The Pinkerton's: "We Never Sleep"

"and I have related these facts... to give the public a single illustration, out of thousands upon my records, of how men must overcome every known obstacle while leading the hard life of the detective." (688, citation below)

A shoemaker by trade, Scottish-born Allan Pinkerton exposed a counterfeiting ring founded the North- Western Detective Agency (later the Pinkerton National Detective Agency) in 1850 in a Masonic Hall in Chicago, IL.

Often employing those who were easily overlooked by American society (women and minorities), Pinkerton and his agents foiled assassination plots, spied on Confederate forces, and set the groundwork for both sleuthing out both criminals and "undesirables."

Kate Warne is recognized as the first American female detective, hired by Pinkerton in 1856. Later appointed to the role of Supervisor of the Pinkerton's Female Detective Bureau, Warne is credited with the foiling of the Baltimore Plot of 1861--an assassination attempt against then President-elect Lincoln.

She would go on to infiltrate Southern social gatherings, gathering intel on Confederate activities throughout the Civil War. Pinkerton relied on her expertise and experience regularly, even coining the agencies motto ("we never sleep") after her diligence in remaining awake and alert while escorting Lincoln to safety during the Baltimore Plot

Pictured here with President Lincoln and Major General McClernand, Pinkerton and his agents served as spies and counter-intelligence officers during the Civil War.

Union generals, especially General-in-chief George McClellan, relied extensively on intelligence gathered by the Pinkerton's. However, Pinkerton's intelligence was often outdated, or greatly conflated Confederate numbers.

McClellan is often criticized for his hesitancy to follow victories through. One explanation for this was the questionable reports he received from Pinkerton's agents. Many military historians agree that his approach prolonged the conflict and resulted in more casualties.

Following the Civil War, Pinkerton moved many of his agents out West, pursuing famed railroad thieves, bank robbers, and other outlaws. Among these were Jesse James' Gang, the Reno Gang, and the Wild Bunch (including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Pinkerton agents such as Kate Warne and Charles Siringo received distinction for their work in these manhunts.

While the Pinkerton's captured several high profile targets, more notorious outlaws eluded them. As the 19th century waned, the Pinkerton's evolved to a changing social and political climate--from detectives to strikebreakers.

Charles Siringo was one of the most successful Pinkerton agents in the West following the Civil War. Rubbing shoulders with Wyatt Earp and Tom Horn, Siringo was responsible for several daring captures of outlaws.

He also famously infiltrated the Wild Bunch in 1897 and sabotaged their activities for years, posing as a gunman on-the-run named Charles L. Carter. However, he was unable to capture any of their members.

Siringo attempted to publish his adventures and memoirs as a "Cowboy detective", but was blocked several times by the Pinkerton Agency. Their relationship soured, and in his later years he was a vehement critic of the Pinkerton's, publishing another volume entitled: Two Evil Isms: Pinkertonism and Anarchism.

"my agencies have been busily employed by great railway, manufacturing and other corporations, for the purpose of bringing the [labor union] leaders and instigators of the dark deeds of those days to the punishment they so richly deserve. Hundreds have been punished. Hundreds more will be punished." (x, emphasis added, citation below)

While an ardent abolitionist, Allan Pinkerton was deeply suspicious to labor movements. From its earliest days, Pinkerton agents were used to spy on labor reform advocates. As the 1800's came to a close, the fear of Communism increased their efforts, and the Pinkerton's transitioned from detectives and spies to strongmen and militias-for-hire.

In 1892, 300 Pinkerton agents employed by Carnegie Steel attacked striking mill workers occupying the town of Homestead, PA. The resulting battle left dozens of casualties on both sides, and the aggressing Pinkerton militia in disgrace.

"To be confronted with a gang of loafers and cut-throats from all over the country, coming there, as they (the Pinkerton militia) thought, to take their (the striking workers') jobs, why, [the workers] naturally wanted to go down and defend their homes and their property and their lives, with force, if necessary." - a steel worker

Similar anti-union conflicts occurred throughout the country including the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, the Battle of Blair Mountain, WV, and the murder of labor leader Frank Little in Butte, MT.

Public outcry following these events led to the Anti-Pinkerton Act of 1893, forbidding the federal government from contracting Pinkerton agents. Unfazed, the Pinkerton's continued to operate throughout the US for the next several decades in the employ of private contractors, as well as expanding their organization internationally.

Today, the Pinkerton's may not be patrolling the "lawless frontier" for train robbers or serving as Andrew Carnegie's personal militia. However, their skills and tactics--and their brutal reputations--have evolved and thrived in the modern age.

The Pinkerton's expanded internationally, taking contracts with governments (other than the US), corporations, and powerful individuals. These contracts ranged from detection and surveillance to security, intimidation, and infiltration. They also carried out sporadic assassination contracts throughout the 20th century.

The Agency was incorporated in 1920, and is now owned by Securitas AB--a Swedish company specializing in corporate security, data analytics, investigation, and client consultation. The Pinkerton's, once a Private Detective Agency, are now settled into their new role as "corporate risk management."

Now using advanced monitoring and criminal profiling systems, the Pinkerton's work to identify threats before they happen, and to respond swiftly and aggressively when they do. According to a New York Times Magazine article published in 2019, one of the specific services marketed by the company is Pinkerton Dedicated Professional, in which Pinkerton agents discreetly join a client company's workforce to provide intel on employees to the client. They also employ similar tactics in labor unions, fermenting divisions and providing intel for company executives during strikes. The article continues:

"Pinkerton stands to compete more directly with traditional consulting firms like Deloitte, which offer pre- and postdisaster services (supply-chain monitoring, damage documentation, etc.), but which cannot, say, dispatch a helicopter full of armed guards to Guatemala in an afternoon. In theory, Pinkerton can do both — a fully militarized managerial class at corporate disposal."

There is so much more to the Pinkerton's than meets the eye, even one that doesn't close. We conclude with their own words:

"From brains to boots, we purposefully infuse integrity, vigilance, and excellence into our work... At Pinkerton, we never sleep."