Lincoln's Spymaster Allan Pinkerton

[Thomas Kearney]

Anyone herd of this book? Even though it is aimed at kids, I'm using this a source material for my episode on the Baltimore Plot, scheduled to hit YouTube February 19. In addition to the Baltimore Plot, the book focuses on the life of Pinkerton, including chasing the real Butch Cassidy. If you have a kid or grand kid, I would recommend this as a stocking stuffer.

[Gene C]

Looks interesting Thomas.

https://www.amazon.com/Lincolns-Spymaste...rivate+eye

[wpbinzel]

Thomas -- Good luck with the project. Despite his very self-serving The Spy of the Rebellion published in 1888, my very limited research on Pinkerton as "the head of McClellan's secret service" reflects poorly on him as he fed into McClellan's "case of the slows" due to Pinkerton's gross inflation of the size of opposing Confederate troops. If you need some references, McPherson and Sears come immediately to mind and I'd be happy to send specifics.

[Thomas Kearney]

(11-25-2016 04:47 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  Thomas -- Good luck with the project. Despite his very self-serving The Spy of the Rebellion published in 1888, my very limited research on Pinkerton as "the head of McClellan's secret service" reflects poorly on him as he fed into McClellan's "case of the slows" due to Pinkerton's gross inflation of the size of opposing Confederate troops. If you need some references, McPherson and Sears come immediately to mind and I'd be happy to send specifics.

I would like that!

[wpbinzel]

(11-25-2016 06:47 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  I would like that!

For what immediately comes to mind, see:

James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 361, note 38; Stephen W. Sears, To the Gates of Richmond (New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1992), pp. 98-99; Stephen W. Sears, George B. McClellan the Young Napoleon (New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1988), p. 179; Shelby Foote, The Civil War - A Narrative (New York: Random House, 1958), p.467; Allan Nevins, The War for the Union (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1959), vol. I, pp. 300-1.

Of course, that is just a preliminary and partial list, but it should give you a flavor of how historians view Pinkerton and his "service" to McClellan.

[Thomas Kearney]

(11-26-2016 01:34 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  

(11-25-2016 06:47 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  I would like that!

For what immediately comes to mind, see:

James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 361, note 38; Stephen W. Sears, To the Gates of Richmond (New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1992), pp. 98-99; Stephen W. Sears, George B. McClellan the Young Napoleon (New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1988), p. 179; Shelby Foote, The Civil War - A Narrative (New York: Random House, 1958), p.467; Allan Nevins, The War for the Union (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1959), vol. I, pp. 300-1.

Of course, that is just a preliminary and partial list, but it should give you a flavor of how historians view Pinkerton and his "service" to McClellan.

I see a trip to the library this week!

[Gene C]

See if your library has a copy of "The Secret War For the Union" by Edwin Fishel.
Especially Chpt. 5 entitled - Mr. Pinkerton's Unique Arithmetic.

[wpbinzel]

(11-26-2016 04:27 PM)Gene C Wrote:  See if your library has a copy of "The Secret War For the Union" by Edwin Fishel.
Especially Chpt. 5 entitled - Mr. Pinkerton's Unique Arithmetic.

Excellent cite, Gene. In addition to Chapter 5, Chapter 6 deals with McClellan's missteps on the Peninsula because of his (willing) reliance on Pinkerton's "intel." Also, see Appendix 6, on pp. 581-7.

[Thomas Kearney]

My library has Shelby Foote's The Civil War in 3 volumes. Which volume do I find the information I need in? The only other book my library has is The Battle Cry of Freedom.

[wpbinzel]

(11-27-2016 03:22 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  My library has Shelby Foote's The Civil War in 3 volumes. Which volume do I find the information I need in? The only other book my library has is The Battle Cry of Freedom.

My reference was to Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville, which was published in 1958. Volume II was published in 1963; and Volume III was published in 1974.

[Thomas Kearney]

(11-27-2016 08:32 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  

(11-27-2016 03:22 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  My library has Shelby Foote's The Civil War in 3 volumes. Which volume do I find the information I need in? The only other book my library has is The Battle Cry of Freedom.

My reference was to Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville, which was published in 1958. Volume II was published in 1963; and Volume III was published in 1974.

Thank. Just sent in a request for the book!