Spot The Spy
Despite the stereotypical ideals that limited the female population to strict domestic roles in American society during the 19th century, women played an extremely important role during the Civil War as spies. Women were successful spies because they had the element of surprise and anonymity on their side---no one would suspect a woman to be a spy during this time. Women spies, like Belle Boyd and Antonia Ford, gathered important information for both the Union and the Confederacy and had a heavy influence on the outcome of the Civil War.
In this game, we would like you to determine which of the two women are the actual spies that helped their respected sides during the American Civil War. We will give you some background information regarding the true spy, but it is up to YOU to put a face to the name! When you're through, be sure to check your answers at the bottom of the screen! GOOD LUCK!
Maria Isabelle “Belle” Boyd was born in current day West Virginia in 1844. Boyd is quite possibly the most renowned Confederate spy during the Civil War. Boyd’s family were strong southern supporters, she and four other members of her family were accused spies for the Confederacy. She would frequently acquire knowledge from the Union soldiers while visiting family whose home in Front Royal, Virginia was known as a Union headquarters. Boyd is most famously known for informing General Stonewall Jackson of the Union forces’ plans, which she was later praised for by Stonewall Jackson for demonstrating pure bravery throughout her many attempts to aid the Confederacy. Boyd’s flirtatious nature contributed to her gaining knowledge from Union soldiers as well. She was known for being extremely beautiful to all the men she would encounter. Belle Boyd was arrested roughly seven times, but even while in jail, she would continue to spread information by sewing messages inside a ball that she would throw outside of her cell’s window. Boyd later recorded her endeavors in her memoirs after she moved to England in 1864.
"Maria Isabella ("Belle") Boyd." Image. Library of Congress. World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Clara Barton." Image. Cirker, Hayward and Blanche Cirker, eds. Dictionary of American Portraits, 1967. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Maria Isabella ("Belle") Boyd." Image. Library of Congress. World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Clara Barton." Image. Cirker, Hayward and Blanche Cirker, eds. Dictionary of American Portraits, 1967. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Rose O’Neal Greenhow was born in Maryland in 1817 and is considered yet another crucial Confederate spy during the Civil War. Greenhow was primarily known for sending messages to General Pierre G.T. Beauregard, which is eventually resulted in the victory of Bull Run. Greenhow was recognized for her successes as a spy so much so that Jefferson Davis praised her for winning the Battle of Manassas. Though Greenhow would be arrested frequently, she would continue to send confidential information by peculiar means, such as inside a woman’s bun. Later Greenhow was sent to tour the Britain and France to gain support for the Confederacy. From there, she had published her experiences in her memoir.
"Dorothea Dix." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Rose Greenhow." Image. Library of Congress. World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Dorothea Dix." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Rose Greenhow." Image. Library of Congress. World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Loreta Janeta Velazquez was born in Cuba in 1842. When she was fourteen years old, she had eloped with an officer of the Texas army. When he was sent in to fight for the war, Velazquez had begged her husband to send her to battle with him. She was belittled for suggesting such an absurd idea. Velazquez decided to disguise herself and identified herself as Harry T. Buford. Velazquez moved to Arkansas to accumulate an entire regiment of volunteers, which she later sent to her husband in Florida. She presented herself as the regiment’s commanding officer. Her husband later died a couple days later due to a shooting accident. Velazquez later decided to venture north as an “independent soldier” and fought in the Battle of Bull Run and Ball’s Bluff. While traveling in her female attire to Washington DC, she acquired much information from the Union army, which she later gave to Confederacy. She was soon made an official member of the detective corps. Velazquez continued to fight in various battles as her counterpart Buford. She was later shot in the side, which ultimately led to the exposure of her true gender. After retiring from fighting in battles, she continued to remain as a volunteer spy by traveling to and from the North and South as both her male and female characters. Velazquez later married Captain Thomas DeCaulp, who unfortunately died shortly after their marriage. After the war, Velazquez married Major Wasson, and together they immigrated to Venezuela. Following his death, Velazquez moved back to the United States with her son, and published her book to earn more money for her and her son.
