Spies

Photo of Union spy Pauline Cushman

In a war where one's appearance and speech did not give away one's loyalty, espionage and the black market thrived. This was particularly true in border areas, where the people's sympathies were divided. Many former slaves and some southern Unionists provided valuable local knowledge to Union forces. Confederate women spies, such as "Rebel Rose" Greenhow of Washington, D.C., and Belle Boyd of Virginia were particularly celebrated for their exploits in a Romantic age.

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    Last updated: April 23, 2015