Women Of The Civil War: ‘Female Spies On Both Sides’

Women had major roles in espionage during the Civil War, sharing enemy troop locations and movements, smuggling much needed supplies and money, and taking part in military raids. We will discuss various examples including Southern spy Belle Boyd who’s career in espionage started accidentally after shooting and killing a Union soldier who insulted her mother. And then a Union spying duo, Elizabeth ‘Crazy Bet’ Van Lew and her slave counterpart Mary Bowser, who both worked together to form an underground spy network out of Richmond, VA.