A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia: The Civil War Album of Laura RatcliffeThe remarkable true story of the woman who sheltered Confederate soldiers and gathered intelligence—and the secret book given to her by J. E. B. Stuart. As the Civil War raged, Confederate brigadier general J. E. B. Stuart entrusted a secret album to Laura Ratcliffe, a young girl in Fairfax County, “as a token of his high appreciation of her patriotism, admiration of her virtues, and pledge of his lasting esteem.” A devoted Southerner, Laura provided a safe haven for Rebel forces, along with intelligence gathered from passing Union soldiers. Ratcliffe’s book contains four poems and forty undated signatures: twenty-six of Confederate officers and soldiers and fourteen of loyal Confederate civilians. In A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia, Charles V. Mauro uncovers the mystery behind this album, identifying who the soldiers were and when they could have signed its pages. The result is a fascinating look at the covert lives and relationships of civilians and soldiers during the war, kept hidden until now. Includes photos and illustrations |
Contents
50 | |
Letters and Poems | |
The J E B Stuart Page | |
The William Thomas Carter Page | |
The Fitzhugh Lee Page | |
The Local Women Page | |
The Dranesville Virginia and Cambridge Maryland Page | |
After the | |
Notes | |
About the Author | |
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A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia: The Civil War Album of Laura Ratcliffe Charles V. Mauro No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
43rd Battalion Alexandria April August Battle of Chantilly Berkeley Bloomfield born Brigadier brother Cambridge Camp Qui Vive Captain captured Cemetery census Centreville Road Chapman Civil civilians Cockerille Coleman command Company Confederacy Confederate army Confederate soldiers Coombe Cottage cousin December Dorchester County Dranesville enlisted Fairfax County Fairfax Court House Farley Fauquier County Fitz Lee Fitzhugh Lee Frankland Frying Pan Frying Pan area Frying Pan Church Goldsborough Hairston Henry Herndon horses Ibid Infantry J.E.B. Stuart John Singleton Mosby June Kate Carper Keen and Mewborn Laura's house Leesburg letter Little River Turnpike lived located Longacre Loudoun County Lynchburg major married Maryland Massow miles Millan Mosby’s mother moved Northern Virginia October Peck picket raid Ratcliffe family regiment Richmond Robert Rosser Scott scouting Second Manassas September signed Laura's album signed the album sister Southern Station Thomas troops Union soldiers Virginia Cavalry visit Laura Warrenton Washington White William Willie women wounded Yankees