A Southern Spy (Rose O'Neal Greenhow) By Krista Keesling
On July 21, 1861 the Confederate troops, under General Beauregard, defeated the Union troops at the Battle of Bull Run. But how did General Beauregard know the whereabouts of the Union troops? How did Beauregard know that General McDowell and his 30,000 men were headed to Manassas, Virginia? Because of a woman! A woman, you ask? How is it that a woman tipped off Beauregard to one of the most important Confederate victory? Simple - Rose O'Neal Greenhow slipped a message across the lines, in the hair of a young southern girl, and delivered to General Beauregard the message of the Union troop plans.
This wasn't the first spy mission for Rose Greenhow. She was a skilled spy for the South by this time. Rose O'Neal Greenhow was born in 1815 in Montgomery County, Maryland. She later moved to Washington D.C. and became very active in the political circle. She adamantly supported the South's cause and when the war started in 1861, Rose immediately joined the Confederate spy ring. She became a very valuable tool in sending messages and collecting information about the enemy. Her only mistake was that she conducted her business very openly. Rose Greenhow was placed under house arrest. But this didn't last very long. Rose was a very difficult prisoner. She waved the Confederate flag from her window and still managed to send messages to the Confederate troops.
In 1862, in a prisoner exchange, Rose was sent South and there she was received a heroine's welcome. Rose wrote her memoir, My Imprisonment, in 1863. The book made her famous and she was sent abroad as a spokesperson for the South's cause. On one of her trips home on October of 1864, Rose's ship ran into stormy weather and she drowned. Rose was buried with military honors. Rose O'Neal Greenhow was a brave and courageous lady. She took her obligation to the South seriously and without her, the outcome of the war, particularly the Battle of Bull Run, may have turned out differently.
1. In what year did the Civil War begin? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
2. What battle was pivotal in the war? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
3. How did Rose Greenhow aid the Confederate troops? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
4. What, do you think, would have happened if Rose Greenhow's message never reached General Beauregard? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why did Rose Greenhow receive a military burial? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
A Southern Spy: Rose O'Neal Greenhow By: Krista Keesling This story concerns the events leading up to the Battle of Bull Run. It is about a courageous lady, Rose O'Neal Greenhow, who changed the course of a very important battle, by her secret message. Rose delivered a message to General Beauregard about the plans of the Northern troops of General McDowell. With her message, the Southern troops were able to learn of the whereabouts of the Northern troops, and defeat them in the Battle of Bull Run.
A Southern Spy Outline
I. Battle of Bull Run
A. Date July 21, 1861
B. South defeats North
C. How? a woman
II. The Message
A. Sent by Rose O'Neal Greenhow
B. Informed the Southern troops
III. Rose
A. Born 1815 Montgomery County, Maryland
B. Political background in Washington DC
C. Southern spy
D. Imprisoned
IV. Her Memoirs
A. Book "My Imprisonment"
B. Travels as a spokesperson for South
C. Death 1864 at sea
D. Military Burial
Answers to Questions:
1. 1861
2. Battle of Bull Run
3. spy
4. The North would have won the battle and changed the course of the war.
5. She was a Southern hero.
SOURCES Frazier, Thomas. Voices of America, readings in American History. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston: 1985.
Story of America: Civil War (story cards). Panarizon Pub. Co, USA: 1979.
United States History: Beginnings through Reconstruction Volume 1. Charles Merrill Publishing, Columbus, Ohio: 1986.