Civil War Spies Behind Enemy Lines

by Camilla J. Wilson

CIVIL WAR SPIES BEHIND ENEMY LINES - They never led armies into battle. They worked in the shadows. Now you can meet these and other real-life spies on both sides of the American Civil The private detective who foiled an assassination plot on Abraham Lincoln; The brave woman who operated a major Union spy ring - in the capital of the Confederacy; The young southern scout who made the ultimate sacrifice... You will never forget their incredible true stories!

Genres: History, Civil War

104 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sonyajohnston]

This was a book I bought from Scholastic book orders for my classroom. We study the Civil War and I thought I would read it to add to my information on the subject. I learned things I didn't know and even got introduced to some spies I had never heard before. One of the stories for sure I think could be made into a movie it is so exciting, and interesting. I read one of the stories to my students and they kept asking me if it was true. That's only because it was so fascinating and fun to follow. One of my students begged to borrow the book to read after he heard the one story.

[Greg Chandler]

Writing is straightforward if a little dry, but the stories of these spies are intriguing. Alan Pinkerton is well known, as us Harriet Tubman. John Scobell was an ex-slave who became an extraordinary spy, using many of his pre-at contacts in gathering information. Benjamin Stringfellow was rejected repeatedly when he tried to enlist. Considered too frail for a soldier. As a spy, he used his slight frame to his advantage. It made it easier for him to hide. It also made him a convincing woman when in disguise- even alluring when he attended a ball and danced with several men. Elizabeth Van Lew was credited after the war for her immense help in service to the Union effort. While delivering food to starving Union prisoners, she was able to gather reconnaissance and used cyphers and hidden messages to pass the intel to the north. May Surratt was n the wrong place at the wrong time, hung as a spy following Lincoln’s assassination. She ran a boarding house. One of her brothers engaged in an unfulfilled conspiracy with John Wilkes Booth to kidnap Lincoln. Booth stayed occasionally at the boarding house. Surratt was found guilty by association by a military tribunal ( before the SCOTUS declared the practice of trying civilians by the military as unconstitutional).

[Hannah Gold-Garvey]

Civil War Spies: Behind Enemy Lines, is an informational nonfiction social studies text which tells the personal stories of the men and women who spied for both sides of the Civil War. Civil War Spies takes an a neutral perspective of the Civil War, detailing the stories of Union and Confederate spies and their subsequent punishments. The book is organized into chapters in which each chapter covers the story of a different spy.

[Kim Dennis]

I waffled between three and four stars for this. It was a nice book, but it was for a slightly younger audience than I teach. I can use some of the stories in my 8th grade history class, but it wasn't a book I was able to get a lot out of for teaching purposes.

[Wyatt Robinson]

Civil War Spies Behind Enemy Lines is quite an interesting book with each individual chapter giving a mini biography and story of the different famous spies of the Civil War.The book also goes into depth about each spies most memorable stories and what they did to be remembered the way they are.

[Nancy]

Incredible bravery on behalf of those who risked their lives for what they believed.

[Miriam]

Allen Pinkerton
Courier Sam Davis
John Scobell
Mary Surratt
Benjamin Franklin Stringfellow
Elizabeth Van Lew and her Spy Network
Harriet Tubman

[Penny Ginn]

I enjoyed reading about the spies and learning their stories. However, the writing itself was not very good. The author seemed to jump around a good bit in some of the stories.

[Kyle Garrow]

The book is about many different people that had a big affect in the war. There were people like spies and slaves and more types of people in the book. I like this book because it talks about different people in each chapter and its like a little biography along with a story about how the had a huge impact on the civil war. Another reason why i like this book is because the author explains it so well and he gets down to really good detail. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in history and war. Its an easy book to read which makes it better. I recommend it to everyone of course but this book behind enemy lines is meant for history or non fiction people.

[Laura]

This book was an interesting historical read. It had some fascinating new stories that I wasn't familiar with and some old ones that I learned a few new details about. It is a short read and would make a good addition to any American History class. I am always looking for good books for the classroom.

[Sethaniel Kraudy]

it was ok but i think the detail was bad i could think about some thing she could do like the tavern what was it like . peple hue like advture woulf like this book there is many storys in it it is how civil war spies

[Ms. Mielke's Class Make sure you post how your sheets tell you to!!!!]

I thought it was okay. The only thing I didn't like is that I get confused about everything that happens. If you like history than this is your kind of book. RH

[Chandler]

I think the book had n real plot. The book jumped around to different topics and really made no sense to me.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14565468