JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
It was a tough life, post war, for a now-famous spy. Elizabeth Van Lew, about whom much has been written apparently was not done with the war- or at least, the war was not done with her. Appomattox denied her, the war was never, ever over. Decades after Richmond's fall even the Van Lew mansion was added to Richmond's war rubble; razed and ruined, the result of the same hostilities begun when a rage and glee filled Ruffin jerked that lanyard the width of our nation.
To those who would say " Well, what did she expect, she was a spy? Against the Confederacy! Of course she had enemies post war! " I say- The War- was over. This was a little, determined lady, in the truest sense, pretty much alone in the world. Being bullied by powerful men was shameful, beyond shameful. Given the unwritten social codes of the time especially, Van Lew was hung out to dry in a baffling and repulsive, snarling whiplash. Her war was, and should have been over. Theirs began. I could point out she was not very well supported by anyone until someone thought to send a headstone, the now famous boulder. What a statement! Immovable. She'd have liked that.
Still, there was a mix. Tennessee was especially nasty towards her- and please remember these are after the war.
Apparently someone was unhappy Elizabeth attended a meeting held by the black community- the rest would be just sniping. Kentucky.
A Northern paper- from statements she made through these years, she wished very much NO mention of her was made in any paper.
Her ' elegant mansion ' was the Van Lew family mansion. It was her home, the only place she had and she sold, piece by piece, most of the contents. Confederate supporters finally strong armed her removal in Richmond. She died with little money. That's her, a little hauntingly drifting in her lawn.
Yes, Tennessee really held that grudge- for years. ' Rewarding spies '? What on earth government did this editor think was in charge, in Washington?
Some positive press- including her kindness to Dahlgren's family.
To those who would say " Well, what did she expect, she was a spy? Against the Confederacy! Of course she had enemies post war! " I say- The War- was over. This was a little, determined lady, in the truest sense, pretty much alone in the world. Being bullied by powerful men was shameful, beyond shameful. Given the unwritten social codes of the time especially, Van Lew was hung out to dry in a baffling and repulsive, snarling whiplash. Her war was, and should have been over. Theirs began. I could point out she was not very well supported by anyone until someone thought to send a headstone, the now famous boulder. What a statement! Immovable. She'd have liked that.
Still, there was a mix. Tennessee was especially nasty towards her- and please remember these are after the war.
Apparently someone was unhappy Elizabeth attended a meeting held by the black community- the rest would be just sniping. Kentucky.
A Northern paper- from statements she made through these years, she wished very much NO mention of her was made in any paper.
Her ' elegant mansion ' was the Van Lew family mansion. It was her home, the only place she had and she sold, piece by piece, most of the contents. Confederate supporters finally strong armed her removal in Richmond. She died with little money. That's her, a little hauntingly drifting in her lawn.
Yes, Tennessee really held that grudge- for years. ' Rewarding spies '? What on earth government did this editor think was in charge, in Washington?
Some positive press- including her kindness to Dahlgren's family.
Bringing the