Elizabeth Van Lew was a member
of one of Richmond ,Virginias most wealthy families. When the Civil
War started she was 42. She was considered strane though by Richmond
society. She used this as a cover though to do her spying.
This enabled her to become the most effective Union spy in Richmond.
The service that she provided to the Union soldiers made the people of
Richmond angry and therefore they would curse and throw things at her if
she walked down the street. After a while she earned the nickname"Crazy
Bet". This allowed her to do her spying though. She enlisted
her family servants and mother into the spy ring the spy ring.
Her most important thing that she did though was place a spy named Mary
Elizabeth Bowser in the Confederate White House. This spy got valuable
information while serving President Davis and Generals at Dinner meetings.
Therefore she got to hear conversations at private meetings.
She lived the rest of her life in abject poverty and died in the year 1900
in her very old mansion. |
