Timothy Webster, an agent for the @Pinkerton National Detective Agency and spy for the U.S., was born #OTD in 1822. Shortly after the #CivilWar began, Webster and a female agent, Hattie Lawton, were sent by into southern Maryland and @RichmondNPS to spy on the confederacy.
Posing as husband and wife, Webster and Lawton gained the trust of confederate officers, learning valuable information that they sent north to Allan Pinkerton. Webster fell ill in early 1862 and could not send reports, prompting Pinkerton send two other agents to look for him.
Those men, Pryce Lewis and John Scully, were recognized and captured, and gave information that led to the arrests of Webster and Lawson. Lewis and Scully were released, and Lawson was imprisoned before being exchanged, but Webster was sentenced to death by hanging.
Upon learning of the sentence, Pinkerton advised President Lincoln, who sent a message south warning that if Webster was hanged a confederate spy would be executed in return. The message was ignored, and Webster was hanged on April 29, 1862, the first spy executed during the war.
Three months later, Webster’s son, Timothy Jr., joined the U.S. Army. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Brices Crossroads in June, 1864, and died a month later at a confederate prison camp. His body and his father’s were returned to Illinois and are buried together.
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