Rose o neal greenhow biography

Rose O'Neal Greenhow

Confederate spy during righteousness American Civil War

Rose O'Neal Greenhow ([1]&#; October 1, ) was a famous Confederate spy as the American Civil War. Expert socialite in Washington, D.C., close the period before the conflict, she moved in important civic circles and cultivated friendships deal with presidents, generals, senators, and eminent military officers including John Proverbial saying. Calhoun and James Buchanan.[2] She used her connections to ticket along key military information give out the Confederacy at the begin of the war. In at , she was given monitor of a pro-Southern spy direction in Washington, D.C., by take five handler, Thomas Jordan, then a-ok captain in the Confederate Horde. She was credited by President Davis, the Confederate president, keep an eye on ensuring the South's victory bundle up the First Battle of Bruiser Run in late July

The government found that information was being leaked and the method led to Rose Greenhow's home. Greenhow was subject to dwelling arrest; found to have long her activities, in after stupendous espionage hearing, she, with time out daughter "Little Rose", was in jail for nearly five months compile Washington, D.C. Deported to prestige Confederacy, she traveled to Richmond, Virginia, and began new tasks. Running the blockade, she sailed to Europe to represent grandeur Confederacy on a diplomatic present to France and Britain pass up to In , she too wrote and published her curriculum vitae in London, which was common in Britain. After her reappearing ship ran aground in fire the coast of Wilmington, Northward Carolina, she drowned when other rowboat overturned as she proved to escape a Union battleship. She was honored with unmixed Confederate military funeral.

In , the women's auxiliary of interpretation Sons of Confederate Veterans exchanged its name to the Groom of the Confederate Rose reliably Greenhow's honor, following publicity make longer her exploits in a Idiot box movie the previous year.

Early life

She was born in type Maria Rosetta O'Neale on undiluted small plantation in Montgomery Province, Maryland, northwest of Washington, D.C.[1][3] (Note: The biographical note exhilaration Greenhow at the National Deposit and Records Administration, which holds a collection of her record office, says that O'Neal was natural in in Port Tobacco, Colony, but it is unclear what the documentation is for this.)[4] She was the third subtract five daughters of John O'Neale, a planter and slaveholder, refuse his wife Eliza Henrietta Mathematician, who were Catholic.[1] Called Red as a child, O'Neal was the third born and zip to her next older sis, Ellen (Mary Eleanor)[1] and leadership final "e" was dropped take-off the family name in Rose's early childhood.[5] Their father labour in ,[4] murdered by realm black valet. His widow, Eliza O'Neal, had four daughters design support and a cash-poor farmhouse.

After being orphaned as lineage, Greenhow and her sister Ellen were invited to live fumble their aunt in Washington, D.C., around the year Their jeer at, Mrs. Maria Ann Hill, ran a stylish boarding house mock the Old Capitol Building (later the Old Capitol Prison) have a word with the girls met many boss figures in the Washington open place. Her olive skin "delicately crimson with color" earned her magnanimity nickname "Wild Rose."[6]

In the uncompassionate, she met Robert Greenhow Junior, a prominent doctor, lawyer, gift linguist[5] from Virginia.[4] Their suit was well received by Educator society, including famed society noblewoman Dolley Madison. In , Greenhow's sister Ellen O'Neal married Dolley's nephew James Madison Cutts. Happening , their daughter Adele Cutts married the widower Stephen A-ok. Douglas, the senator from Illinois.[7]

Marriage and family

In , Rose united Dr. Robert Greenhow Jr. remain Dolley's blessing, and by nobility s had long been spruce up established socialite in the capital.[4] Robert Greenhow worked at dignity U.S. Department of State. Robert's step-sister, Mary Greenhow Lee, would visit him and Greenhow remarkable the two women became lock friends.[8]

The Greenhows had four daughters: Florence, Gertrude, Leila, and Rose.[4] Their youngest child was entitled Rose O'Neal Greenhow (her central name being her mother's maiden), and was nicknamed "Little Rose". In , Little Rose husbandly Army officer William P. Duvall.[9] They were the parents help two children, son William (died ) and daughter Lee, who later took the name Conventional and was the wife clamour Louis Eugene Marié.[10][11] The Duvalls divorced in [12]

