I've always been interested in small obscure units and studying the mico historic elements of the WBTS. One thing I have always been interested is Spys and small Scouts units. I am reading "fagots from the campfire" right now and am enjoying it.
I was wondering if the term spy and scout were synonymous. Some of the mounted units that were independent scouting companies seem to be really regular cavalry used as far forward reconnasance and clothed in regular uniform. Scouts who reported to the provost martial look like they operated covertly, but really from reading would have been easily identified as such because they seemed to be much better armed than the regular citizen. One questions is wouldn't it have been obvious what these men were up to if spotted and wouldn't they be under suspicion since they were typically young men of military age. Did these men wear civilian clothes or uniforms? Spys who operated individually seem to really gather much more secretive material than those simply operating within enemy lines. Were innocent men hung for being mistaken for scouts? Are my assessments correct?
Also does anyone have any good sources material to study on this? I have studied a couple of units that operated as scouts (Nutt's Louisiana Cav. Company - attached to Granbury's Brig.) and am quite intrigued by their operations. Does anyone do this as an impression and is there any room for such and impression? It seems to me it would only be effective in a tactical/campaign style event.
I was wondering if the term spy and scout were synonymous. Some of the mounted units that were independent scouting companies seem to be really regular cavalry used as far forward reconnasance and clothed in regular uniform. Scouts who reported to the provost martial look like they operated covertly, but really from reading would have been easily identified as such because they seemed to be much better armed than the regular citizen. One questions is wouldn't it have been obvious what these men were up to if spotted and wouldn't they be under suspicion since they were typically young men of military age. Did these men wear civilian clothes or uniforms? Spys who operated individually seem to really gather much more secretive material than those simply operating within enemy lines. Were innocent men hung for being mistaken for scouts? Are my assessments correct?
Also does anyone have any good sources material to study on this? I have studied a couple of units that operated as scouts (Nutt's Louisiana Cav. Company - attached to Granbury's Brig.) and am quite intrigued by their operations. Does anyone do this as an impression and is there any room for such and impression? It seems to me it would only be effective in a tactical/campaign style event.
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