He was the War Department intelligence chief during the American Civil War, a spy, and a colonel in the cavalry. He was put in charge of the investigation of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, was at the capture and death of John Wilkes Booth, and brought away the items in Booth's pockets...including Booth's diary. Lafayette C. Baker's name appears in over 150 New York Times articles between 1861 and 1868. His work was important, well-regarded,and of great interest to the public (at least what could be told publicly). He was in close contact with Abraham Lincoln, Edwin Stanton, and other high officials. When he was accused later of spying on the White House, he was dismissed and set about writing this memoir of his time in service during the Civil War. Conspiracy theories are completely unnecessary to make Lafayette Baker an important and fascinating figure in Civil War history. His writing is intelligent, thrilling, and clearly in earnest. Read him for what he offers to the history of the period and for the associations he had during his life and you'll be more than rewarded for your time.