civil war women spies

The Civil War, two sides fighting each other over the issue of slavery. This war was filled with female spies. Who else could get closer to a general or an officer than a 'harmless' woman? There were dresses that held secrets in their underskirts and women wouldn't be frisked. It was genius!

In the Civil War women weren't equal to men, according to society, so women could get real, real close to diplomats, politicians, officers, and leaders in the community and pass on what they overheard to the side they actually supported. A little charm, some romance here and there, maybe some listening at doors, and you already have a lot of information at your fingertips.

As for messages being hidden, try hiding a message in your hair or underskirts. Most men are not going to frisk a young or aged woman. Women spies were caught, in some cases, but by then the other side had gotten quite a bit of information if the spy was smart. Some got messages out despite house arrest.

Famous Women Spies

Harriet Tubman

You have, most likely, already been taught about one of them. Harriet Tubman is considered a woman spy for helping slaves escape through the underground railroad. Spy work is no picnic, and if caught you could die for it, but that never stopped her from saving her fellow slaves. She even set up an espionage ring for the Union side of the war. She coordinated the sending of black men to the other side to get information. Because black people were considered less of a person, it got a wealth of information to the Union side of the war. She organized missions to destroy plantations and free slaves. She led a group to disrupt Confederate supply lines and freed 700 slaves in the process. This woman was more than an underground railroad conductor and freed slave. 

Belle Boyd

When it comes to beauty and brains, I'd say Belle Boyd had it. She supported the Confederate side of

the war and had southern loyalties. Despite shooting a drunk Union soldier, she got her share of military secrets to pass on to her side. She eavesdropped through holes and rode into enemy lines. She was caught a few times, but she survived the war. One officer, out of his love for her, helped her escape to London, then married her.

Elizabeth Van Lew

Loyal to the abolitionist movement, Elizabeth Van Lew, who brought help to prisoners in the form of basic needs, got information from guards and prisoners. She helped Union soldiers escape and smuggle out valuables and messages. She headed an espionage ring in Richmond. Using invisible ink and hollow vegetables, she got messages to union soldiers. She recruited a Libby Prison high ranking official to her ring. Unfortunately, her spy work left her in poverty, so a Union officer provided for her until her death in 1900.

Tactics and Techniques

How did they do it? Other than feminine wiles and a friendly smile, there were societal rules in their favor. For one, women were considered harmless and not equal to men. If they had been considered equals this would never have worked. This is the only situation that women being unequal was an advantage. For another, they were being intelligent about it. Using people to get what they wanted was a smart move here. It may have saved their lives and the lives of others. We know it saved and freed slaves. 

The women above used their care-giving and support roles to hide messages and smuggle messages and valuables out of prisons and camps. All those undergarments and good looks, as well as hairstyles, came in handy for the use of espionage. Who would question a woman giving aid to the men in the prisons? 

The clothing of the time for women made great hiding spots for weaponry, clothing, supplies, you name it! For the sake of modesty, strip-searching was not something a woman would likely experience. Men? Yes, but women? Not often. Fans that came with clothing could also be used for morse code. With the care-giving role came cooking pistol parts into bread and hiding supplies using domestic arts. Messages could hide anywhere- eggs, hair-dos, bread, false-bottomed baskets. 

Towards the end of the war, however, the men learned and women had to be more and more careful how they smuggled information in. Men started searching women more aggressively and women started getting caught. Hoop skirts could be torn off in an effort to find hidden weapons, and sometimes they were found out that way. It got harder as the war continued.

Pictures:
National Women's History Museum
The Herald Dispatch
Pinterest
Military History Now



Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/secret-agents-in-hoop-skirts-women-spies-of-the-civil-war
http://www.clarabartonmuseum.org/spies/