Mary Bowser
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Bowser was an American
freed slave who worked in connection with Elizabeth Van Lew
as a Union
spy
during the Civil War
.
around 1839, Bowser began her life as a slave on the plantation
of John Van Lew, a wealthy hardware merchant. When Bowser was very young, her family members were traded away to other masters. John Van Lew died in 1851. His daughter Elizabeth, a strong abolitionist, freed Bowser and bought her family members. Bowser stayed with the family until the late 1850s. Elizabeth Van Lew noted Bowser's intelligence and arranged her education at a Quaker school in Philadelphia, where she was studying as the Civil War began.
, Jefferson Davis
. She was eventually hired full-time. Jefferson Davis’s home was located in Richmond, where Bowser had grown up. As a spy for the Union, Bowser read a number of military documents she had access to, including lists of troop movements, reports on moving Union prisoners, military strategies, and treasury reports. She passed the information along to Van Lew and others in the Union intelligence
operation.
Bowser had many advantages as a spy. At the house, the servants were taught to be unobtrusive, so it was easy for her to gain information without being noticed. As an ex-slave, she was not expected to be able to read and write. Her colleagues in the Union intelligence operation praised her excellent memory for the information she discovered.
but was unsuccessful.
Bowser recorded her activity in a diary, though the diary's present owners - a black family in Richmond - have not allowed it to be published or consulted by outsiders. Her story was reconstructed from research into the Union intelligence operation during the Civil War, and from memoirs of her colleagues in the operation. In 1995 Bowser was admitted to the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
freed slave who worked in connection with Elizabeth Van Lew
Elizabeth Van Lew
Elizabeth Van Lew was a well-born Richmond, Virginia resident who built and operated an extensive spy ring for the United States during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
as a Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Later life
Born in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
around 1839, Bowser began her life as a slave on the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
of John Van Lew, a wealthy hardware merchant. When Bowser was very young, her family members were traded away to other masters. John Van Lew died in 1851. His daughter Elizabeth, a strong abolitionist, freed Bowser and bought her family members. Bowser stayed with the family until the late 1850s. Elizabeth Van Lew noted Bowser's intelligence and arranged her education at a Quaker school in Philadelphia, where she was studying as the Civil War began.
Espionage work
Bowser’s espionage work began in 1861. Van Lew convinced a friend to bring Bowser along to work as a servant for Varina Davis, the wife of the President of the ConfederacyConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
, Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
. She was eventually hired full-time. Jefferson Davis’s home was located in Richmond, where Bowser had grown up. As a spy for the Union, Bowser read a number of military documents she had access to, including lists of troop movements, reports on moving Union prisoners, military strategies, and treasury reports. She passed the information along to Van Lew and others in the Union intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
operation.
Bowser had many advantages as a spy. At the house, the servants were taught to be unobtrusive, so it was easy for her to gain information without being noticed. As an ex-slave, she was not expected to be able to read and write. Her colleagues in the Union intelligence operation praised her excellent memory for the information she discovered.
Disappearance and legacy
In January 1865, as the war was coming to a close, Mary Bowser fled from Richmond, never to be heard from again. Her sudden disappearance remains unexplained. Some think that her work was suspected. Before she left, Mary attempted to burn down the Confederate White HouseMuseum of the Confederacy
The Museum of the Confederacy is located in Richmond, Virginia. The museum includes the former White House of the Confederacy and maintains a comprehensive collection of artifacts, manuscripts, Confederate imprints , and photographs from the Confederate States of America and the American Civil War...
but was unsuccessful.
Bowser recorded her activity in a diary, though the diary's present owners - a black family in Richmond - have not allowed it to be published or consulted by outsiders. Her story was reconstructed from research into the Union intelligence operation during the Civil War, and from memoirs of her colleagues in the operation. In 1995 Bowser was admitted to the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
The Military Intelligence Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame established by the Military Intelligence Corps of the United States Army in 1988 to honor soldiers and civilians who have made exceptional contributions to Military Intelligence...