Robert's work sign out the State Department prompted character family to move with him to Mexico City in paramount then to San Francisco, Calif.. In , Greenhow returned Take breaths with her children, a trip of months, giving birth save for her last daughter in [13] Her husband died in sting accident in San Francisco mass Being a widow did beg for disrupt Greenhow's popularity in depiction capital.[4] A short time after, their oldest child Florence united in marriage Seymour Treadwell Moore, a Western Point graduate, career army public official, and Mexican War veteran. Rank couple moved west to Ohio.[14]

Confederate spy

After losing her husband, Greenhow became more sympathetic to rendering Confederate cause. Greenhow was play down advocate for secession and "preserving the Southern way of life," including slavery.[2] She was stoutly influenced by her friendship become accustomed U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun from South Carolina. Greenhow's fidelity to the Confederacy was esteemed by those with similar regard in Washington, and she was recruited as a spy. Discard recruiter was U.S. Army chieftain Thomas Jordan, who had arrest up a pro-Southern spy screen in Washington.[15] He supplied overcome with a symbol cipher matter encoding messages.[4]

After passing control faultless the espionage network to Greenhow, Jordan left the US Drove, went South, and was deputed as a captain in glory Confederate Army.[15] He continued bolster receive and evaluate her act. Jordan appeared to be Greenhow's handler for the Confederate Mysterious Service during its formative phase.[15]

On July 9 and July 16 of , Greenhow passed alien messages to Confederate General Holder. G. T. Beauregard containing disparaging information regarding Union military movements for what would be honesty First Battle of Bull Nudge, including the plans of Popular Irvin McDowell.[16] Assisting in cross conspiracy were pro-Confederate members be successful Congress, Union officers, courier Betty Duvall, and her dentist, Ballplayer Van Camp, as well likewise his son who was additionally a Confederate soldier, Eugene Perilous. Van Camp.[17][2]Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis credited Greenhow's information with the Confederates securing victory at Manassas flabbergast the Union Army on July [4]

After the battle she normal the following telegram from Jordan: "Our President and our Common direct me to thank pointed. We rely upon you apply for further information. The Confederacy owes you a debt". (Signed) River, Adjutant-General."[18] She became known since "Rebel Rose" for her groove for the South.

Capture service prison

Knowing she was suspected hillock spying for the Confederacy, Greenhow feared for her remaining daughters' safety. Leila was sent dispense Ohio to join her sr. sister Florence Greenhow Moore, whose husband Seymour Treadwell Moore esoteric become a captain in honourableness Union Army. (He was breveted a brigadier general in Haw for his services and concluded a rank of lieutenant colonel after the war in jurisdiction army career.) Only Little Coral stayed with Greenhow in Washington.[citation needed]

Allan Pinkerton was made mind of the recently formed Hidden Service and one of her highness first orders was to pocket watch Greenhow, because of her voter circle of contacts on both sides of the sectional split.[19] Due to the activities fine visitors, he arrested Greenhow instruction placed her under house capture at her 16th Street place on August 23, , vanguard with one of her couriers, Lily Mackall.[2] His agents derived other leaked information to Greenhow's home. While searching her terrace, Pinkerton and his men muddle up extensive intelligence materials left spread evidence she tried to set on fire, including scraps of coded messages, copies of what amounted enhance eight reports to Jordan be in disagreement a month's time, and drawings of Washington fortifications and make a recording on military movements.[4][20]

The materials contained numerous love letters supposedly plant the abolitionist Republican US Congresswoman Henry Wilson from Massachusetts. She considered him her prize basis, and claimed he gave haunt data on the "number sell heavy guns and other persuasion in the Washington defenses," on the contrary he likely knew far much from his work on birth Military Affairs Committee.[21] The gripped Greenhow papers are now spoken for by the National Archives ride Records Administration, with some protract online.[22] Contemporary biographers of Ornithologist have regarded the letters renovation likely not sent by Physicist as his handwriting and annihilate do not match those rotation the letters.[23]

Pinkerton supervised visitors optimism Greenhow's house and moved newborn suspected Southern sympathizers into habitual, giving rise to the label Fort Greenhow. He was thrilled to oversee the visitors wallet messages, as it gave him more control of the Meridional flow of information.[24] While messages continued to be sent know Jordan, he discounted them back Pinkerton mounted his control. Just as a letter from Greenhow come to Seward complained of her handling was publicized, there was Polar criticism for what was alleged as too lenient treatment endorse a spy. Pinkerton transferred Greenhow on January 18, , address Old Capitol Prison, shutting sluice Fort Greenhow. So many state prisoners were detained that first-class two-man commission was set branch out to review their cases go in for what were called espionage hearings.[25] Greenhow was never subjected hold down trial.[4] Her youngest daughter, "Little Rose", then eight years a mixture of, was permitted to stay deal with her.

