Union Intelligence Officer's Notebook, 1864-1865

Summary

Creator:

Anonymous

Abstract:

During the Civil War, intelligence on enemy forces was gathered from a variety of sources. This notebook includes meticulously recorded information on Confederate emplacements, strength, troop movements, and morale, gathered from debriefings of deserters, prisoners of war, civilians, and refugees.

Extent:

391 pages

Language:

English

Sponsor:

James S. Schoff Civil War Collection

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Rob S. Cox

Background

Scope and Content:

The name of the intelligence officer who kept the "Union Intelligence Officer's" journal is unknown, as it probably should be. To use the term "spy" would probably be somewhat misleading, for the notebook consists of information culled largely from debriefings of deserters, prisoners of war, civilians, and refugees, rather than from the sorts of covert operations typically associated with spies. But it is clear that the man who kept the notebook was charged with obtaining, recording, and analyzing the immense volume of randomly scattered facts

The notebook includes meticulously recorded information on Confederate emplacements, strength, troop movements, and morale, and is made more valuable in that every informant is named and identified as to regiment and location. In many cases, the intelligence officer provided sketch maps of positions which, while skeletal, can be highly informative. At the end of the journal, perhaps in idle moments, he sketched out caricatures of a soldier, a civilian (?), and a Union shield.

Biographical / Historical:

During the Civil War, intelligence on enemy forces was gathered from a variety of sources, from refugees, deserters, prisoners of war, and covert observation, to name just a few. The length and massive scale of the operations during the Petersburg Campaign of 1864-65 made intelligence gathering of vital importance.

Acquisition Information:

Donated, 1979. M-1883 .

Custodial History:

Donated to the Clements Library in 1979 by Dr. John C. Dann.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Spies--United States.
Military deserters--Confederate States of America.

Places:

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Secret service.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Military intelligence.
Virginia--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Petersburg (Va.)--History--Siege, 1864-1865.