Lincoln's Spies

[L Verge]

I have made it to about page 250 of Lincoln's Spies, and with apologies to some, I'm loving it! Battle strategy takes a back seat to the mistakes, fraud, and assorted dumb things done by Pinkerton, McClellan, and Lafayette Baker in what I have read so far. It is amazing that the Union didn't go down in flames during the first two years with that trio at work and competing against each other, Lincoln, Seward, and Stanton instead of the Confederates.

So far, Elizabeth Van Lew is coming out a heroine in her attempts at spying on her fellow citizens in Richmond while trying to cover up her whole-hearted support of the Union. I am just getting to the part where George Sharpe is emerging in the field of military intelligence.

A side bonus for me came with a phone call today from a Surratt Society member who had gone to hear the author, Douglas Waller, speak and sign in D.C. this weekend. The member mentioned Surratt House Museum, and Mr. Waller told him to extend his thanks to us for the help we gave him while he was doing his research. Neither our research librarian nor I knew whom we had been helping at that point.