CODEBREAKER 1865

1.) First, you have to know the key word. Without the key word it is nearly impossible to crack.  Luckily, the key word was  obtained by UNION spies after a Confederate soldier bragged about how good their secret system for communication was. The key word being used by Confederates is "LINCOLN."  

2.) You will use each letter in "LINCOLN" to solve the encrypted message.  Use the top row of the cipher -- here you will use the L, I, N, C, O, L, and N.

3.) To crack...

1.) Use each "key letter" at the top as you spell LINCOLN in order over and over.  Then, travel down the line until you find the encryption letter.  Once you have it, travel left, along that row, to find the plain text letter at the far left in the first column.  Find the intersecting letter.  Do this for each letter to encrypt. 

Example:  the key word is  "L I N C O L     N L I N    C O L N"

                 the ENCRYPTION is "A T R C G P   F P V Q   J S W C"

Find L along the top.  Travel down to the A.  Look left = P

Find I along the top.   Travel down to the T.  Look left = L

Find N along the top.  Travel down to the R.  Look left = E

Find C along the top.  Travel down to the C.  Look left = A

Find O along the top.  Travel down to the G.  Look left = S

Find L along the top.  Travel down to the P.  Look left = E

Find N along the top.  Travel down to the F.  Look left = S

Find L along the top.  Travel down to the P.  Look left = E

Find I along the top.   Travel down to the V.  Look left = N

Find N along the top.  Travel down to the Q.  Look left = D

Find C along the top.  Travel down to the J.  Look left = H

Find O along the top.  Travel down to the S.  Look left = E

Find L along the top.  Travel down to the W.  Look left = L

Find N along the top.  Travel down to the C.  Look left = P

The secret phrase is: "PLEASE  SEND  HELP"