June 14, 1821
It
was difficult to be a Union Spy during the war. My name is John McMahon and I
have been a spy for the north since the Civil War began. My job was to spy on
Robert E. Lee. I kept the Union informed
of his plans and what was happening next. I had to pretend to be a soldier in
his army so I could find out everything I could about his plans. My life was always in danger, and I was
always thinking about what to do next so I didn't get caught. If I was captured,
I would surely be put to death. I have
gained the trust of many spies in the last several years, including the most
successful Federal spy of the war, Elizabeth Van Lew.
I
had to sneak away often to meet Elizabeth.
She was a spy who was allowed into Libby Prison in Richmond. She
pretended to be a caring woman who wanted to take care of the prisoners, but
she was actually sneaking information in and out of the prison. I have been
told she would bake cakes and hide small pieces of paper, or tear out the
spines of books and hide information there. "Libby" also helped
people escape. She was such a good spy she was able to sneak into Jefferson
Davis's home by convincing one of her former slaves to get a job there. The
former slave would give Libby information about the activities taking place
there and Davis's plans for the future.
Today
it is the middle of June in 1821. One day during the war I received a letter
from another spy which was hidden inside the sole of my boot. As I was reading
it, my Captain saw me and asked what it was. I didn't know what else to do so I
put it in my mouth and swallowed it. My captain just looked and me and mumbled
something under his breath. The letter told me about another spy working in a
unit not far from there. There are many of us working for the North. Our spies
are even posing as kitchen help in some of the homes of the South's greatest
leaders. We played an important role in
the Civil War.
John
M.
