine." History Engine: Tools for Collaborative Education and Research | Episodes. Accessed October 03, 2018. https://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/5345.

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Picture 1 -- Scanned from Harper's Weekly, published October 1910

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