Rose greenhow, confederate spy, drowning victim nc dncr. Rose oneal greenhow confedrate spy american civil war women. When rose drowned in 1864 her diary was nearly lost forever according to cornelia phillips spencer, who published the last ninety days of the war in 1866, found among the effects of mrs. Rose oneal greenhow, confederate spy whose social position and shrewd judgment cloaked her espionage for the south during the american civil war. My fascination with civil war times began when i was about 9 years old. A maryland native, rose oneale greenhow 18171864 grew up in washington, d. Aug 01, 2015 on august 23, 1861, rose oneal greenhow, a popular society matron and confederate spy, was arrested at her washington dc home. Inside the book was a note meant for her daughter, little rose. We learned about the existence of rose s european diary through washington author ann blackman in her book, wild rose, civil war spy, a true story, published by random house in june 2005. After her release in 1862, greenhow traveled to europe on a diplomatic mission for the confederacy. If you would like to participate, visit the project page, or contribute to the discussion. As blackman reveals, deadly accurate intelligence that rose supplied to general pierre g. Rose oneal greenhow was a southern belle of considerable influence in the prewar washington, d.
A bearer of dispatches to the confederate government. Life of rose oneal greenhow, confederate spy ishbel ross snippet view 1954. Letter of introduction for the reverend bishop kipp, who was the episcopal bishop of california. Rosa greenhow, which floated ashore from the wreck in which she perished. Youve likely heard of rose oneal greenhow, the famous or infamous southern spy in washington d. Her book cemented her exploits in the annals of civil war lore and legend. My imprisonment and the first year of abolition rule at washington, p. The first important confederate spy was a young widow named rose oneal greenhow. Rose was truly one of the most incredible civil war women. Among her accomplishments was the secret message she sent to general pierre g. Confederate spy rose oneal greenhow drowns off the north carolina coast when a yankee craft runs her ship aground. Rose greenhow papers, special collections library, duke university.
My imprisonment and the first year of abolition rule at washington. Rose oneal greenhow, 18141864 my imprisonment and the first. Prisoners of war confederate states of america biography. News clipping source unknown of greenhows obituary. The famous spys daughter youve likely heard of rose oneal greenhow, the famous or infamous southern spy in washington d. Rose oneal greenhow, nicknamed wild rose, used her political and social contacts in washington, d. During her long washington career she knew nine presidents and was the intimate friend and advisor of one. My maternal grandmother was a schoolteacher and i guess that is why we had so many books in our attic at home. Rose oneal greenhow was a celebrated civil warspy who used her high social position in washington to spy.
Rose s war,18611864, the memoirs of a southern confederate sympathizer, volume ii kindle history book 2 by rose oneal greenhow, mark parsons, et al. You might have see the photograph of her which was taken while she was in prison. It starts with her childhood and covers the years as a spy indepth. Rose oneal greenhow was adept at political intrigue and often involved in scandal.
Greenhow, a widow in her 40s at the time of her arrest, had been born in maryland but spent her teenage years in the capital living with her aunt. While in london, she wrote this memoir detailing her. Beauregard which ultimately caused him to win the battle of bull run. Ann blackman describes the espionage career of rose oneal greenhow, a socialite and devotee of the southern cause who used her connections and her charm to provide information about union military secrets to the. The national archives has digitized and made available in the national archives catalog 175 documents that the u. Rose o neal greenhow 18171864 born in port tobbaco, maryland, as a teenager o neal moved from her familys maryland farm to her aunts fashionable boardinghouse in washington, d. Oct 03, 2012 rose oneal greenhow was a confederate spy and wealthy socialite from washington d. She was an intelligent,vivacious and beautiful woman who had the ability to entice men to talk more than they should. Rose s war,18601864, the memoirs of a southern confederate sympathizer, volume i kindle history book 1 mar 25, 2012. Rose oneal married the prominent physician and historian robert greenhow in 1835 and became a leading hostess of washington, d. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Wild rose, as she was called from a young age, was a leader in washington society, a passionate secessionist, and one of the most renowned spies in the civil war. By birth, she is a marylander, but her dramatic journey will take her at last to the old north state.
