Women Spies of the Civil War

Hundreds of women served as spies during the Civil War. Here’s a look at six who risked their lives in daring and unexpected ways

  • By Cate Lineberry
  • Smithsonian.com, May 09, 2011
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Harriet Tubman Pauline Cushman Mary Elizabeth Bowser Belle Boyd Rose ONeal Greenhow Antonia Ford


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Comments (32)

thank you to all the women who lived before me

Why do people comment on these?

thanks to these women the world moved on

Cate Lineberry, You may want to read my biography of Pauline Cushman and update your article. There are several errors of fact. Pauline Cushman, Spy of the Cumberland William J. Christen Edinborough Press Roseville, Minnesota 2006 http://www.paulinecushman.com William (Bill Christen)

I'm glad men think girls are weak and innocent, because thats why the spies weren't suspected as much.

thanks! im doing a black history assignment featuring her and this really helped alot!If you can,can u add some more details that can help me with my assignment???If u can that would be great

I am a spy too

thank you so much. really helped

how can i get a copy of may 2011 magazine?

thanks so much! this reallt helped with my essay and women spies. wouldnt have been able to do it without this web site!!! :)

Cool man, Spanish Mexico.

That helped a lot. I can really use this ;)

How did Belle Boyd get her information?! She's not 'young and attractive,' she's ugly.

idk kinda weird

I didn't know Harriet Tubman was a spy.

i think this can help me! a lot.

she was a smart lady

thanks i could use this on my reaserch papper

awesome info

I think that they should have put Elizabeth Van Lew and Hattie Lawton on this page, along with the other women. They were also very important.

it didnt help at all thnx alot bro

Thank you smithsonian!!!!!!!!!!! This info helped so much for my history project! I had no clue Harriet Tubman was a spy I thought she just saved slaves.

all this info really helped on my ig school poster!! THANKS so much

Thank you! I used this some of this info in my research paper.

thanks for the info, it helped a lot on my research paper on this topic!

I learned a lot about the spies. They're way more interesting than I thought they were.

Cate Lineberry,

Please contact me if the Smithsonian would like a better image of Pauline Cushman. I have cataloged all the known images (over seventy) and have twenty in my collection.

You might also be interested in my biography of her, _Pauline Cushman; Spy of the Cumberland_ (Roseville, MN: Edinborough Press, 2006). It corrects some of the oft-repeated mistakes written about her life.

I am glad to see her included here in your collection of articles.

Bill Christen

I never knew about her military service. Did she have any children? Hilliary Clinton did the right thing in awarding the money to her establishment.

Why in the world don't they teach this kind of history instead of memorizing the presidents of the U.S.?

Great piece Cate!

--kdd

Wow! I learned a lot from these articles. Who knew history would be THAT interesting!

Wow--we all learn about Ms. Tubman and the Underground Railroad in elementary school, but I never knew about her military activities! She was amazing.



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