Samuel M. Bridgeman was a sailor, a soldier, a detective, and a scout. His hard work and perseverance helped him build a brilliant career in the U.S. Army, law enforcement, and the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. You can read more about his life, which was like an exciting adventure novel, on chicago-yes.com.
Serving in the Mexican-American War
Samuel was born in Fairfax, Virginia, in 1818. At 20 years old, young and in incredible physical shape, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent three years traveling the world. In 1846, when the Mexican-American War broke out, Bridgeman left the Marines and began serving in the Third U.S. Cavalry Regiment. Throughout the war, he earned a reputation as a sharpshooter. After he was wounded, his bravery earned him a promotion to sergeant.
After the Mexican-American War, he joined the New York City Police Department, where he met Allan Pinkerton. Pinkerton, who wanted to improve his elite detective unit in Chicago, worked with George H. Bangs and William G. Scott to recruit Bridgeman.
It’s worth noting that a few years later, at the start of the Civil War in 1861, when Allan Pinkerton was appointed head of the Union Secret Service, he invited several of his agents to join him. Although Bridgeman was born in Virginia, south of the Mason-Dixon Line, he was loyal to his flag and joined Pinkerton on the battlefield without a moment’s hesitation. The military had prepared him well for his new role as a scout, giving him the valuable skills and understanding he needed.
Operation “X”
In one of his diaries, Pinkerton wrote that Bridgeman was a cheerful, good-natured, and witty young man who had repeatedly proven his trustworthiness.
In 1861, Samuel Bridgeman completed his first feat. He crossed the Confederate front line and went to Western Virginia to gather information about the Army of Northern Virginia and General Henry Wise, who at the time was the governor of Virginia. Wise had ordered the execution of abolitionist John Brown after the incident at Harpers Ferry.
Pinkerton sent Bridgeman and his partner, fellow scout Price Lewis, to General Wise’s headquarters in the South. The two posed as coachmen with forged documents. The young men traveled together through New York, Baltimore, and Washington, observing and collecting information on Confederate spies.
Over the next few weeks, the “Englishmen” became favorites among the Southern officers. Pinkerton had supplied them with champagne, port wine, and cigars, helping Lewis build trust. Lewis entertained the officers with exciting stories about his supposed service in Crimea. His charm and popularity earned him an invitation to the Confederate camp, where he had dinner with the officers.
Unlike Bridgeman, who acted as the “servant,” Lewis was able to mingle with the enlisted men and other staff, who willingly shared important information. The team carefully observed and later recorded all the details of the camp, including the location of the 5,000 soldiers under Wise’s command.
Leaving their post, Bridgeman and Lewis headed toward Richmond, Virginia, but took a detour on a route that Samuel had previously scouted through the roads of Kentucky, Western Virginia, and Ohio. They eventually returned to the Secret Service headquarters in Cincinnati.
The information they obtained helped General McClellan and the Army of the Potomac achieve their first victories in the Civil War at the Battles of Rich Mountain and Laurel Hill. Pinkerton reported that Lewis made the most of every opportunity, gaining a complete understanding of everything that mattered. He provided a very satisfactory report of his work. Samuel Bridgeman was not idle either; he freely spoke with soldiers, which allowed him to learn a lot about the local conditions. This information proved to be extremely useful after the campaign in Western Virginia.
Return to Chicago and Continued Service at Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency
After the war, Bridgeman returned to Chicago, where he continued to work as a Pinkerton agent until he retired in 1891. At that time, he was recognized as the agency’s longest-serving employee, both in years and seniority. He passed away in December 1894 at the age of 76. Recalling Bridgeman, William A. Pinkerton noted that he had known the man very well his entire life. Bridgeman had joined the agency when he and his brother were just young boys. Furthermore, Samuel had rendered a great service to the government as a guide, spy, and scout. He was one of those who took part in uncovering the plot to assassinate President Lincoln in 1861. Among his colleagues, Bridgeman was popular and respected. He was well-known and had many friends among the staff officers of the Army of the Potomac. Samuel Bridgeman’s bravery and skill allowed him to achieve success and be of great service to his country.