Seized correspondence of rose oneal greenhow national archives. Mar 25, 2012 roses war,18601864, the memoirs of a southern confederate sympathizer, volume i kindle history book 1 mar 25, 2012 by rose oneal greenhow, mark parsons, parsons publishing company. My imprisonment and the first year of abolition rule at. Greenhow, as everyone called her, was born in the south but raised in washington, d. Greenhow moved easily in the social circles of the nations capital.
Intelligence service seized from greenhows home in august 1861. In 1850 the greenhows moved to mexico city and then to san francisco. Rose oneal greenhow was the confederacys most celebrated female spy at the start of the civil war. Rose oneal greenhow was a confederate spy and wealthy socialite from washington d. While she found a great deal of sympathy there, neither nation would officially sanction the southern government. Greenhow attempted to flee in a rowboat but the small boat capsized. Papers letters memoirs histories 1,111 pages of letters, papers, memoirs, histories, and photos related to rose oneal greenhow. Calhoun and james buchanan, and a party to various intrigues, especially those of the cuban general narciso lopez. Born into a maryland farming family impoverished when her father was killed by one of his slaves, rose grew up as one of the belles of washington, d. Jun 20, 20 she was born maria rosetta oneal and orphaned in childhood when a slave murdered her father. The first important confederate spy was a young widow named rose o neal greenhow. Though rosetta is a fictional character in i shall be near to you, some of the people she encounters as an enlisted soldier are not.
There were sets of nancy drew mysteries, curlytops. Oct 02, 2019 confederate spy rose oneal greenhow drowns off the north carolina coast when a yankee craft runs her ship aground. About rose oneal greenhow rose oneal greenhow was born in montgomery county, maryland in 1817. Rose oneal greenhow, 18141864 my imprisonment and the.
Personable, intelligent, and outgoing, she adapted easily to the social scene of the capital, and people in washingtons highest circles opened their doors to her. Rose o neal greenhow was adept at political intrigue and often involved in scandal. Online archival collections, special collections library, duke university summary a project of the digital scriptorium, provides access to selected digitized manuscripts, including the rose oneal greenhow papers, sarah e. And, if youve seen that photograph, youve noticed someone else in the picture. This book covers areas of the civil war less well known. She was eventually discovered and arrested by allan pinkerton, head of the recently formed secret service. Rose oneal greenhow papers duke university libraries. According to what we read there, this is a brief history of the diary.
May 23, 2018 rose oneal greenhow 1817october 1, 1864 was a renowned confederate spy. Apr 26, 2020 rose greenhow was a society woman in d. On october 1, 1864, rose oneal greenhow died while trying to run the blockade and pass into the port of wilmington. Rose oneal greenhow 18171864 born in port tobbaco, maryland, as a teenager oneal moved from her familys maryland farm to her aunts fashionable boardinghouse in washington, d. Rose oneal greenhow was born in port tobacco, maryland about1817, the orphan of a prosperous planter family. Rose oneal greenhow 18 or 1814 october 1, 1864 was a renowned confederate spy. Seized correspondence of rose oneal greenhow national. She used her connections to pass along key military information to. Rose oneal greenhow was buried with full confederate military honors in wilmington, n. Rose oneal greenhow 18171864 and her daughter rose. If you enjoy espionage, civil war history, or just a good story, this book is for you.
Rose oneal greenhow was the confederacys most celebrated female spy at the. The book is well researched and well written except it dragged in area providing more background information than was necessary. Overnight, rose greenhow, fashionable hostess, become rose greenhow, intrepid spy. Orphaned as a child, greenhow was invited to live with her aunt in washington, d. In october 1864, rose oneal greenhow was buried with full military honors in oakdale cemetery, wilmington, nc. The book covers the life of rose oneal greenhow a southern socialite and civil war spy. Among such of her books as were recovered, much damaged and stained with sea. During her long washington career she knew nine presidents and was the intimate friend and advisor of one james buchanan. When rosetta guards rose oneale greenhow in the old capital prison, we are given some insights into a fascinating, historical figure. Rose oneal greenhow 18171864 and her daughter rose by. On august 23, 1861, rose oneal greenhow, a popular society matron and confederate spy, was arrested at her washington dc home.
