Labourer, Maid, Slave, Spy

Black Espionage and the Richmond Underground

Abstract

This paper examines the role played by Black spies working on behalf of the Union during the American Civil War. It looks specifically at the Richmond-based Van Lew spy ring, and the integral role played by Black spies in many of its intelligence gathering efforts as well as secret operations designed to impede the Confederate war effort. It makes the case that the contribution of these Black spies was essential for the Van Lew spy ring to become the most successful secret service of the latter half of the American Civil War.