Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring 2017 by enigma alberti, illustrated by tony cliff is an adventure based on the true story of mary bowser, a freed slave who became a spy for the union and worked undercover as a maid for jefferson davis to gather confederate secrets. The chronicling of civil war intelligence activities challenges historians because of the lack of records, the lack of access to records, and the questionable truth of other records. Her wartime career is all the more astounding because her espionage depended on the very institution that was meant to subjugate her. Civil war by mark millar, steve mcniven, dexter vines. Dec 03, 2017 unfortunately, much of bowsers and yes, of course im going to be using her last name story is unknown, and the rest is riddled with misinformation. Originally titled bonnet brigades, this volume presents a comprehensive yet readable account of a longneglected aspect of american history lj 866. The historical archive from time to time produces free ebooks on specific subjects for you to enjoy. Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring introduces an exciting interactive series for middle grade readers spy on history, where the reader gets to experience history in a whole new way. Mary elizabeth bowser, was part of a union spy ring during the civil war 18611865 known as the richmond underground.
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. As part of her duties, mary sees coded documents on the presidents desk. As the reader digs into the adventures of mary bowser as she spies on the confederate president jefferson davis during the civil war, the book is full of clues and codes for the reader to try to figure out. This article relates to the secrets of mary bowser.
Ford, an ardent secessionist herself, is alleged to have gathered information on troop strength and movements from union officers billeted around the fairfax region in mid1861, which she then may have passed on to her. After van lew passed away, his daughter, elizabeth van lew, freed his slaves and paid for mary bowser. A thrilling historical account of allan pinkertons pivotal role in the civil war and the birth of the secret service scottish immigrant allan pinkerton is best known for creating the pinkerton national detective agency, which gained renown for solving train robberies in the 1850s and battling the labor movement in the latenineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries. Mary bowser was an african american spy for the union who worked as a maid in the mansion of confederate jefferson davis. What we think we know about her makes it unmistakably clear that she was, probably, the best civil war spy.
Mary bowser, also known as mary jane richards, was a former slave who operated as a union spy during the civil war. I was so glad that was recently rereleased now that my interest has grown. Tactical or battlefield intelligence became very vital to both armies in the field during the american civil war. When john van lew died, his wife and daughter, elizabeth, who later becomes the wellknown union spy, manumitted all the familys slaves. Mary jane richards, also known as mary jane richards denman, mary jane richards garvin and possibly mary bowser, was a union spy during the civil war. Mary had to return back to richmond when the civil war tension began in 1860. Born as a slave in about 1839 on john van lews plantation in richmond, virginia, mary remained as such until mr. Whether carrying messages pinned into hairdos or writing with invisible ink, these spies did their best to get information through.
Sometimes, a very special book comes along that allows your mind, and the kids minds, to actively exercise and expand while tromping through a story and learning some history. The secrets of mary bowser is a historical novel set in our nations darkest hour that packs a punch featuring a slaveturned spy heroine. Elizabeth recognized that and sent her north to attend school in philadelphia. They provided details on troop movements and strengths. Like a true chameleon who became a spy during the civil war, she lived her life close to the shadows, wearing many faces, concealing her true nature until it was needed. Dec 27, 2010 the top 12 civil war books ever written one great book for each month of 2011, the sesquicentennial of the war between the states. How freed slave mary bowser and abolitionist elizabeth van lew teamed up to spy on. The marriage was relatively short lived, and by the time the war ended, she was once again using the surname richards. The print features 9 inset images of the life of a civil war spy. A black spy in the confederate white house the new york.
Mary bowser is a fairly littleknown female spy who reported information right off jefferson davis desk as an undercover agent posing as a maid. For example, the picture to the left is widely reported to be mary bowser, but there is no documented proof of this. Unfortunately, what we know is very little, and that little is further clouded by misinformation for example, the picture to the left is widely reported to be mary bowser, but there is no documented proof of this. Mary bowser was a real person, born into slavery but freed by the daughter of the family that owned her and sent north to be. We offer discounted pricing, free shipping and unparalleled. Units of spies and scouts reported directly to the commanders of armies in the field. Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring alberti, enigma, cliff, tony on. William and mary were married four days after the civil war began. Van lew made arrangements for bowser to fill the position as the servant and this is how mary elizabeth bowser started her career as a union spy.
