Women Spies in the American Civil War

Male and female spies were essential sources of information during the Civil War. The best spies were people you would never suspect. Spies were brave, faceless and they knew the environment very well. Their presence was incredibly excepted. Whether they dressed as men and joined the army, posed as mindless slaves, or just kept their ears opens in collective circles, spies provided necessary information. It was even a woman spy who provided Union battle plans to Confederate Army, which allowed them to win the First Battle of Manassass (First Bull Run). Throughout history, men have been spies and the American Civil War was no exception. The finest spies are people you would never suspect. Spencer Kellogg Brown, George Curtis and Philip

All agencies working together to maintain peace and provide the government with the knowledge to make informed decisions. In hindsight, the nation realized what a huge impact espionage had on war and attempted to use it to their full advantage. Spies now have countless new technologies and scientific breakthroughs to allow them to succeed in many more ways than the women during the Civil War. The Cold War was one event where new espionage techniques were crucial and immigration was limited to try to block Soviet spies from entering the United States. During World War II, Japanese internment camps were set up to try to prevent espionage within the Asian community along the West Coast. The fear of enemy spies tended to consume the American public because of the enormous damage they can inflict. The brave women who served as soldiers during the Civil War had to live in constant fear of superiors learning their true gender. Their courage allowed for women to eventually become integrated into the American Army. Now women are being recognized as war heroes and continue to fight for their

THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND THE EFFECTS OF THE ESPIONAGE SYSTEM ON THE WAR

Women in the Civil War were important because they played important roles. They played as nurses, spies, and some even disguised themselves as soldiers. The women could only play one of these roles. For example they can only be either a spy or nurse or a soldier. They can’t be two like a spy and a nurse.

Many people question if women went into the war because of patriotism or because they lacked other opportunities. Women responded to the call differently depending on age, race, class, marital status, and number of children. They switch from lower-paying female jobs to higher-paying factory jobs. While patriotism influenced women,

Mary Surratt’s position pointed out the changing roles of women in society, particularly during the Civil War where women not only served as nurses but also as soldiers, spies, abolitionists, wearing pants in public. Women particularly working in espionage posed a dilemma for Union soldiers and federal officials. Did they treat them like they would a man? Or did they deserve special treatment because of their

Women were considered frail, unintelligent, and unable to make decisions in eighteen-hundredths America. It was traditional wisdom that a woman’s place was in the home. The Civil War marked a turning point for women and their role in society. Through my research consisting of books, letters, speeches, and articles, I will tell the story of a time in America when women rose to satisfy the needs of the country when most men were away fighting the war. This essay will analyze the roles of women in eighteen-hundredths America, by evaluating how women’s roles had changed; they now were nurses, soldiers/spies, and public workers/activists.

Jensen, Kimberly, Mobilizing Minerva: American Women in the First World War, 2008 (Champaign, Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2008), 244.

When the American Civil War began on April 12th, 1861, over 3 million Union and Confederate soldiers prepared for battle. Men from all over America were called upon to support their side in the confrontation. While their battles are well documented and historically analyzed for over a hundred years, there is one aspect, one dark spot missing in the picture: the role of women in the American Civil War. From staying at home to take care of the children to disguising themselves as men to fight on the battlefield, women contributed in many ways to the war effort on both sides. Though very few women are recognized for their vital contributions, even fewer are

If the women’s secret had been discovered, the soldiers did not do much except send the women back home. Some women treated soldiers who were wounded or sick coming from the battlefield, and they supplied the men with the equipment and other necessities they would need on the field. During the Civil War, Columbus, Mississippi became a well-known hospital town, taking in hundreds of the wounded. Women offered to become spies for the Confederacy to help the military gain useful information about the opposing side, and men did not commonly consider women, such as Rose O’Neal Greenhow capable of doing acts such as spying. Some Southern Democratically-involved women turned their noses from the Northern women in disgust, thinking it unbecoming to be around Republicans, and they continued this attitude for quite some time. But not all Southern women wanted the war, and they did not want to be rude to the “enemy”. One woman, Sarah Morgan, who had been treated well by the enemy said, “Fine, noble-looking men they were. One cannot help but admire such foes! . . .” In these cases where the enemy showed such acts of kindness, many Southern women felt respect and sympathy towards the Union soldiers. Though many of these opportunities for new roles for women opened up during the war, most women stayed at home and took care of their house and children.

The Civil War altogether influenced the lives of American ladies. A modest bunch camouflaged themselves as men and joined the battle. Others served as spies and nurses. Numerous more tackled new parts at home after their spouses, siblings, and fathers reacted to the invitation to battle. A large number of oppressed ladies started the move to flexibility, starting new lives in the midst of the revulsions of war. By war's end, the amazing loss of life of roughly 620,000 officers had left endless ladies in grieving. Contrasted with past eras, American ladies in general had enhanced their instructive standing, secured extra lawful rights, and procured more noteworthy access to made merchandise by the mid-1800s. Ladies had taken part conspicuously

Though both the Union and Confederacy didn't have a proper intelligence network, they both were able to acquire critical information through spies, espionage transactions, and undercover agents. Because this was one of the first American wars that spying was used in, many modern American spy tactics and techniques were introduced. They also helped deliver crucial information to both the Union and Confederate and free a great amount of slaves. Spies in The Civil war also were of a large variety of people.

One of the tools spies used was seduction. Women would most likely use this tool because they would appeal to men. The women would use seduction on the generals to find out their plans. Another tool was the telegraph. It paid a big role in the civil war. As soon as the spies would get information they would send the information through the telegraph. Around 15,000 lines of men were conquered thanks to the telegraph. Also spies would use a tool called a cipher. The cipher was a substitution for the alphabet. It had 26 symbols and once you unscam redbed it you would get a message. The confederates had more success by using the cipher during the civil war.

Actions taken by Union spies had little impact on events during the Civil War. Shortly before the Civil War officially begun, a plan to assassinate the newly-elected President Lincoln was about to take place in Baltimore, Maryland. Luckily, due to information found out by Allan Pinkerton and spies from the Pinkerton Detective Agency, they were able to prevent the assassination by sneaking Lincoln out of Baltimore and to Washington D.C. (Floyd Jr., 9). Despite taking place before the war, it is considered the greatest achievement of Union spies of the Civil War era since they were able to prevent the death of the president. If Lincoln had died, it would have been a morale booster for the Confederacy and might have helped them later on in the war.

In the United States, women played an imperative role that is clearly depicted in American history. Women’s significance was apparent in imperative historical events such as the American Revolution, struggle for independence, and the colonial America. During the American Revolution, women contributed significantly, where they played an active role in the American armies (Wayne & Tiffany 213). In this case, the women participated in the war as soldiers, where they fought alongside men, with the intention of overwhelming nations that took part in the revolutionary war. Women such as Deborah Sampson, Hannah Snell, among many others played an active role (women soldiers) during the revolutionary war. Their active participation in battle accounted for their rise in high military ranks. The likes of Deborah Sampson were named aide-de-camps to revolutionary war generals such as John Peterson.