The Property of
A Descendant of JOHN Y. MASON (1799-1873)
[CIVIL WAR]. GREENHOW, ROSE O'NEAL, Confederate spy. Autograph letter signed ("Rose Greenhow") to "My dear Judge" [John Young Mason], San Francisco, 15 December [c.1850]. 4 pages, 8vo. Fine.
Details
[CIVIL WAR]. GREENHOW, ROSE O'NEAL, Confederate spy. Autograph letter signed ("Rose Greenhow") to "My dear Judge" [John Young Mason], San Francisco, 15 December [c.1850]. 4 pages, 8vo. Fine.
A frantic letter written by the future Confederate spy: "This is not to be considered a letter but mearly an announcement that we are in California. I am now supported by pillows...I have been confined for five weeks with the fever of the country. At one time I believe my life was in great danger...but I am getting well. Mr. Greenhow has been admitted to practice in the courts...he is engaged in cases of importance already but the expenses are fearful for his office...our real thought is to raise the money to build [a new house] but at present [w]e cannot. He is hard at work for a case...He is very anxious to hear from you sir as he has not done so since he left Richmond and he is anxious to receive the accounts...as he fears...a fall of property might come in Richmond...when he might have no redress against the purchaser. I pray you my dear judge write to us for this is our hour of tryal here and we need to be sustained by our friends...By the next steamer I will write to you a long letter giving some sketch of California life here..." Rose O'Neal Greenhow (1817-1864) was married to Robert Greenhow (1800-1854) the noted physician, scientist, linguist, historian and attorney. They moved to California in 1850. Robert Greenhow was appointed law officer to the land commission, but died in 1854. Rose returned east to Washington, D.C., where she formed strong friendships with many politicians, most notably President James Buchanan. "Thomas Jordan recruited her in 1861 [to spy for the Confederacy]. Using his primitive cipher code, she furnished useful inside information of Union plans" (Boatner, 356). Following the 1st Bull Run campaign, Alan Pinkerton placed her under house arrest, but she continued espionage activities. In June 1862, she was deported to the South where she was lionized as a hero. She went to Europe on a semi-official mission, met Queen Victoria and Napoleon III, and became engaged to the Second Earl of Granville, but drowned off Wilmington, North Carolina in 1864.
A frantic letter written by the future Confederate spy: "This is not to be considered a letter but mearly an announcement that we are in California. I am now supported by pillows...I have been confined for five weeks with the fever of the country. At one time I believe my life was in great danger...but I am getting well. Mr. Greenhow has been admitted to practice in the courts...he is engaged in cases of importance already but the expenses are fearful for his office...our real thought is to raise the money to build [a new house] but at present [w]e cannot. He is hard at work for a case...He is very anxious to hear from you sir as he has not done so since he left Richmond and he is anxious to receive the accounts...as he fears...a fall of property might come in Richmond...when he might have no redress against the purchaser. I pray you my dear judge write to us for this is our hour of tryal here and we need to be sustained by our friends...By the next steamer I will write to you a long letter giving some sketch of California life here..." Rose O'Neal Greenhow (1817-1864) was married to Robert Greenhow (1800-1854) the noted physician, scientist, linguist, historian and attorney. They moved to California in 1850. Robert Greenhow was appointed law officer to the land commission, but died in 1854. Rose returned east to Washington, D.C., where she formed strong friendships with many politicians, most notably President James Buchanan. "Thomas Jordan recruited her in 1861 [to spy for the Confederacy]. Using his primitive cipher code, she furnished useful inside information of Union plans" (Boatner, 356). Following the 1st Bull Run campaign, Alan Pinkerton placed her under house arrest, but she continued espionage activities. In June 1862, she was deported to the South where she was lionized as a hero. She went to Europe on a semi-official mission, met Queen Victoria and Napoleon III, and became engaged to the Second Earl of Granville, but drowned off Wilmington, North Carolina in 1864.