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
(James A. Chambers, U.S. Army Deputy, Office of the Chief, Military Intelligence)
Mary Elizabeth Bowser, likely born Mary Jane Richards, was a slave of the Van Lew family in Richmond, Virginia. When John Van Lew died in September 1843, his will stipulated that his wife, Eliza, could not sell or free any of the family’s slaves. Eliza and her daughter Elizabeth Van Lew were against slavery and seem to have secretly granted their slaves, including Bowser, freedom.
When the Civil War broke out, the Van Lews brought food, medicine and books to Union soldiers at nearby Libby Prison. Elizabeth conveyed messages between the prisoners and Union officials and helped prisoners escape. To do this, she relied on an informal network of women and men, white and black, all drawn from Richmond’s clandestine Unionist community to help her. The most noteworthy of these individuals was Bowser, who had married a free black man named Wilson Bowser in 1861 and taken his name.
In the fall of 1865, Bowser gave an address in Brooklyn alluding to her infiltration of the Confederate White House during the war. Though the story has been difficult to document, Bowser’s willingness to risk her life as part of the Richmond underground is certain.
Details of Bowser’s life after the war are unknown.
Comments (31)
Why do people comment on these?
Posted by Robin on May 7,2013 | 01:43 PM
thanks to these women the world moved on
Posted by anonomous on April 19,2013 | 05:37 PM
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)
Posted by William Christen on April 3,2013 | 04:06 PM
I'm glad men think girls are weak and innocent, because thats why the spies weren't suspected as much.
Posted by Caitlin on April 2,2013 | 01:17 PM
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
Posted by cindy on February 23,2013 | 04:43 PM
I am a spy too
Posted by Brook on February 4,2013 | 08:32 AM
thank you so much. really helped
Posted by jonathan on October 1,2012 | 05:17 PM
how can i get a copy of may 2011 magazine?
Posted by karen on September 15,2012 | 03:28 PM
thanks so much! this reallt helped with my essay and women spies. wouldnt have been able to do it without this web site!!! :)
Posted by Courtney on May 21,2012 | 05:06 PM
Cool man, Spanish Mexico.
Posted by Hulio on May 16,2012 | 01:11 PM
That helped a lot. I can really use this ;)
Posted by chris on May 15,2012 | 10:11 AM
How did Belle Boyd get her information?! She's not 'young and attractive,' she's ugly.
Posted by Lela on May 13,2012 | 03:44 PM
idk kinda weird
Posted by John on May 11,2012 | 04:56 PM
I didn't know Harriet Tubman was a spy.
Posted by Sally on May 9,2012 | 11:10 PM
i think this can help me! a lot.
Posted by Darla on May 9,2012 | 01:29 PM
she was a smart lady
Posted by yasmine on May 4,2012 | 09:16 AM
thanks i could use this on my reaserch papper
Posted by lizz on May 1,2012 | 12:13 PM
awesome info
Posted by bob bob on April 27,2012 | 11:08 AM
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.
Posted by Reiley on April 26,2012 | 01:13 AM
it didnt help at all thnx alot bro
Posted by on April 25,2012 | 02:08 PM
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.
Posted by Cambo on April 24,2012 | 10:31 PM
all this info really helped on my ig school poster!! THANKS so much
Posted by couture Quin!!!!!!! on April 8,2012 | 10:00 PM
Thank you! I used this some of this info in my research paper.
Posted by Jenna on March 29,2012 | 09:34 AM
thanks for the info, it helped a lot on my research paper on this topic!
Posted by MADIE on October 21,2011 | 02:23 PM
I learned a lot about the spies. They're way more interesting than I thought they were.
Posted by Nathan Tenney on October 17,2011 | 12:48 AM
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
Posted by William Christen on June 23,2011 | 09:33 AM
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.
Posted by kathy on June 11,2011 | 06:35 PM
Why in the world don't they teach this kind of history instead of memorizing the presidents of the U.S.?
Posted by Ellen on June 11,2011 | 09:22 AM
Great piece Cate!
--kdd
Posted by Karen Dickerson on May 27,2011 | 01:05 PM
Wow! I learned a lot from these articles. Who knew history would be THAT interesting!
Posted by kitkat on May 15,2011 | 11:11 AM
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.
Posted by Juliet on May 9,2011 | 11:30 PM