"Loreta Janeta Velazquez." Image. Velazquez, Loreta Janeta, The Woman in Battle: A Narrative of the Exploits, Adventures, and Travels of Madame Loreta Janeta Velazquez, 1876. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Mary Todd Lincoln." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Loreta Janeta Velazquez." Image. Velazquez, Loreta Janeta, The Woman in Battle: A Narrative of the Exploits, Adventures, and Travels of Madame Loreta Janeta Velazquez, 1876. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Mary Todd Lincoln." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Antonia J. Ford was born in 1838 in Fairfax Court House. Ford would typically receive information from Union soldiers through the use of her charm. She would normally grant her brother’s general of the Stuart Cavalry with the information that she would obtain. Ford is primarily known for her involvement in one of the greatest cavalry raids of all time. At roughly two in the morning on March 9, 1863, Mosby and nearly thirty of his partisan rangers sneaked into the headquarters of General Stoughton and his cavalry commander. Stoughton was resting as several of his men and horses were captured. During the investigation of this specific raid, Ford was the first to be questioned. On March 14, 1863, according to an anonymous letter that was published in the New York Times, there was an alleged intimate relation between Ford and the general. In fact, many believed the raid was led by the general because of Ford herself. Ford and ten others were later arrested for espionage after Ford based on a confession Ford had given to another female spy. While she was imprisoned at Old Capitol Prison, she had fallen madly in love with her captor, Major Joseph Willard. They later married in 1864. Unfortunately, Ford died due to illnesses she had contracted while in prison.
"Mary Custis Lee." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Antonia Ford." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Mary Custis Lee." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Antonia Ford." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Elizabeth Van Lew was born on October 15, 1818 in Richland. Van Lew began developing antislavery viewpoints after attending a Quaker school in Philadelphia. Van Lew later devoted her life to finding ways to support the Union forces, and weaken the Confederacy army. Van Lew would transmit her messages in various sections using various replay stations. She would hide her messages in the shoes or even egg shells. These efforts made Van Lew the primary suspect to the Confederate capital. She would often embrace the rumors that she was mentally instable by walking around in shabby clothing while muttering nonsense to her or humming obscure songs. She was often regarded as “Crazy Bet”. Van Lew paid for the education of her former slave, Mary Elizabeth Bowser. She then managed to persuade Jefferson Davis to hire Bowser as one of his servants in the Confederate White House. While in the White House, Bowser pretended to be illiterate, however, she would continuously pass information of the Confederate’s plans to Van Lew and others. Throughout the war, Van Lew would frequently help prisoners in the Libby Prison to escape. Ulysses S. Grant later appointed Van Lew as postmaster in Richmond, and later became the post office clerk in Richmond. She was shunned in the city of Richmond, and was even seen as a witch by the Richmonders. After death, her mansion was soon demolished out of revenge. A school was built on the same grounds.
Elizabeth Van Lew. Image. The Spy Who Served Me. National Park Service, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Anna Elizabeth Dickinson." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Elizabeth Van Lew. Image. The Spy Who Served Me. National Park Service, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
"Anna Elizabeth Dickinson." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.
Female Spies in the Civil War
Tezak, Tiffani. "Female Spies in The Civil War." Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 13 June 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.
This video was taken from YouTube and created by Tiffani Tezak.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es68moyGGGY
This video was taken from YouTube and created by Tiffani Tezak.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es68moyGGGY
ANSWERS:
The picture of the woman on the left will be referred to as #1, and the picture of the woman to the right will be known as #2.
Belle Boyd: #1
Rose O'Neal Greenhow: #1
Loreta Janeta Velazquez: #1
Antonia Ford: #1
Elizabeth Van Lew: #1
The picture of the woman on the left will be referred to as #1, and the picture of the woman to the right will be known as #2.
Belle Boyd: #1
Rose O'Neal Greenhow: #1
Loreta Janeta Velazquez: #1
Antonia Ford: #1
Elizabeth Van Lew: #1