The Spy Who Outsmarted the Confederacy

Meet Elizabeth Van Lew — a wealthy woman from Richmond, Virginia. Southern by birth,

but secretly loyal to the Union. When the Civil War broke out, she didn’t pick

up a rifle… she picked up secrets. Elizabeth ran a spy ring right under the Confederacy’s

nose. Her cover? Acting eccentric. Locals called her “Crazy Bet” — but

she was crazy smart. She used coded messages, invisible ink, and even hid intel in hollowed-out

eggs. Her network included servants, prisoners, and even Confederate

officials. She passed info straight to Union generals — helping shape battlefield

decisions and rescue missions. After the war, President Grant made her Postmaster