S8 Ep1004: Patrick K. O'Donnell highlights Harry Harrison Young, a fearless commander who led the Jesse Scouts as a strategic asset for Phil Sheridan in 1865. Disguised in Confederate uniforms, these scouts provided real-time intelligence and delivered critical mess
The Jesse Scouts, a covert Union unit led by the fearless Harry Harrison Young, played a decisive role in turning the tide of the Civil War in 1865—despite being disguised as Confederates and operating deep behind enemy lines. Patrick K. O'Donnell reveals how Young, a 5'5" commander with a chameleon-like ability to assume multiple identities, transformed these irregular forces into a strategic asset for Philip Sheridan. Their missions—ranging from ambushes and intelligence gathering to delivering life-or-death messages through 100 miles of enemy territory—were instrumental in Sheridan’s campaign to break out of Winchester, link up with Grant, and ultimately force Lee’s retreat from Petersburg. The Scouts’ sabotage of Confederate supply lines, including intercepting orders for food at Amelia Courthouse and diverting trains, crippled Lee’s logistics at a critical moment. Their real-time intelligence and psychological warfare—such as feeding false information to Confederate operatives—created the fog that enabled Sheridan’s lightning-fast pursuit. As Lee’s army starved and disintegrated, the Jesse Scouts, alongside the U.S. Colored Troops, sealed the fate at Appomattox, proving that the war’s end was not just won on the battlefield but orchestrated in the shadows.
The Jesse Scouts operated in Confederate uniforms to gather real-time intelligence and sabotage Confederate logistics during Sheridan's 1865 campaign.
Harry Harrison Young, a 5'5" commander, led the Scouts with reckless daring and used deception, including impersonating Confederate officers and recruiting soldiers under false pretenses.
The Scouts delivered a critical message to Grant through 100 miles of enemy territory, wrapped in tinfoil and hidden in their mouths, confirming Sheridan would join Grant—not Sherman.
Jesse Scouts intercepted Confederate supply orders at Amelia Courthouse, leading to starvation when boxcars contained caissons and uniforms instead of food.
They directed Confederate forces to wrong locations and captured supply trains, crippling Lee’s ability to sustain his retreat.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introducing the Jesse Scouts and Harry Harrison Young
“These are the irregular forces of the Union and the Confederacy, the untold story of Lincoln's special forces.”
Young Takes Command and Tests the Scouts
“It's sort of a suicide mission, but he wants to demonstrate just sort of their mettle and how tough they are.”
Disguise, Deception, and Intelligence Gathering
“He goes into a southern recruiting station and recruits soldiers under disguise.”
The Strategic Use of Disinformation
Sheridan uses captured Confederate operatives as double agents, feeding them false information about his plans. This deception allows him to break out of Winchester and move toward Grant without detection.
The Epic Mission to Deliver Sheridan’s Message
“In their mouths are written words that are wrapped in tinfoil to deliver to General Grant of what Sheridan intends to do.”
“And instead, to their utter horror, when they open up the boxcars, they find like caissons and uniforms. So they're starving.”
“And in their mouths are written words that are wrapped in tinfoil to deliver to General Grant of what Sheridan intends to do,”
“The army exists on logistics, not on gunfire. And right now, Lee's logistics are interrupted by the Jesse Scouts working for Phil Sheridan.”
Host
Guest
Harry Harrison Young
person
Philip Sheridan
person
Patrick K. O'Donnell
person
Robert E. Lee
person
Grant
person
Archibald Rowan
person
Five Forks
place
U.S. Colored Troops
organization
Sergeant McCabe
person
Amelia Courthouse
place
#529- THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN (Part the Twenty-seventh)
25m • 6/1/2026
S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell describes how in early 1944, Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder and Major Max F. Schneider arrived at Paddington Station in London for a top-secret briefing regarding the most dangerous mission of D-Day. Their objective was to neutr
10m • 6/8/2026
S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell recounts how between 7:20 and 8:00 a.m., the Rangers began their assault using rocket-propelled grappling hooks to fire wet ropes up the 90-foot cliffs. The climb was conducted under intense fire from German MG42 machine guns and "pot
11m • 6/8/2026
S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell recounts how in late summer 1944, the Rangers were assigned to assist in capturing the port of Brest, a fortress Hitler ordered to be held at all costs. During a scouting mission, Lieutenant Edlund and three scouts discovered a narrow
12m • 6/8/2026
S8 Ep980: Patrick K. O'Donnell describes how over the next 40 hours, the Rangers on Hill 400 withstood five major German counterattacks and a relentless artillery barrage. Fifteen battalions of German artillery conducted "time on target" missions, raining shells do
11m • 6/8/2026
S8 Ep946: STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JBS, FEATURING BLISS AND VLAHOS. 5-29-2026 1890 TROJAN WAR.
58m • 5/30/2026
S8 Ep947: SCHEDULE THE JBS, 5-29-26. 457 THE AMBROSIAN ILIAD.R
58m • 5/30/2026
S8 Ep948: (1) James Tabor introduces the historical Mary through the city of Sepphoris, the urban capital of Galilee located just miles from Nazareth. Unlike the small village of Nazareth, Sepphoris was a bustling Roman "jewel" where Mary was born to parents Joachi
12m • 5/31/2026
S8 Ep948: (3) James Tabor analyzes the Protevangelium of James, a mid-second-century text that established the tradition of Mary's perpetual virginity and her upbringing as a "vestal-like" figure in the temple. He contrasts this theological portrait with the histor
12m • 5/31/2026
S8 Ep948: (5) James Tabor describes Mount Zion in Jerusalem as the world headquarters of the early movement. Archaeological evidence suggests the "Upper Room" sits atop a first-century foundation of a house-synagogue. In this space, Mary served as a matriarch and h
10m • 5/31/2026
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime