276-An Unlikely Confederate Spy
12/09/19 • 30 min
1 Listener
As the Civil War fractured Washington D.C., socialite Rose O'Neal Greenhow coordinated a vital spy ring to funnel information to the Confederates. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe one of the war's most unlikely spies, and her determination to aid the South.
We'll also fragment the queen's birthday and puzzle over a paid game of pinball.
Intro:
German officer Ernst Jünger likened the sounds of World War I shelling to "being menaced by a man swinging a heavy hammer."
Bowdoin College compiled a list of odd how-to titles.
NOTE: After this episode was originally released, some listeners objected to our handling of Greenhow's story, saying that we were treating her too sympathetically when she was defending the institution of slavery. They're entirely right about that -- I had focused on her personal story without being sensitive to its larger implications. I'm very sorry for that oversight. We're presenting the story here as it originally ran, and we'll discuss listeners' reactions to it in Episode 279. -- Greg
Sources for our feature:
Ann Blackman, Wild Rose: Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War Spy, 2006.
Ishbel Ross, Rebel Rose: Life of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy, 1954.
Karen Abbott, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War, 2014.
Rose O'Neal Greenhow, My Imprisonment and the First Year of Abolition Rule at Washington, 1863.
H. Donald Winkler, Stealing Secrets: How a Few Daring Women Deceived Generals, Impacted Battles, and Altered the Course of the Civil War, 2010.
Michael J. Sulick, Spying in America: Espionage from the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War, 2014.
Allan Pinkerton, The Spy of the Rebellion, 1886.
John Bakeless, Spies of the Confederacy, 2011.
Ernest B. Furgurson, "The End of Illusions," Smithsonian 42:4 (July/August 2011), 56-64.
Jack Finnegan, "Professional Results for an Amateur," Military History, suppl. "Spies and Secret Missions: A History of American Espionage" (2002), 34-35.
Nancy B. Samuelson, "Employment of Female Spies in the American Civil War," Minerva 7:3 (Dec. 31, 1989), 57.
"Seized Correspondence of Rose O'Neal Greenhow," U.S. National Archives (accessed Nov. 24, 2019).
Rose O'Neal Greenhow Papers, Special Collections Library, Duke University.
"The Wild Rose of Washington," New York Times, Aug. 22, 2011.
"Spy Loved, Died in Line of Duty," [Wilmington, N.C] Morning Star, Dec. 31, 1999, 23.
"Civil War Day by Day," Washington [D.C.] Herald, Sept. 30, 1914, 4.
"Fair Southern Spies," [Savannah, Ga.] Morning News, Sept. 29, 1896, 5.
"Blockade Running," [Winston, N.C.] Western Sentinel, Jan. 14, 1886.
"A Rich New Year's Gift," Yorkville [S.C.] Enquirer, Feb. 6, 1862, 1.
"The Female Traitors in Washington," New York Herald, Jan. 22, 1862, 2.
"Mrs. Greenhow's Indignant Letter to Mr. Seward," New York Herald, Dec. 16, 1861, 4.
Phyllis F. Field, "Greenhow, Rose O'Neal," American National Biography, February 2000.
Listener mail:
"Public Holidays in Western Australia," Government of Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (accessed Nov. 27, 2019).
Wikipedia, "Oscar Wilde" (accessed Nov. 27, 2019).
Howard Markel,
As the Civil War fractured Washington D.C., socialite Rose O'Neal Greenhow coordinated a vital spy ring to funnel information to the Confederates. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe one of the war's most unlikely spies, and her determination to aid the South.
We'll also fragment the queen's birthday and puzzle over a paid game of pinball.
Intro:
German officer Ernst Jünger likened the sounds of World War I shelling to "being menaced by a man swinging a heavy hammer."
Bowdoin College compiled a list of odd how-to titles.
NOTE: After this episode was originally released, some listeners objected to our handling of Greenhow's story, saying that we were treating her too sympathetically when she was defending the institution of slavery. They're entirely right about that -- I had focused on her personal story without being sensitive to its larger implications. I'm very sorry for that oversight. We're presenting the story here as it originally ran, and we'll discuss listeners' reactions to it in Episode 279. -- Greg
Sources for our feature:
Ann Blackman, Wild Rose: Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War Spy, 2006.
Ishbel Ross, Rebel Rose: Life of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Confederate Spy, 1954.
Karen Abbott, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War, 2014.
Rose O'Neal Greenhow, My Imprisonment and the First Year of Abolition Rule at Washington, 1863.
H. Donald Winkler, Stealing Secrets: How a Few Daring Women Deceived Generals, Impacted Battles, and Altered the Course of the Civil War, 2010.
Michael J. Sulick, Spying in America: Espionage from the Revolutionary War to the Dawn of the Cold War, 2014.
Allan Pinkerton, The Spy of the Rebellion, 1886.
John Bakeless, Spies of the Confederacy, 2011.
Ernest B. Furgurson, "The End of Illusions," Smithsonian 42:4 (July/August 2011), 56-64.