Roses war,18601864, the memoirs of a southern confederate sympathizer, volume i kindle history book 1 mar 25, 2012. Rose greenhow was born in 1817 in port tobacco, maryland, as maria rosatta oneal. She ran an elaborate spy ring for the confederacy from her home on 16th street in washington, d. About rose o neal greenhow rose o neal greenhow was born in montgomery county, maryland in 1817. Rose oneal greenhow with her youngest daughter and namesake, little rose, at the old capitol prison, washington, d. The biographer of madeleine albright and fbi turncoat robert hansen now turns her attention to the civil war, yielding this excellent biography of confederate spy rose oneal greenhow 18171864.
Rose oneale greenhow, civil war spy, published by random house. Rose oneal greenhow was a 40 year old widow, a mother of four and a passionate secessionist when the war between the states broke out. The orphaned daughter of a prosperous plantation owner from maryland, she went to live with her aunt in washington. Rose oneal greenhow biography page american civil war. Rose o neal greenhow was born in montgomery county, maryland in 1817. His widow, eliza oneal, was left with four daughters and a cashpoor farm to manage. When rosetta guards rose o neale greenhow in the old capital prison, we are given some insights into a fascinating, historical figure. She was a confidante of several powerful political figures, notably john c. Rose oneal greenhow 18 or 1814 october 1, 1864 was a renowned confederate spy during the american civil war. Rose o neal greenhow was born in port tobacco, maryland about1817, the orphan of a prosperous planter family. Rose oneal greenhow 18171864 was a popular socialite in washington, dc, and a spy for the south during the civil war. Rose o neal greenhow 18171864 was a popular socialite in washington, dc, and a spy for the south during the civil war. When the confederate army declared victory at the first major battle.
Rose greenhow was born in 1817 in port tobacco, maryland, as maria rosatta o neal. Robert greenhow, with whom she bore four daughters. Rose oneal greenhow was adept at political intrigue and often involved i. Greenhow successfully sent a ten word secret message to general beauregard that president jefferson davis later credited with. C born into a large slaveholding family in maryland around 18, rose was sent to live with her aunt in washington d. Greenhow circulated among the capitals elite social circles, and her home stood within sight of the white house. Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. Sep 18, 2000 rose o neal greenhow was buried with full confederate military honors in wilmington, n. She was rich and attractive, and to the disappointment of her many admirers, she married, yet was widowed in 1854 from her husband dr. Calhoun and james buchanan, and a party to various. Rose oneal greenhow 1817october 1, 1864 was a renowned confederate spy. Rose oneal greenhow was a celebrated civil warspy who used her high social position in washington to spy for the confederate cause. Due to the weight of the gold sewn into her dress, royalties from her book, she was dragged under the water. Rose oneal greenhow 18171864 and her daughter rose by the.
She was born maria rosetta oneal and orphaned in childhood when a slave murdered her father. Rose oneal greenhow american confederate spy britannica. Her father, john o neal, was supposedly murdered by one of his slaves in 1817. Beauregard written in a fascinating code the code duplicated in the background on the jacket of this book. Rose oneal greenhow was born in montgomery county, maryland in 1817. His widow, eliza o neal, was left with four daughters and a cashpoor farm to manage. Greenhow, as everyone called her, was born in the south but raised in. But with the outbreak of the civil war, everything changed. Memorial for rose oneal greenhow at wild rose, as she was called from a young age, was a leader in washington society, a passionate secessionist, and one of the most renowned spies in the civil war. Rose o neal greenhow, or wild rose as she was sometimes called, was a successful and celebrated confederate spy during the american civil war. Rose oneal greenhow is within the scope of wikiproject espionage, which aims to improve wikipedia s coverage of espionage, intelligence, and related topics. Her father, john oneal, was supposedly murdered by one of his slaves in 1817. She started by organizing her own spy ring in her enemys capital, and used the information she gathered to help the confederacy win at least.
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