Third Thursday Lecture - Espionage During the Civil War

Join historian S. Derby Gisclair at the East Bank Regional Library on Thursday, July 16, at 7 pm for a compelling lecture titled "Espionage During the Civil War." This presentation delves into the covert intelligence operations that unfolded in New Orleans—a critical city for the Confederacy and a strategic gateway to the Mississippi River—during the American Civil War. It highlights the transformation of the city into a counterintelligence state under Union General Benjamin Butler's authority, exploring key episodes such as Confederate intelligence failures that aided Admiral Farragut's takeover, clandestine smuggling routes, and significant incidents like the interception of contraband letters on Lake Pontchartrain. The lecture also pays tribute to pivotal figures in this shadowy world, including Pauline Cushman, Eugenia Levy Phillips, and formerly enslaved African Americans such as Mary Elizabeth Bowser, William A. Jackson, and Mary Louvestre, whose contributions were vital to military and naval strategies. The discussion wraps up by examining espionage techniques, the penalties for spies, and the archival difficulties posed by lost Confederate records, revealing how these hidden battles shaped the Civil War experience in New Orleans. A lifelong New Orleans resident and accomplished author, Gisclair is also an active member of the Society of American Baseball Research and has published several works, including histories on baseball and boxing in the region.