Elizabeth Van Lew: American Civil War Spies

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Elizabeth Van Lew was a spy during the Civil War. Elizabeth Van Lew was one of the most skilful American Civil War Spies. Elizabeth would give important people information and would order people for information. She took on a persona of “Crazy Bet,” by dressing oddly to cover her activities which were helping prisoners escape from Libby Prison. (womenshistory.about.com) She helped slaves escape from prison and gave important people information. After Elizabeth’s father died she got involved during the war. Elizabeth and her mother freed nine family slaves in 1843 after her father died. (Anderson, Ella). Before the war, Elizabeth was considered eccentric by Richmond society (Anderson, Ella).Before the war, Elizabeth was an abolitionist. …show more content…
Elizabeth started to support the union after the war started (womenshistory.about.com). She would bring items such as clothing, food, and medicine to prisoners at the Confederate Libby prison (womenshistory.about.com). She would cover her adventures which was helping prisoners escape from Libby prison by she took on a persona of, “Crazy Bet,” by dressing oddly after the war (womenshistory.about.com). The citizens of Richmond did not like how Elizabeth would help the enemy (Weaver, Mark). Because Elizabeth visited Libby, she persuaded confederate doctors to transfer Union officers to confederate hospitals in Richmond (civilwarhome.com). Elizabeth cared for the prisoners so the prisoners carved studs and a ring for her out of bones or buttons (civilwarhome.com). Elizabeth learned how to charm and deceive the guards (Anderson, Ella). Elizabeth would send her information to Benjamin Butler as well as to Grant through an elaborate courier system (cilvilwarhome.com). Butler’s man would instruct Elizabeth to send information she gathered in coded dispatches (Weaver, Mark). In 1863 Elizabeth and the people of Richmond who sympathized helped two union soldiers escape from prison and get back through union lines (Weaver, Mark). As Elizabeth’s work method continued, her method grew more complex (civilwarhome.com). Elizabeth established a five station relay line that would make her messages