Isabella

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I grew up not knowing my parents. I lived in a boardinghouse with my two sisters, my brother went to a boys home, I never saw him again. I grew up there for the next 18 years. When i turned 21 I married Dr. Robert Greenhow. Him and I had five children, four girls and one boy. My husband then died in 1853, but I stayed strong and became a spy for the confederates (shh, dont tell anyone). I was very successful in my career.======

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 * 1854** – Kansas and Nebraska was just granted the right to choose if they are to be a slave or free slave state. I am not sure if I agree with what is happening. I think slaves should work for their freedom.======

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The war is not yet over. No one has won, but the Confederacy must prevail. I’ve worked too hard for us to just give up or lose now. Sometimes I wonder why it was such a big deal or a bad thing to own a person. Slavery is a way of life in the south and always has been. Slaves get a roof over their heads and food on their tables and sure they have to work for it.======

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Anyway, I have a talent, and I don’t plan on losing it any time soon. Dear Robert has been dead for many years yet I remain entrenched in Washington society and this hobnobbing allows me to spy for the confederacy. I was imprisoned for a year because of their suspicions, yet no one stopped me helping the south. My secret letters were sent out by means of hair buns and undergarments of confederate friends. I was the reason we won many fights and battles. The union thinks they can defeat us, but they don’t even know the power that we are capable of. The heart of the battle starts with us. The blood of our men is richer than theirs. I know all of the union’s moves. Every step they take, I follow along, recording everything, and passing it on to the opposing team. My biggest victory being Bull Run, where I sent a beautiful woman, named Betty Duvall to Fairfax Court near Bull Run to deliver a letter. With the message tightly wound in her hair, one concerning Irvin McDowell, a Union commander, preparing to advance on the Confederacy in five days, and delivered it to a General Milledge L. Bonham who then passed it on to President Davis. When McDowell found out, he immediately prepared for an advance on Bull Run. That is how the Confederacy won Bull Run. That is my gift to the south. I shudder to think about living under the thumb of the north if we lose, and watch our economy and way of life washed away if Lincoln abolishes slavery.======

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I never had the chance to own a slave; if I did I would have taken one gladly. You know, its hard running a household where guests visit almost every other day and I must entertain Washington society all the time. Unfortunately I live in the north, owning a slave isn’t exactly practical. But I guess I must do without. It is my job after all, it gives me a first hand look at what is going on here in the north, and then reporting it to my confederate friends. My husband, Dr. Robert Greenhow was a peaceful man, a bit too peaceful for me. He thought I was a strong Union woman who cared for people no matter what color they were. I don’t like or dislike black people. Slavery began in the sugar plantations of the Caribbean islands so it was inevitable that it would be sorely needed in my beloved south to work the cotton fields. Who knows some people say that the success of Ely Whitney’s cotton gin made us so dependent on slaves working the fields and making the south thrive.======

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When my husband died in 1849 I decided to stay strong and keep my work going, having his death not affect my place in society. Through my life I have decided not to focus on worthless causes, like slavery or trying to fight for woman’s rights. With my reputation people already know how strong and demanding I am. It takes up too much of my time. My four children and I have learned how to fight for ourselves and finish all the chores needed. I did what ever needed to be done to help the confederate cause.======

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I formed an alliance with Thomas John Rayford, a member of the United States army. Rayford taught me to read and write codes that others could not understand. He and I are now working on developing a Confederate Spy Network. Many of us are Virginia natives who have moved to the north and successfully blended in and become a part of their society.======

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So today I was going along with my normal routine, when my friends came over for our regular meeting, they came in quite angry. When I asked why, they said that throughout the day all of the union troops they work with were speaking very badly of the Confederates. With their rage flaring I decided that it would be a good idea to just let them share what happened so that it didn’t conflict with our work. My friend Thomas said that they had accused the Confederacy of having no moral compass, and Abby heard that a few Union solders said, “The Confederates were fighting for a terrible cause.” Hearing this it started to make me think about the Revolutionary War, we fought that War for the same reason the Confederates are fighting the Union. Sometimes you have to stand up for your principles like our forefathers and fight. At that point I was just angry, I felt discriminated against. How dare that speak of us in such a way, what right do they have? We have our own laws, why do they have to worry so much about our choices? If all men are created equal then they don’t have a right to treat us differently. Without the Confederacy this country would be nowhere close to where it is today. Sure, maybe owning someone is bad, but our economy depends on it. Slavery was part of the very beginning of this great nation. Everyone knows George and Martha Washington had many slaves. This country’s economy would be in ashes if it weren’t for us and our prosperous way of life would crumble without slavery. The founders of our nation fought for principles they believed in and fought for economic reasons as well. If its good enough for them its good enough for us.======