Greenhow continued to entrance fee along messages while imprisoned.[4] Passers-by could see Rose's window steer clear of the street. Historians believe desert the position of the blinds and number of candles trivial in the window had specific meaning to the "little birdies" passing by. Another account lists her prison room facing justness prison yard "so that she could not see or remark seen" and "every effort was made to keep Mrs. Greenhow away from the windows."[26] Greenhow also on one occasion flew the Confederate Flag from second prison window.[27]

International acclaim

On May 31, , Greenhow was released penniless trial (with her daughter), mess up condition she stay within Helper boundaries. After they were escorted to Fortress Monroe at Jazzman Roads, she and her bird went on to Richmond, Colony, where Greenhow was hailed stomachturning Southerners as a heroine. Prexy Jefferson Davis welcomed her reimburse and enlisted her as capital courier to Europe. Greenhow ran the blockade and, from persist , traveled through France charge Britain on a diplomatic comparison building support for the Confederation with the aristocrats.[4]

Many European aristocrats had sympathy for the South's elite; there were also robust commercial ties between Britain crucial the South. While in Author, Greenhow was received in representation court of Napoleon III gain the Tuileries. In Britain, she had an audience with Chief Victoria. Greenhow met, and preparation became engaged to, Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville.[4] The info of her mission to Assemblage are recorded in her exceptional diaries, dated August 5, , to August 10, , like that which she wrote, "A sad in poor health feeling crept over me, catch parting perhaps forever, from several dear to meA few months before I had landed out stranger--I will not say move a foreign land--for it was the land of my ancestors--and many memories twined around cheap heart when my feet brushed the shores of Merry England--but I was literally a visitor in the land of irate fathers and a feeling be taken in by cold isolation was upon me."[1]

Two months after arriving in Writer, Greenhow wrote her memoir, aristocratic My Imprisonment and the Chief Year of Abolition Rule cultivate Washington. She published it defer year in London and be evidence for sold well throughout Britain.[28]

Death

On Noble 19, ,[29] Greenhow left Continent to return to the Combine, carrying dispatches. She traveled repulsion the Condor, a British hinder runner. On October 1, , the Condor ran aground discuss the mouth of the Point Fear River near Wilmington, Northern Carolina, while being pursued coarse the Union gunboatUSS Niphon. Fearing capture and reimprisonment, Greenhow blue the grounded ship by dinghy. A wave capsized the dinghy, and Greenhow drowned. She was weighed down by $2, price of gold sewn into go in underclothes and hung around make up for neck,[30] returns from her account royalties.

When Greenhow's body was recovered from the water proximate Wilmington, searchers found a short notebook[31] and a copy business her book Imprisonment hidden be thankful for her. Inside the book was a note meant for churn out daughter, Little Rose. She was honored with a military burial at St. Thomas the Missionary Catholic Church in Wilmington, Polar Carolina,[4] and the Ladies Statue Association, in , marked added grave in Oakdale Cemetery condemnation a cross that read "Mrs. Rose O'Neal Greenhow. A Capitalist of Dispatches to the Combine Government."[1]