Lois leveens debut novel, the secrets of mary bowser, is based on the reallife story of mary bowser, a woman born into slavery in 1839 in richmond, virginia to john van lew, a merchant. Meet mary bowser, an african american spy who was able to infiltrate the. Elizabeth van lew sent mary to an african american quaker school, in philadelphia. To avoid suspicion as she operated her spy ring in the south and helped union prisoners escape from jail, hiding them in a secret room in her mansion, elizabeth created the persona of a deranged. Six books on the civil war these six histories of the civil war that are mustreads if you want to better understand the conflict a group of officers in culpeper, virginia reading. During the civil war, union sympathizer elizabeth van lew organized an intricate spy operation. This is a fascinating thomas nast civil war illustration. In the wake of a tragedy, capitol hill proposes the super hero registration act, requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government. Also i have found confederate civil war records of some of my ancestors, which really drew me in. Grant, influencing many of his decisions during the war.
Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring workman publishing. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the. Workman publishing is an independently owned family of publishers of award winning cookbooks, parenting guides, childrens books. Booksource is the premier trade book distributor to k12 school classrooms across the country. During the civil war, union sympathizer elizabeth van. Yet the attention paid to mary bowser paradoxically obscures their contributions, because many books, articles and internet posts wrongly. Mary bowser, born into slavery in virginia sometime around 1840, was, alternately, a missionary to liberia, a freedmens school teacher and, most amazingly, a union spy in the confederate white house.
Originally known as mary richards, bowser used at least two different married surnames and various aliases during her time as a spy. Her name will not be a familiar one because she used many in her life. No pen, no book, no time can do justice to slaverys wrongs. The distinction between spies and scouts was one that had life or death consequences. Mary bowser a union spy in davis home civil war filing. Meet mary bowser, an african american spy who was able to infiltrate the confederate leadership at the highest level. Mary elizabeth bowser was a former slave who operated as a spy for the union while working on the household staff at the confederate white house. Divided, the nations greatest champions must each decide how to react a decision that will alter the. Little did he know, a union spy found her way into deepest parts of the. Mary bowser, a freed slave, was a spy in jefferson daviss. She was enslaved from birth in richmond, virginia, but was effectively freed as a young child in 1843 when her owner, john van lew, died and his daughter, the abolitionist elizabeth bet van lew, took ownership of all his slaves and.
Author, television and screenplay writer my haley with her first book, the treason of mary louvestre tells the true story of a black woman slave who was a confederate spy for the union forces during the civil war that almost destroyed the united states during years of death and conflict from april 12, 1861 to may 10, 1865. Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring is the first book in the new series spy on history that combines an exciting story with interactive materials that invite the. The secrets of mary bowser the secrets of mary bowser harpercollinswilliam morrow, offers insights into the amazing, longforgotten role one african american woman played in the war that ended slavery. Great deals on one book or all books in the series. A black spy in the confederate white house the new york times. Beautifully written, meticulously researched, and paced like an edgeofyourseatnoveli love this big, ambitious. You may be interested in the book the secrets of mary bowser, by the same author as the new york times article which uses a range of historical sources to imagine marys life before and during the civil war. Learn about the true adventures of seven different people who risked their lives during the civil war. Mary bowser rose from slavery to become possibly the best civil war spy of them all. Johns church, just four days after confederate troops opened fire on fort sumter, the first battle of the civil war. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. It tells the reallife story of mary bowser, an african american spy for the union. Black dispatches was a common term used among union military men in the american civil war for intelligence on confederate forces provided by african americans, who often were slaves aiding the union forces.
