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A Yankee Spy in Richmond: The Civil War Diary of "Crazy Bet" Van Lew
A Yankee Spy in Richmond The Civil War Diary of Crazy Bet Van Lew Author:Elizabeth L. Van Lew, David D. Ryan Many civilians on both sides during the Civil War hoped to support the war effort as spies, but only a few actually became useful agents. One of the most effective-and least known-was a woman living in the heart of Confederate Richmond. Elizabeth Van Lew, called "Crazy Bet" by her suspicious and condescending neighbors, maintained contact with U... more »nion authorities throughout most of the war and earned the thanks of Gen. U. S. Grant, among others, at the war's end. The secret diary Van Lew kept during those years provides an unparalleled account of the life of a Civil War spy. Her sporadic notations reveal her fears, her triumphs, and the constant danger she faced in sending information through the lines to the Yankees while aiding the escape attempts of Union prisoners in Richmond.« less