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Book/Printed Material Letter Written in Cipher on Mourning Paper by Rose Greenhow.

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About this Item

Title

  • Letter Written in Cipher on Mourning Paper by Rose Greenhow.

Summary

  • Rose O'Neal Greenhow was a spy for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. As a young woman in Washington, she befriended many influential politicians, including President James Buchanan and South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun, who played a role in shaping her dedication to the South. During the Civil War, Greenhow wrote ciphered (secret code) messages to the Confederates, providing information about Union military plans. Confederate President Jefferson Davis credited her with helping the South win the First Battle of Bull Run. Greenhow sent a message about Union troop movements in time for Brigadier Generals Pierre Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston to meet at Manassas, Virginia. A young woman working with Greenhow named Betty Duvall carried the message wrapped in a tiny black silk purse and hidden in a hair bun. Head of U.S. Intelligence Service Allan Pinkerton observed Rose Greenhow as part of his counterintelligence activities and found sufficient evidence to place her under house arrest. She later was transferred to prison and then deported to Richmond, Virginia. Shown here is one of her encoded letters.

Names

  • Greenhow, Rose O'Neal, 1817-1864 Creator.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1861-08-23.

Headings

  • -  United States of America
  • -  1861
  • -  Ciphers
  • -  Confederate States of America
  • -  Espionage
  • -  Intelligence service
  • -  Spies
  • -  United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: Manuscript (1 page, front and back, and 2 additional pages of paper).
  • -  Original resource at: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
  • -  Content in English.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667572

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Greenhow, Rose O'Neal, Creator. Letter Written in Cipher on Mourning Paper by Rose Greenhow. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -08-23, 1861] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667572/.

APA citation style:

Greenhow, R. O. (1861) Letter Written in Cipher on Mourning Paper by Rose Greenhow. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -08-23] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667572/.

MLA citation style:

Greenhow, Rose O'Neal, Creator. Letter Written in Cipher on Mourning Paper by Rose Greenhow. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -08-23, 1861] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667572/>.