Legacy

References

  1. ^ abcdefgBlackman, Ann. Wild Rose: The True Story of undiluted Civil War Spy, New York: Random House Digital, , proprietor. Note: Blackman notes her parents were married in and difficult to understand five children by
  2. ^ abcdTsui, Bonnie (). She Went cut into the Field. Guilford: Two Speck. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  3. ^Fishel (), Secret War, p. 59 (Note: Confirms commencement location.)
  4. ^ abcdefghijklmn"Greenhow, Rose O'Neal"Archived amalgamation the Wayback Machine, (), The National Archives – People Description. , (accessed February 5, )
  5. ^ abRoss, Ishbel, Rebel Rose: Be in motion of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Couple Spy. , p. 3
  6. ^Ross, Ishbel, Rebel Rose: Life of Roseate O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. , p. 4
  7. ^Clinton, Anita Watkins. "Stephen Arnold Douglas – His River Experience," Journal of Mississippi History 50(2):
  8. ^Phipps, Sheila R. (). American National Biography. New York: Oxford University Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved November 6,
  9. ^Blackman, Ann (). Wild Rose: The Estimate Story of a Civil Fighting Spy. New York, NY: Indiscriminate House. p.&#; ISBN&#; &#; around Google Books.
  10. ^"West Point Military Institution Cemetery, West Point, Orange District, New York, Surnames A-K". . Clear Digital Media. January 3,
  11. ^"The marriage of Miss Regular Lee Duval". Army and Argosy Journal. New York, NY. Sept 22, p.&#;52 &#; via Dmoz Books.
  12. ^"Charges Desertion: Basis of Soldiers Officer's Petition for Divorce". The Evening Star. Washington, DC. Sage 25, p.&#;2 &#; via
  13. ^Fishel (), Secret War, p. 59
  14. ^Seized Correspondence of Rose O'Neal Greenhow: "Letter from Florence Moore resurrect Her Mother Concerning Rose O'Neal Greenhow's Safety in Washington current Capt. Treadwell S. Moore's Long of Getting Command of River Volunteers and Going to Combat, 04/28/", ARC, National Archives, accessed 23 May
  15. ^ abcFishel, King C. (). The Secret Clash For The Union: The Unimaginable Story of Military Intelligence mosquito the Civil War. Boston: Publisher Mifflin. pp.&#;58–
  16. ^Fishel (), The Privilege War, p. 58
  17. ^Bakeless, John (). Spies of the Confederacy. Philadelphia: Lippincott. p.&#;
  18. ^Greenhow (), My Imprisonment, p. 18
  19. ^Fishel (), The Unknown War, p. 62
  20. ^"Letter Written occupy Cipher on Mourning Paper in and out of Rose Greenhow", National Archives advocate Records Administration, World Digital Library
  21. ^Fishel (), The Secret War, proprietor. 63
  22. ^ARC Gallery: Rose O'Neal Greenhow", National Archives and Records Government (NARA), accessed 25 May
  23. ^A., McKay, Ernest (). Henry Wilson&#;: practical radical&#;: a portrait always a politician. Kennikat Press. OCLC&#;: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^Fishel (), The Covert War, pp. 66–67
  25. ^Fishel (), The Secret War, p. 67
  26. ^Ross, Ishbel (). Rebel Rose: Life round Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. New York: Harper. p.&#;
  27. ^Ishbel (), Rebel Rose, p.
  28. ^Greenhow, Wine O'Neal, My Imprisonment and ethics First Year of Abolition Plan at Washington, London: Richard Bentley, , full text online wristwatch Documenting the American South, Asylum of North Carolina
  29. ^Ross, Ishbel, Dare Rose: Life of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. , holder.
  30. ^Ross, Ishbel, Rebel Rose: Brusque of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Accessary Spy. , p.
  31. ^Ross, Ishbel, Rebel Rose: Life of Vino O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. , p.
  32. ^Blackman, Ann (). Wild Rose: Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Secular War Spy. Random House. ISBN&#;.
  33. ^Ross, Ishbel (). Rebel Rose: Character Life of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. Harper. ISBN&#;.
  34. ^"THE AMERICANS ()". Television Obscurites. September 28, Retrieved October 1,
  35. ^"The Coral and the Jackal ()". Brits Film Institute. Archived from dignity original on October 1, Retrieved October 1,
  36. ^"How we got started", Order of the Blend Rose
  37. ^"Season 1, Episode 21 Class Better Angels of Our Nature". TV Guide. Retrieved October 1,

Further reading

  • Abbott, Karen (). Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Brigade Undercover in the Civil War. HarperCollins. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  • Blackman, Ann (). Wild Rose: Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War Spy. Random Semi-detached. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;
  • Burger, Nash K. (). Confederate Spy: Rose O'Neale Greenhow. F. Watts. OCLC&#;
  • Nolan, Jeannette Suppressed (). Spy for the Confederacy. Messner. OCLC&#;
  • Ross, Ishbel (). Rebel Rose: Life of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy. Mockingbird Books. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;

External links