January 16, 2024

Beginning with a history of cryptography, this presentation briefly examines the evolution of code systems prior to the Civil War.  With the advent of the telegraph, encryption became increasingly essential to military communications.  Because telegraph lines could easily be tapped by either side to intercept critical intelligence, both the Union and Confederate armies employed ciphers to protect messages. Were these methods effective? Was either side successful in cracking their opponent’s codes?  How do these early encryption systems relate to modern-day technologies?  By comparing the Union Stager Cipher and the Confederate adaptation of the Vigenère Cipher, this presentation explores the strengths and weaknesses of both. In addition, other forms of coded messages employed during the Civil War are also described including the Signal Corps, spies, and high-ranking individuals.

Derek Lee received his BA from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, majoring in anthropology and mathematics.  He went on to receive an MS in Geographic Information Systems from St Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.  Mr. Lee is the Director of Bear Creek Archeology in Cresco, Iowa where he has contributed to over 2,750 cultural resource management projects throughout the upper Midwest.  He has contributed to numerous journal articles and book chapters regarding various topics in archaeological research.  In addition, Mr. Lee has presented at local, regional, national, and international conferences on technology-assisted methods of archaeological excavation.  Mr. Lee combines his cross-disciplinary interests in modern computer science, history, and mathematics into a fun and comprehensible presentation on an intriguing and often-overlooked topic.