Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

Belle wrote to Lincoln, threatening him to release her husband or she’d publish incriminating information about “Union atrocities.” Lincoln didn’t respond, but Samuel was released anyway. Belle struggled in England, and when Samuel had returned, she drunkenly took her frustrations out on him. She was angry and unsure of her place in the world now that she was no longer needed as a spy. Belle got pregnant and wrote her memoir. She started taking acting lessons and debuted in the West End.

Jefferson Davis’s loyal servants grew suspicious of Mary-Jane, and she had to escape before it was too late. Elizabeth helped Mary-Jane escape to the farm to reunite with her husband. Nine members of the Richmond Underground had recently been arrested. Members of the underground remained unflinching during interrogations, refusing to share any information about how it was formed, or by who.

Elizabeth delivered key information to Ulysses S. Grant, and in April, Grant pushed his troops onward and Lee’s lines were broken. The Confederacy fell; the Civil War was over. Elizabeth flew her American flag once more.