Lincoln's Spymaster: Chapters 3–6

by Samantha Seiple
Hunted by Scottish authorities for fighting for workers' rights, Allan Pinkerton fled in 1842 to America, where he enforced the law as a Chicago police officer before founding both a private detective agency and the federal Secret Service.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Prologue–Chapter 2, Chapters 3–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12, Chapter 13–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ruddy
    inclined to a healthy reddish color
    Lincoln’s adviser, the ruddy-faced senator Norman Judd, who had been waiting with Pinkerton, briefly explained the reason for Pinkerton’s late-night visit.
  2. engagement
    a meeting arranged in advance
    I had made engagements to visit Harrisburg, and go from there to Baltimore, and I resolved to do so.
  3. self-possessed
    calm, composed, and fully in control of oneself
    Pinkerton observed through the entire conversation that Lincoln showed no fear.
    “Calm and self-possessed,” Pinkerton said of Lincoln.
  4. profound
    of the greatest intensity; complete
    “His only sentiments appeared to be those of profound regret, that the Southern sympathizers…consider[ed] his death a necessity for the furtherance of their cause.”
  5. endeavor
    attempt by employing effort
    “I shall endeavor to get away quietly from the people at Harrisburg tomorrow evening,” Lincoln said to Pinkerton.
  6. cipher
    convert ordinary language into code
    At 9:15 p.m., a ciphered telegram arrived at the St. Louis Hotel in Philadelphia. It was addressed to “J. H. Hutchinson.” When decoded, it read—
    “Nuts left at six—Everything as you directed—all is right.”
  7. stealthily
    in a manner marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    When the carriage finally arrived at the PW&B train station, Kate Warne greeted Lincoln and, as part of the cover, acted like he was her brother. While they quickly and stealthily stepped into the train through the back door, one of Pinkerton’s contacts brought an official and very important-looking package to the conductor.
  8. berth
    a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers
    But for now, Lincoln, Pinkerton, and the others were safely in the narrow sleeping berth, sitting on the padded bench that was to be his bed for the night.
  9. flimsy
    lacking solidity or strength
    A flimsy curtain divided them from the other passengers.
  10. resentment
    a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
    “That’s my friend Washburne—don’t you know him?”
    Fearing someone would recognize Lincoln, Pinkerton stood between the two men and said, “No talking here!”
    Pinkerton could see the resentment in Congressman Elihu Washburne’s eyes.
  11. bravado
    a swaggering show of courage
    “Finding that their plans had been discovered,” said Pinkerton, “and fearing that the vengeance of the government were to overtake them, the leading conspirators had suddenly disappeared. All their courage and bravado was gone, and now, like the miserable cowards that they were, they had sought safety in flight.”
  12. momentous
    of very great significance
    “In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country-men, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war,” Lincoln said.
  13. assail
    launch an attack or assault on
    “The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors… We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.”
  14. humanitarian
    of or relating to the promotion of popular welfare
    Not wanting to show aggression toward South Carolina, Lincoln informed the Confederates that he was sending only food and not reinforcements. He told them it was a humanitarian mission.
  15. dire
    fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
    About two weeks later, Pinkerton spy Timothy Webster had a dire problem. Pinkerton had entrusted him to carry important documents that needed to be delivered to President Lincoln in Washington, D.C. The trouble was how to get them there.
  16. dispatch
    an official report, usually sent in haste
    “I am a bearer of dispatches to the British Consul at Washington, and it is of the utmost importance that they should be delivered at once.”
  17. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    As they traveled to Baltimore, the Englishman engaged Webster in a friendly conversation. This was a sudden change in his demeanor, and Webster suspected that the Englishman believed he was a Confederate.
  18. sympathizer
    someone who shares your feelings or opinions
    Soon the Englishman confided in Webster that he was carrying important military dispatches for Southern sympathizers in Washington, D.C.
  19. emissary
    someone sent to represent another's interests
    My companion is an emissary of the Confederacy, carrying dispatches to Southern sympathizers in Washington.
  20. convey
    take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
    If they, with myself at the head, can be at service in any way of obtaining information of the movements of traitors, or safely conveying your letters or dispatches, or that class of Secret Service, which is most dangerous, I am at your command.
  21. fidelity
    the quality of being faithful
    You may safely trust him with any message for me. Written or verbal. I fully guarantee his fidelity.
  22. contemplate
    consider as a possibility
    Secrecy is the great lever I propose to operate with—Hence the necessity of this movement (If you contemplate it) being kept Strictly Private, and that should you desire another interview with the Bearer that you should so arrange it as that he will not be noticed.
  23. comprise
    include or contain
    My Force comprises both sexes. All of Good Character. And well skilled in their business.
  24. mull
    reflect deeply on a subject
    After looking over the documents, Lincoln decided he needed some time to think things over, even though he and his Cabinet members had for some time been mulling over the idea of creating an intelligence-gathering organization.
  25. render
    give or supply
    “Mr. Webster, you have rendered the country an invaluable service,” said Lincoln.
  26. disclose
    make known to the public information previously kept secret
    The bearer of dispatches who was arrested last evening by your efforts, proved, as you suspected, to be an emissary of the South, and the letters found upon him disclose a state of affairs quite alarming.
  27. furnish
    give something useful or necessary to
    Several prominent families here are discovered to be in regular communication with the Southern leaders and are furnishing them with every item of information.
  28. fortification
    a defensive structure
    McClellan needed more information about the locations of the Confederate fortifications in Virginia.
  29. oust
    remove from a position or office
    He was planning to oust the Confederates in western Virginia.
  30. abject
    most unfortunate or miserable
    He had also grown up in abject poverty, being the son of an illiterate weaver.
  31. charismatic
    possessing an extraordinary ability to attract
    Pleased with his convincing disguise, the charismatic and confident Lewis decided to call himself Lord Tracy.
  32. promptly
    at once (usually modifies an undesirable occurrence)
    Irritated for being rudely awakened, Pryce Lewis told them that he wasn’t aware that a vacationing Englishman needed a pass to travel through the South. Lewis was promptly taken to a nearby farmhouse for questioning.
  33. riddle
    spread or diffuse through
    But it was a sleepless night; Lewis was riddled with anxiety.
  34. vivacious
    vigorous and animated
    Elwood sat nervously in a chair—until the vivacious socialite Rose Greenhow swept into the room.
  35. cordially
    in a politely friendly manner
    Rose Greenhow cordially welcomed him into her home.
  36. indignation
    a feeling of righteous anger
    He could see that it was a map of the planned fortifications in and around Washington, D.C., in anticipation of a Confederate attack.
    “My blood boiled with indignation as I witnessed this scene,” said Pinkerton.
  37. miscreant
    a person without moral scruples
    “And I longed to rush into the room and strangle the miscreant.”
  38. pelt
    rain heavily
    “Without paying any attention to the fact that I was without shoes, I started in pursuit of him,” said Pinkerton. “And through the blinding mist and pelting storms kept him in view as he rapidly walked away.”
  39. survey
    look over carefully or inspect
    “I was a sorry figure to look at,” said Pinkerton. “And as I surveyed my weather-soaked and mud-stained garments, and my bare feet, I could scarcely repress a laugh, although I was deeply angered at the sudden and unexpected turn affairs had taken.”
  40. inimical
    tending to obstruct or cause harm
    “Did you see anyone last evening who is inimical to the cause of the government?”
Created on Thu Jul 04 09:24:19 EDT 2024 (updated Fri Jul 05 11:04:43 EDT 2024)

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