Bibliograph

A southern spy in Northern Virginia, the Civil War album of Laura Ratcliffe, Charles V. Mauro

Type

Label

A southern spy in Northern Virginia, the Civil War album of Laura Ratcliffe, Charles V. Mauro

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

A southern spy in Northern Virginia

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Responsibility statement

Charles V. Mauro

Sub title

the Civil War album of Laura Ratcliffe

Summary

The 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

Target audience

adult

Classification