She is, without a doubt, a true american civil war hero. How a black spy infiltrated the confederate white house. A publication of the central intelligence agency public. What the mary bowser civil war spy story gets wrong time. This page details the ebooks that are currently available for free to our viewers. Though much has been written about the civil war itself, little has been written about the spy war that went on within.
Mary bowser civil war filing cabinet liberty letters. The secrets of mary bowser by lois leveen on blogcritics. Sadly, much of her story will probably never be known, but what is known is this. Before the war started, though, she was married to a free black man, william wilson bowser. Written by an intelligence professional, this treatment of civil war espionage reflects his background. Some of the best intelligence gathering opportunities came about as random luck. Mary bowser union spy in the confederate white house.
Civil war book collections collectible books for sale. After her fathers death in 1851, elizabeth van lew freed ms. Based on the remarkable true story of a freed african american slave who returned to virginia at the onset of the civil war to spy on the confederates, the secrets of mary bowser is a masterful debut by an exciting new novelist. Spy of the confederate white house lois leveen january 17, 20 at 2. Mary bowser is not a name you will easily find in the history books. Mary elizabeth bowser was born a slave approximately 1839 in virginia. She used her cover as a maid in jefferson davis house to gain access to top secret documents, which she scanned with her photographic memory and passed on to her connections. Mary would meet with elizabeth disguised as a poor woman or with fellow spy thomas mcniven working as a baker making deliveries to the davis household to relay the critical information she gathered information that would then make its way to union general ulysses s. How a black spy infiltrated the confederate white house history. Mary elizabeth bowser was born a slave somewhere around 1839 on a plantation owned by john van lew of richmond. Legends and folklore are rich with stories of individual daring and accomplishment as agents and double agents during the civil war, but verifiable documentation is only available in a few cases. Its just fun and the instructions on how the codes work are hidden in the text, so these methods are exactly the ones that the civil war spies, like mary, really used. Elizabeth was well aware of marys keen intelligence, and found her willing to put it to good use as a spy when the civil war broke out in 1861.
Find the complete osprey campaign book series listed in order. Elizabeth van lew sent for mary bowser after deciding to plant a union spy in the home of jefferson davis, the president of the confederacy. Unfortunately, much of bowsers and yes, of course im going to be using her last name story is unknown, and the rest is riddled with misinformation. I had not, but she was an educated, free, black woman who worked undercover as a slave in jefferson davis confederate house. Elizabeth van lew, american abolitionist who operated an anticonfederate spy ring during the civil war, offering shelter to escaped secret agents of the federal army in a secret room of her house. The subjects of karen abbotts gripping story liar, temptress, soldier, spy leap up and almost off the page an irresistibly good tale of civil war espionage and a reminder that the heroes of our history are often found in the most unexpected places deborah blum. Even with all the confusion around which cool spy things she actually did, bowser is said to been the best civil war spy america had seen.
Hers is one of the great but infrequently told spy stories in american history a shame, say historians and others who write about the civil war, because it is a tale. Widely reported to have been a volunteer confederate spy, antonia ford was the daughter of prominent fairfax, virginia merchant and dedicated secessionist edward r. Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring enigma alberti dramatizes mary bowsers suspenseful story how she pretended to be illiterate, how she masterfully evaded detection, how she used her photographic memory to copy critical documents. The secrets of mary bowser by lois leveen goodreads. Mary bowser and the civil war spy ring introduces an exciting interactive series for middle grade readersspy on history, where the reader gets to experience history in a whole new way. They knew the terrain and could move within many areas without being noticed. Mary bowser spends her youth as a house slave in urban richmond alongside her mother. This novel is based on the true story of a woman named mary bowser who played a very important role as a spy for the union in the civil war. Materials are even included to help the reader figure things out. Ive read all here except the republic of suffering i enjoyed the differing perspectives between foote, cotton, and mcphereson as they covered the same ground. Unfortunately, what we know is very little, and that little is further clouded by misinformation. Lois leveen is the author of the novels the secrets of mary bowser and juliets nurse.