John Burke (spy)
Encyclopedia
John Burke was a Confederate
adjutant general
of Texas
and spy
. He was born in Pennsylvania
. He was left an orphan by age 11. He spent many of his young days in New York
doing work on the piers. He was known for doing daredevil type stunts, such as jumping from High Bridge
. At some point he made his way to Texas. There he studied law
at night and was a cobbler
by day. He joined the Confederacy and was a member of the famous Hood's Brigade briefly until he became scout
. He served early in the war as a scout for P.G.T. Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston
and J.E.B. Stuart
. Later in the war he was commissioned as a spy
by Robert E. Lee
and went as far behind Union lines as New York
, and Lee soon considered him his "favorite spy". He had many adventures and several escapes from capture. These include stories of leaping from a train while it was crossing a high trestle, hiding under a lady's petticoats to hide from Union soldiers who were chasing him, and hiding between mattresses to escape detection. His covert activities exhausted him and he returned to his home in Marshall, Texas
, where he was appointed by Governor Pendleton Murrah
, who was his brother in law, as adjutant general
of Texas. He married Martha Virginia Taylor in 1865. He retreated to Mexico
with Murrah after the defeat of the Confederacy, but returned to Marshall to practice law after Murrah's death. He died in 1871 in Jefferson, Texas
.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
. He was born in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was left an orphan by age 11. He spent many of his young days in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
doing work on the piers. He was known for doing daredevil type stunts, such as jumping from High Bridge
High Bridge (New York City)
The High Bridge is a steel arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan...
. At some point he made his way to Texas. There he studied law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at night and was a cobbler
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
by day. He joined the Confederacy and was a member of the famous Hood's Brigade briefly until he became scout
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
. He served early in the war as a scout for P.G.T. Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
and J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart
James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was a U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use...
. Later in the war he was commissioned as a spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
by Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
and went as far behind Union lines as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Lee soon considered him his "favorite spy". He had many adventures and several escapes from capture. These include stories of leaping from a train while it was crossing a high trestle, hiding under a lady's petticoats to hide from Union soldiers who were chasing him, and hiding between mattresses to escape detection. His covert activities exhausted him and he returned to his home in Marshall, Texas
Marshall, Texas
Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...
, where he was appointed by Governor Pendleton Murrah
Pendleton Murrah
Pendleton Murrah was the tenth Governor of Texas. His term in office coincided with the American Civil War.A native of South Carolina, Murrah graduated from Brown University in 1848. He moved to Texas and opened a law practice in Marshall. He ran and was defeated for the U.S...
, who was his brother in law, as adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of Texas. He married Martha Virginia Taylor in 1865. He retreated to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with Murrah after the defeat of the Confederacy, but returned to Marshall to practice law after Murrah's death. He died in 1871 in Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
.