Jack Finnegan, "Professional Results for an Amateur," Military History, suppl. "Spies and Secret Missions: A History of American Espionage" (2002), 34-35.
Nancy B. Samuelson, "Employment of Female Spies in the American Civil War," Minerva 7:3 (Dec. 31, 1989), 57.
"Seized Correspondence of Rose O'Neal Greenhow," U.S. National Archives (accessed Nov. 24, 2019).
Rose O'Neal Greenhow Papers, Special Collections Library, Duke University.
"The Wild Rose of Washington," New York Times, Aug. 22, 2011.
"Spy Loved, Died in Line of Duty," [Wilmington, N.C] Morning Star, Dec. 31, 1999, 23.
"Civil War Day by Day," Washington [D.C.] Herald, Sept. 30, 1914, 4.
"Fair Southern Spies," [Savannah, Ga.] Morning News, Sept. 29, 1896, 5.
"Blockade Running," [Winston, N.C.] Western Sentinel, Jan. 14, 1886.
"A Rich New Year's Gift," Yorkville [S.C.] Enquirer, Feb. 6, 1862, 1.
"The Female Traitors in Washington," New York Herald, Jan. 22, 1862, 2.
"Mrs. Greenhow's Indignant Letter to Mr. Seward," New York Herald, Dec. 16, 1861, 4.
Phyllis F. Field, "Greenhow, Rose O'Neal," American National Biography, February 2000.
Listener mail:
"Public Holidays in Western Australia," Government of Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (accessed Nov. 27, 2019).
Wikipedia, "Oscar Wilde" (accessed Nov. 27, 2019).
Howard Markel,
Previous Episode
275-A Kidnapped Painting
In 1961, Goya's famous portrait of the Duke of Wellington went missing from London's National Gallery. The case went unsolved for four years before someone unexpectedly came forward to confess to the heist. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe one of the greatest art thefts in British history and the surprising twists that followed.
We'll also discover Seward's real folly and puzzle over a man's motherhood.
Intro:
One of the desks on the U.S. Senate floor is full of candy.
Astronaut John Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich into space.
The following list of "Sasha Spottings" comes from Brandi Sweet, caretaker of Bella, Ojo, Schatzi, Babu, and Atte:
Episode 9 Episode 46 Episode 63 Episode 114 Episode 139 Episode 144 Episode 146 ("mentioned as purring but I couldn't hear her") Episode 148 Episode 156 Episode 164 Episode 168 Episode 173 Episode 183 Episode 201 Episode 207 Episode 215
Sources for our feature on Kempton Bunton and Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington:
Alan Hirsch, The Duke of Wellington, Kidnapped!, 2016.
Simon Mackenzie, "Criminal and Victim Profiles in Art Theft: Motive, Opportunity and Repeat Victimisation," Art Antiquity and Law 10:4 (November 2005), 353-370.
Melvin E. DeGraw, "Art Theft in Perspective," International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 31:1 (1987), 1-10.
Richard LeBlanc, "Thief-Proofing Our Art Museums: Security Expensive? ... Not the Morning After," UNESCO Courier 18:10 (November 1965), 4-6, 10-17
"Hugh Courts' Papers Relating to the Trial of Kempton Bunton," National Gallery (accessed Nov. 17, 2019).
"The National Gallery: The Missing Masterpiece," Royal Society (accessed Nov. 17, 2019).
James Whitfield, "The Duke Disappears" History Today 61:8 (August 2011), 43-49.
"Thefts From Museums," Burlington Magazine 109:767 (February 1967), 55-56.
Noah Charney, "The Wackiest Art Heist Ever," Salon, Nov. 15, 2015.
"Spectre of Goya: Letters to the Editor," Times, Oct. 31, 2019, 28.
"'The Thieves Vanished Into the Rio Carnival Crowds' - The 10 Most Audacious Art Heists in History," Telegraph.co.uk, Jan. 26, 2018.
Adrian Lee, "Britain's Most Bizarre Art Heist," Daily Express, April 16, 2016, 37.
Alan Travis, "Revealed: 1961 Goya 'Theft' From National Gallery Was a Family Affair," Guardian, Nov. 30, 2012.
"A Blizzard and a Blaze," [Newcastle-upon-Tyne] Evening Chronicle, Dec. 31, 2011, 10.
Noah Charney, "Art Thieves No Longer Oddballs," [Christchurch, New Zealand] Press, Sept. 2, 2011.
Sandy Nairne, "From National Gallery to Dr No's lair," Guardian, Aug. 6, 2011, 14.
Sandy Nairne, "How Goya's Duke of Wellington Was Stolen," Guardian, Aug. 5, 2011.
"Hero or Villain?: Geordie's Bizarre Crime of Conscience," [Newcastle-upon-Tyne] Evening Chronicle, June 30, 2010, 10.
David Lee, "It's a Steal: Why Art Remains a Favourite Among Thieves," Times, May 22, 2010, 21.
Chris Cobb, "Stolen Masterpieces," Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 11, 2009, B.1.
"Goya Thief Sent for Trial," Times, Aug. 18, 2001, 25.
