If your country went to war, would you be able to sacrifice your life, your money, your reputation, or your young daughter for victory? Liar, Temptress, Soldier,
Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War is the story of two Confederate women and two Union women who became
spies for their respective nations during the Civil War (1861-1865). They
put their lives and those of their families, friends, servants/slaves, soldiers,
and politicians at risk, often pulling individuals into their spy rings to obtain any and all information they
could to pass on to those in command.
Rose Greenbow lived in Richmond, Virginia with her young daughter
and provided information to the Confederate commanders about troop strength,
morale, battle plans, and equipment. She and her daughter not only went
to prison; but were also envoys for the Confederacy in Europe.
Belle Boyd lived in Martinsburg, Virginia (West Virginia after
1863). She was an ardent supporter of the Southern way of life and
spent time as a spy. She gained information by using any ruse she
could and often charmed the men to learn what they knew. Her information
proved vital to the Confederacy and changed the course of early events.
Emma Edmonds of Michigan cut her hair, donned men's clothing and
enlisted in a Michigan infantry unit as a male -- the only way to avoid an
arranged marriage and to fight for the Union cause. While in uniform, she
worked with the medical men, served as a courier, and a spy. She saw the
war through battles, the wounded and dying and those living in the region of
the battles.
Elizabeth Van Lew grew up in the North; however, her father owned
a business in Richmond, Virginia. The wealth of her family helped provide
the money and status to become a spy for the Union. She was suspected by
her neighbors; however, she was never caught with any evidence verifying that
she was a spy or that she hid escaping Union soldiers in her house.
Elizabeth planted her personal slave in the Confederate White House where
Jefferson and Varina Davis lived. The slave remembered anything she read
or heard, providing pertinent information to the North.
Abbott brings these four women together through a seamless writing
of the Civil War, their exploits, and how their efforts made a difference to
both sides. There are books written by Greenbow, Boyd, and Edmonds
about their lives, Liar, temptress, Soldier, Spy allows the
reader to read about the soldiers, commanders, politicians, women and children
left at home, and Lincoln and Davis. This book gives the viewpoint of war
through its participants, their devotion and dedication, suffering, and desire
for victory.
This volume is available to request from the Ort Library catalog here: http://catalog.umd.edu/docno=004450843 Click on "Availability", then click on the yellow "Request" button, and log in using your last name and 14-digit Library barcode number on your ID. If you need assistance, please contact the Circulation Desk at 301-687-4395.
Written by MaryJo Price
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