1861-1865 —
Allan Pinkerton recruits the first African-American Union Intelligence Agent, John Scobell, recruited in the fall of 1861. Scobell had been a slave in Mississippi but had been well educated by his owner, a Scotsman who subsequently freed him. He was quick-witted and an accomplished role player, which permitted him to function in several different identities on various missions, including food vendor, cook, or laborer. He often worked with other Pinkerton agents, sometimes playing the role of their servant while in the South. He worked with
Timothy Webster, perhaps Pinkerton’s best agent, on missions into Virginia and also with Mrs.
Hattie Lawton, Pinkerton’s best female operative. He worked for Pinkerton from late 1861 until the intelligence chief closed down his operations in November 1862. | Source:
The Life of John Scobell
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