Women of Civil War

This is how she began her career as a Civil War spy.

Some women spied right at home, listening carefully to the conversations at social gatherings and then reporting on what they had heard.

10 Of course, women participated in the Civil War in many other ways besides spying.

Both Lottie and the judge were active supporters of the Confederacy, and when war messages had to be sent in secret, the couriers often stopped by the judge's house.

Both Lottie and the judge were active supporters of the Confederacy, and when war messages had to be sent in secret, the couriers often stopped by the judge's house.

Then spying became a very dangerous occupation for a woman.

4 Harriet Tubman is best known for her work on the Underground Railroad, but she also worked for the Union army during the Civil War. Harriet worked as a nurse, cook, and spy durin

Women who wanted to participate in the actual fighting disguised themselves as men and became soldiers.

12 It is estimated that, during the Civil War, thousands of women served as nurses, hundreds served in other occupations, and approximately 80 were wounded or killed.

Dorothea Dix, a pioneer in the field of medical care for the mentally ill, was a Civil War nurse too.

She knew the countryside very well from her years on the Underground Railroad, and this knowledge was a valuable asset to the Union army.

This is how she began her career as a Civil War spy.

Some posed as slaves.

Harriet recruited former slaves for the war effort, and she helped to hunt out enemy camps.

5 Belle Boyd operated in the Shenandoah Valley, carrying on her spying activities from her father's hotel at Front Royal, Virginia.

6 Nancy Hart disguised herself as a peddler and hung around army camps to learn secret information.

7 Pauline Cushman was an actress.

Dorothea Dix, a pioneer in the field of medical care for the mentally ill, was a Civil War nurse too.

Lottie volunteered.

She carried messages written in a secret code until she was captured and put in prison.

9 Women spies had all kinds of tricks to help them accomplish their mission.

She carried messages written in a secret code until she was captured and put in prison.

9 Women spies had all kinds of tricks to help them accomplish their mission.

Women who wanted to participate in the actual fighting disguised themselves as men and became soldiers.

12 It is estimated that, during the Civil War, thousands of women served as nurses, hundreds served in other occupations, and approximately 80 were wounded or killed.

One time they needed a new courier, someone who could slip by without being recognized as a messenger.

So was the famous author, Louisa May Alcott.

11 Other occupations of Civil War women include doctor, sutler, and even soldier.

Dorothea Dix, a pioneer in the field of medical care for the mentally ill, was a Civil War nurse too.

Both Lottie and the judge were active supporters of the Confederacy, and when war messages had to be sent in secret, the couriers often stopped by the judge's house.

Sutlers traveled onto the field of battle to provide supplies needed by the troops.

She carried messages written in a secret code until she was captured and put in prison.

9 Women spies had all kinds of tricks to help them accomplish their mission.

She carried messages written in a secret code until she was captured and put in prison.

9 Women spies had all kinds of tricks to help them accomplish their mission.

They traveled back and forth through Union lines, until both sisters were discovered and arrested.

3 Lottie and Ginnie Moon are just two of the many women who served as spies during the Civil War. At first, women made great spies because no one suspected them of being part of the war.

She used her acting career to travel without suspicion, collecting information along the way.

8 One of the most famous spies was "Wild Rose" Greenhow.

They traveled back and forth through Union lines, until both sisters were discovered and arrested.

3 Lottie and Ginnie Moon are just two of the many women who served as spies during the Civil War. At first, women made great spies because no one suspected them of being part of the war.

Harriet recruited former slaves for the war effort, and she helped to hunt out enemy camps.

5 Belle Boyd operated in the Shenandoah Valley, carrying on her spying activities from her father's hotel at Front Royal, Virginia.

6 Nancy Hart disguised herself as a peddler and hung around army camps to learn secret information.

7 Pauline Cushman was an actress.

Sutlers traveled onto the field of battle to provide supplies needed by the troops.

Harriet recruited former slaves for the war effort, and she helped to hunt out enemy camps.

5 Belle Boyd operated in the Shenandoah Valley, carrying on her spying activities from her father's hotel at Front Royal, Virginia.

6 Nancy Hart disguised herself as a peddler and hung around army camps to learn secret information.

7 Pauline Cushman was an actress.

She had official-looking papers that said she was a British citizen; these helped her to travel almost anywhere without suspicion.

2 Lottie's sister Ginnie supported the war effort in another way.