Peter Lennon and Edward Pilkington, "Files Reveal Innocent Man Was Jailed for Stealing Goya Painting From the National Gallery in 1961," Guardian, Jan. 13, 1996, 3.
Paul Hoffman, "Psst! Wanna Buy a Hot Rembrandt?", New York Times, June 1, 1975.
Next Episode
277-The Mad Trapper of Rat River
In the winter of 1931, a dramatic manhunt unfolded in northern Canada when a reclusive trapper shot a constable and fled across the frigid landscape. In the chase that followed the mysterious fugitive amazed his pursuers with his almost superhuman abilities. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the hunt for the "Mad Trapper of Rat River."
We'll also visit a forgotten windbreak and puzzle over a father's age.
Intro:
Korean soldier Yang Kyoungjong was conscripted successively by Japan, the Soviet Union, and Germany.
In 1978, Arnold Rosenberg examined idioms to trace a path to the most incomprehensible natural language.
RCMP constable Alfred King is at far left in the photo; constable Edgar Millen is second from right. Sources for our feature on Albert Johnson:
Dick North, Mad Trapper of Rat River: A True Story of Canada's Biggest Manhunt, 2005.
Barbara Smith, The Mad Trapper: Unearthing a Mystery, 2011.
Richard C. Davis, "The Mad Trapper, by Rudy Wiebe," Arctic 35:2 (1982), 342.
Leslie McCartney, "'You Need to Tell That True Albert Johnson Story Like We Know It': Meanings Embedded in the Gwich'in Version of the Albert Johnson Story," Canadian Journal of Native Studies 37:1 (2017), 201-235.
"Who Was the Mad Trapper of Rat River?", Forensic Magazine, June 6, 2018.
"Lawbreakers: More Hustlers, Rustlers and Wild Men," Canada's History 96:2 (April/May 2016).
Jay Merrett, "Caught by the Mad Trapper," Canada's History 93:1 (February/March 2013).
Bob Butz, "Bad Guys Gone 'Wild,'" Outdoor Life 213:6 (June/July 2006), 19.
Alan Phillips, "Who Was the Mad Trapper of Rat River?", Maclean's, Oct. 1, 1955.
Barbara Roden, "The Mad Trapper Part 4: The Quest to Identify Albert Johnson Begins," [Ashcroft, B.C.] Journal, Sept. 17, 2019.
Barbara Roden, "Golden Country: The Mad Trapper Part 5," [Ashcroft, B.C.] Journal, Oct. 3, 2019.
Marc Montgomery, "Canada History: Feb 17, 1932: The End and Beginning of the Mystery of the Mad Trapper," Radio Canada International, Feb. 17, 2017.
Michael Gates, "Dick North: Farewell to Yukon's Great Storyteller," Yukon News, Oct. 4, 2013.
"Hunt for the Mad Trapper -- The Story Ends," [Swan Hills, Alberta] Grizzly Gazette, March 13, 2012, 5.
"Hunt for the Mad Trapper," [Swan Hills, Alberta] Grizzly Gazette, Jan. 10, 2012, 4.
Josh Wingrove, "Feb. 17, 1932 / Mounties Get the Mad Trapper," Globe and Mail, Feb. 17, 2011, A.2.
Joe McWilliams, "Mad Trapper Story Still Fascinates," [High Prairie, Alberta] South Peace News, Dec. 15, 2010, 6.
Darah Hansen, "Tooth Enamel Reveals Mad Trapper No Canadian," Edmonton Journal, May 23, 2009, A.5.
James Adams, "DNA Tests Prove Mad Trapper Still a Mystery," Globe and Mail, May 13, 2009, R.1.
"Mad Trapper Not a Canadian, Scientific Tests Discover," CBC News, Feb. 20, 2009.
Jeff Holubitsky, "Fugitive Could Live All Winter in Deep Bush, Outfitter Says," Edmonton Journal, Oct. 10, 2007, A18.
Erin Hitchcock, "The Mad Trapper, Unmasked," [New Westminster, B.C.] Record, Sept. 15, 2007, 3.
"Trapper Almost Evades Capture," Guelph Mercury, Aug. 16, 2007, A6.
"Filmmakers Exhume Mad Trapper's Body," Nanaimo [B.C] Daily News, Aug. 15, 2007, A2.
Keith Bonnell, "Mystery of 'Mad Trapper' Nearly Solved," Vancouver Sun, Aug. 15, 2007, C10.
"Mad Trapper's Remains Surface in Historic Dig," CBC News, Aug 13, 2007.
Katherine Harding, "Hunt for the Mad Trapper Is Back On," Globe and Mail, May 29, 2007, A.3.
"Remains of Mad Trapper of Rat River Could Finally Lead to Identification," [Prince Rupert, B.C.] Daily News, May 7, 2007, 11.
"Mad Trapper Mystery May Finally Be Solved," Winnipeg Free Press, May 5, 2007, A.13.
Ian Mcinroy, "Tracker of Mad Trapper Remembered," [Barrie, Ontario] Examiner, Jan. 13, 2006, A3.
Tom Hawthorn, "He Hunted the Mad Tr...
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