State

Mrs. Rose O’Neal Greenhow Slit* was a famous Con federate» woman spy. gave advance notice off the movement of Federal troops toward Hull Hun and ren¬ dered many other valuable services to the Southern cause. WILMINGTON is probably the only city in the United States where there is buried a woman spy who offered her life while in active service for the cause to which she was devoted. There is an interesting, human narrative which surrounds this chapter in American history. In Wilmington's Oakdale cemetery, which for natural beauty and at¬ tractiveness probably is without an equal in the South, there is a grave set opart unto itself. It is sur¬ mounted with a white marble pedestal and a simple cross. The monument bears the following eloquent and appealing testimonial to the valor and bravery of a dis¬ tinguished Southern woman. "This monument commemorates the deeds of Mrs. Rosa Greenhow, a bearer of despatches to the Con¬ federate Government. She was drowned off Fort Fisher from the blockade runner Condor, while at¬ tempting to run the blockade, Sept. 30th. 1864. The body washed ashore on Fort Fisher beach and was brought to Wilmington. N. C. This monument was erected by the Ladies Memorial Association." History recounts that the life of Mrs. Rose O’Neal Greenhow was an exceptional one. She was well born, cultured, splendidly edu¬ cated. and wealthy. During The War Between the States she lan¬ guished in a prison cell and dared death many times in her ardent de¬ sire to help the South. Remained in Washington When the initial gun was fired at Fort Sumter, near Charleston, S. C\. most Southerners abruptly left Washington. Mrs. Greenhow decided to remain in the federal capital and managed to forward secret and valuable information to the Confederate leaders. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confed¬ eracy, said to her. “But for you there would have been no battle of Bull Run.” For it was she who warned the Confederates of the approaching Union army. Her position was entirely too dangerous to remain long undis- By LOUIS T. MOORE covered. In August, 1861. Mrs. Greenhow was arrested by Allen Pinkerton and imprisoned in her own house, with her little eight- year-old daughter. Six months later she was removed to an ordi¬ nary cell in the old Capitol prison, but she was allowed to take the child with her. The latter became ill in prison, and in May. 1862, mother and daughter were released and sent to Richmond. Later. Mrs. Greenhow said she felt no obliga¬ tion to discontinue her work as a secret agent for the Confederacy, since the paroles for both had been signed by the little girl. When she entered the Federal prison in Washington, the child is said to have remarked to Lieutenant Wood, the officer in charge: "You have got one of the hardest little Rebels here that you ever saw.” Trip to England In the Spring of 1864 Mrs. Green¬ how is said to have left Wilming¬ ton for England on an important mission for the Confederate gov¬ ernment. After spending a few months there, she departed on the return trip, in September. She was bearing important despatches and is said to have had a heavy belt filled with gold around her waist. The steamer Condor was a side- wheeler. While attempting to pass through the inlet to avoid Northern craft, the ship grounded. Against his will. Mrs. Greenhow persuaded the captain to send her ashore in one of his small boats. She felt it would be a great blow to her cause to be captured by the blockaders. While the small boat was making a passage through the breakers, it overturned. Mrs. Greenhow and the several sailors manning it, were drowned. The following day, September 29, her body was washed ashore on Fort Fisher Beach. The remains were carried to Wilmington and laid in state for a day. Patriotic women of the city took charge of the body and ar¬ ranged for a funeral service in keeping with the name and fame of the distinguished dead. Mrs. Greenhow was a prominent figure in Washington society dur¬ ing the Buchanan administration. She had become a resident of Wash¬ ington in her girlhood. There she had grown to womanhood under the influences which are thrown around the society element in the nation's capital. She was rich, beautiful and attractive. She possessed ready wit and a charm¬ ing and forceful personality. She was a close personal friend of President Buchanan and of Wil¬ liam H. Seward, a very prominent Critical figure. With such friends er social position was of the highest, und she entertained many of the most prominent men in the country in her hospitable home. When The War Between the States began, she was entertaining Colonel Thomas Jordan, later Adju¬ tant General of the Confederate army. Knowing Mrs. Grccnhow’s strong sympathy for the South¬ land. Colonel Jordan determined to secure her services for the new¬ born Confederacy. He proposed to her that she become a secret agent for the Confederate government. Social position, wide acquaintance and personal magnetism made her pre-eminently the one to extract information of military value to the Southern cause. Mrs. Green¬ how consented to perform this perilous service for the land she loved. She started at once to get possession of facts which would be useful in the approaching cam¬ paign. Investigated by Pinkerton She began her work in April 1861. By August. Allan Pinkerton, head of the Federal secret service, sent in a report to the War Depart¬ ment. It vehemently denounced Mrs. Greenhow for alienating the hearts of Federal officers from their sympathy with their country. Pinkerton accused her of obtaining through wiles and powerful per¬ sonal methods, memoranda (and ( Continued on page 23) 7