Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign

How the Critical Role of Intelligence Impacted the Outcome of Lee's Invasion of the North, June–July 1863

Thomas J. Ryan

• Publisher: Savas Beatie
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781611211795
• Topic: Geschichte
• Subtopic: Amerikanische Bürgerkriegsgeschichte

"A fascinating book, and the most detailed account you will find about intelligence operations during the Gettysburg campaign." —Dr. Vince Houghton, Historian/Curator, International Spy Museum, Washington, DC As intelligence experts have long asserted, "Information in regard to the enemy is the indispensable basis of all military plans." Despite the thousands of books and articles written about Gettysburg, Tom Ryan's groundbreaking Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign is the first to offer a unique and incisive comparative study of intelligence operations during what many consider the war's decisive campaign. Based upon years of indefatigable research, the author evaluates how Gen. Robert E. Lee used intelligence resources, including cavalry, civilians, newspapers, and spies to gather information about Union activities during his invasion of the North in June and July 1863, and how this information guided Lee's decision-making. Simultaneously, Ryan explores the effectiveness of the Union Army of the Potomac's intelligence and counterintelligence operations. Both Maj. Gens. Joe Hooker and George G. Meade relied upon cavalry, the Signal Corps, and an intelligence staff known as the Bureau of Military Information that employed innovative concepts to gather, collate, and report vital information from a variety of sources.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• List of Maps
• List of Illustrations
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Acknowledgments
• List of Abbreviations
• Chapter 1: Intelligence Resources: Army of the Potomac
• Chapter 2: Intelligence Resources: Army of Northern Virginia
• Chapter 3: Intelligence Plans and Operations
• Chapter 4: Analyzing the Enemy’s Intentions: Mid-May to Early June
• Chapter 5: Deciphering the Enemy’s Movements: June 3 to 7
• Chapter 6: The Invasion Commences: Struggling to Outwit the Opponent: June 8 to 13
• Chapter 7: Searching for Lee: June 14 to 16
• Chapter 8: Screening the Army from Prying Eyes: June 17 to 21
• Chapter 9: Absence of Coordination Undermines Lee’s Objectives: June 22 to 25
• Chapter 10: Maneuvering for Advantage: June 26 to 27
• Chapter 11: A Spy Brings News of the Enemy: June 28 to 29
• Chapter 12: All Signs Point to Gettysburg: June 30 to July 1
• Chapter 13: Intense Effort to Gain the Intelligence Advantage: July 2
• Chapter 14: Lee’s Flawed Assumptions: July 3
• Chapter 15: Lee Retreats as Meade Deliberates: July 4 to 5
• Chapter 16: A Battle of Wits and a Test of Wills: July 6 to 11
• Chapter 17: The Controversial Escape: July 12 to 14
• Chapter 18: The Intelligence Battle: An Appraisal
• Appendix
• Bibliography