A Union Cipher

History Archives - Futility Closet · May 11, 2026

This baffling message illustrates a cipher adopted by the Union Army in 1862: TO GEORGE C. MAYNARD, Washington Regulars ordered of my to public out suspending received 1862 spoiled thirty I dispatch command of continue of best otherwise worst Arabia my command discharge duty of my last for Lincoln September period your from sense shall duties the until Seward ability to the I a removal evening Adam herald tribune. PHILIP BRUNER The address and signature are “covers” that don’t enter into the cipher. The first word, Regulars, is a code indicating that the original message had…