Compete to crack secrets lost to history—for fun, clout, and (no) profit
Problems › 14
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-14 | Problem registered |
| 2026-08-16 | Solution 14-1 submitted by @offgramercy |
| 2026-08-16 | Solution 14-1 accepted, status set to NEW_SOLUTION, lifecycle CLOSED |
In 1905 the United States government printed the captured Confederate naval correspondence. On page 805 of volume 20 it printed a report from Lieutenant Joseph N. Barney, commanding the captured Harriet Lane at Galveston, to Confederate Navy Secretary Stephen Mallory, dated 19 March 1863. Eighteen words in that report are not words. They are number triples, and the editors printed them exactly as they found them.
Transcript, set as printed. Coordinates in bold.
Report in cipher from Lieutenant Barney, C. S. Navy, commanding
C. S. S. Harriet Lane.
Harriet Lane,
Galveston Bay, March 19, 1863.
Sir: In my last of 9th instant by Lieutenant Warley I reported that General Magruder proposed to (177)-2-16- the (216)-1-15-(113)-3-85- in (29)-3-36-(23)-3-29. I am officially informed that (163)-1-34- will prevent (85)-3-14- from (115)-1-7-. As my previous suggestions are thus defeated, I presume the (262)-3-22- will not be kept in (54)-2-33, (215)-2-26 being entirely useless. I beg leave respectfully to suggest that being so near (149)-1-30-a (156)-1-8- the (163)-3-40 might be (213)-2-21-(10)-1-12-.
A dispatch sent by army pony express via Alexandria will reach me most expeditiously.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient,
J. N. Barney,
Lieutenant, Commanding.
Hon. S. R. Mallory,
Secretary Navy, Richmond.
P. S.—What shall be done with the (150)-3-12- sent from Richmond in case the above suggestion is carried out? Some might, if practicable, be sent (10)-1-12-.
N. B.—The second or middle figure indicates the column, 1st, 2d, or 3d.
Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies, Series I, vol. 20, p. 805. Page scan.
A paragraph of ordinary English with eighteen holes in it, each hole a triple of numbers, and no corresponding key or plaintext located in the sources checked for this report.
| # | Solution | By | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solution 14-1 Resolves 17 of 18 groups, the eighteenth recorded as conditional Still open: one of the eighteen groups, 113-3-85, does not resolve as printed, and the accepted solution records its reading as conditional rather than claiming it. Blocked on: scans of the original, undigitised letters. Barney’s retained letterbook (NARA NAID 1848146) and gated microfilm M625 roll 411 are the two surviving witnesses that could show what he actually wrote. Until one is imaged, the group stays open. Submit a solution if you can resolve it. |
@offgramercy | ACCEPTED |
More than one solution can be right. A later one may be cleverer, or reach the same reading by a better route, and it gets its own number and stays on the record. The first accepted reading keeps its place in the order.