Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War

Elizabeth Van Lew is one of the four protagonists of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. She is a key figure in Civil War history, having created the Richmond Underground and saved dozens if not hundreds of Union soldiers. Throughout the book, we learn about Elizabeth’s background: She was a wealthy spinster, the daughter of a Northern entrepreneur of a hardware business, John Van Lew, whose client list included Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia. Both of her parents were Northerners who moved to Richmond together so John could expand his business. Elizabeth’s mother, Eliza, hailed from Philadelphia. Eliza’s father was mayor of Philadelphia for three terms and founded the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. As he accumulated wealth, he fought to fit into Richmond high society. Though Elizabeth was born and raised in Richmond, her mother sent her up to Philadelphia for her education. The governess of her school was an abolitionist, whose views matched those of Elizabeth’s parents.

Elizabeth and her brother, John, both engaged in the practice of “hiring out” enslaved people so they could earn a wage and eventually buy their freedom papers. Hiring out was one of the few legitimate ways that the Van Lews could ensure those they freed would not have their resulting freedom called into question. Many of the Van Lews’ enslaved servants chose to continue working for the Van Lew family even after receiving their freedom papers. Elizabeth often spoke openly about her beliefs, including her anti-Confederacy views, before the war. Her comments attracted suspicion as the war broke out. She began her espionage work by visiting prisons, smuggling in money and other needed supplies for escape hidden in food dishes and Bibles. Her operation grew as she built connections that eventually formed the Richmond Underground. She worked with a former enslaved woman, Mary-Jane Bowser, who Elizabeth viewed as a daughter; Elizabeth sent Mary-Jane North to be educated and then to the Confederate White House to work, where Mary-Jane secretly identified important intelligence for Elizabeth’s Union Army contacts. After the war, Elizabeth struggled greatly, as much of her wealth had gone to help the Union cause. Unfortunately, Elizabeth was never repaid for her efforts. She eventually died alone, and shortly thereafter, the Van Lew mansion was demolished.

Emma Edmonson is one of the four protagonists featured in Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. Emma lived as Frank Thompson for nearly a decade, having assumed the identity of a man after running away from home in New Brunswick, Canada. She left home after discovering her abusive father planned to marry her off to a much older neighbor, and, after seeing her sisters’ similar fates, Emma decided to escape. She was inspired by the book Fanny Campbell, the Female Pirate: A Tale of the Revolution! in which a fictitious pirate dresses as a man to rescue her lover and prove her worth.

Emma moved to Michigan and sold Bibles under the name of Frank Thompson for four years. To maintain her disguise, she would go on dates with women, courting one woman long enough that the woman was certain “Frank” would marry her. In 1861, Emma enlisted in the Union Army, feeling called by God to join the fight for abolition. During her time in the army, she worked as a medic and nurse, diligently caring for the sick and wounded. She befriended a man named Jerome Robbins, and the two developed a close friendship that stumbled after she revealed her true identity. Despite their growing distance, Jerome kept her secret, and his feelings for her grew more complex over time.

Emma became the mail carrier for her regiment. She was eventually recommended by her regiment’s chaplain to replace Allan Pinkerton’s spy, Timothy Webster, who had been executed by the Confederacy. Emma successfully crossed enemy lines, disguised as a fugitive enslaved person, an Irish peddler woman, and once simply a Southern civilian. Each time, she collected key information for Union generals. Emma had to stop spying as her cover was blown after an incident that ended with her being temporarily conscripted into the Confederacy. She shot the Confederate commander who conscripted her in the face, allowing her to “desert” back to the Union. Emma eventually had to leave the army for fear that her gender might be discovered. She considered becoming a missionary but then returned to nursing and to living as a woman. She eventually married, had children, and wrote a memoir. Toward the end of her life, Emma fought to receive her pension as a veteran of the Union Army. After having multiple men in her regiment vouch for her valor and heroic acts (and that she and “Frank Thompson” were indeed the same person), Emma received her pension.