Wild Rose: The True Story of a Civil War Spy

by Ann Blackman

For sheer bravado and style, no woman in the North or South rivaled the Civil War heroine Rose O’Neale Greenhow. Fearless spy for the Confederacy, glittering Washington hostess, legendary beauty and lover, Rose Greenhow risked everything for the cause she valued more than life itself. In this superb portrait, biographer Ann Blackman tells the surprising true story of a unique woman in history.

“I am a Southern woman, born with revolutionary blood in my veins,” Rose once declared–and that fiery spirit would plunge her into the center of power and the thick of adventure. Born into a slave-holding family, Rose moved to Washington, D.C., as a young woman and soon established herself as one of the capital’s most charming and influential socialites, an intimate of John C. Calhoun, James Buchanan, and Dolley Madison.

She married well, bore eight children and buried five, and, at the height of the Gold Rush, accompanied her husband Robert Greenhow to San Francisco. Widowed after Robert died in a tragic accident, Rose became notorious in Washington for her daring–and numerous–love affairs.

But with the outbreak of the Civil War, everything changed. Overnight, Rose Greenhow, fashionable hostess, become Rose Greenhow, intrepid spy. As Blackman reveals, deadly accurate intelligence that Rose supplied to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard written in a fascinating code (the code duplicated in the background on the jacket of this book). Her message to Beauregard turned the tide in the first Battle of Bull Run, and was a brilliant piece of spycraft that eventually led to her arrest by Allan Pinkerton and imprisonment with her young daughter. Indomitable, Rose regained her freedom and, as the war reached a crisis, journeyed to Europe to plead the Confederate cause at the royal courts of England and France.

Drawing on newly discovered diaries and a rich trove of contemporary accounts, Blackman has fashioned a thrilling, intimate narrative that reads like a novel. Wild Rose is an unforgettable rendering of an astonishing woman, a book that will stand with the finest Civil War biographies.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Civil War, Historical, Biography Memoir, American History

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose O'Neale Greenhow generally merits little more than a footnote in most histories of the American Civil War, so it was fascinating to read an entire biography devoted to her. I'd heard about her role as a Civil War spy for the Confederacy, short-lived as it was: most notably her role in alerting Beauregard to Union troops movement that enabled him to bring up reinforcements which arguably led to the South winning the first battle of the Civil War, at Bull Run.

But her life before the Civil War was just as interesting - growing up on a Maryland plantation; her marriage to Robert Greenhow; her friendships with some of the notable politicians of the day, such as President Buchanan and John C. Calhoun; her role as a grande dame of Washington society; her rivalry with Jessie Hart Benson; her outspoken, passionate nature. She was certainly no shy, retiring Southern belle.

Rose is an interesting figure to read about - her political and racial view are obviously utterly abhorrent, albeit a reflection of the time and place she was raised in, but it is hard not to admire her bravery and devotion to her cause, misguided though that may have been. It is a shame the history books don't devote more space to her, but this biography more than fills in the gaps.

[Khari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so glad that's over.

It saddens me to say it, but that was one of the dullest books I have ever read. It was nigh unto a sleeping pill to read 10 minutes of it a day. I desperately wanted to get it over with, and struggled through three chapters and the epilogue today.

I don't know why it was so mind-numbingly boring. I didn't expect it to be. I mean, it's a biography about a feisty southern spy! I normally like biographies. But not this one. So boring.

It's not that it was not well researched, it was. Ms. Blackman obviously did her homework. It was just...dull.

That surprised me, frankly, I'm reading about one of the most important time periods in American history, and am reading about a woman whose views I abhor, at the very least I should be up in arms in anger at her despicable attitudes. And yet, I can barely muster up indignation, I'm just so glad that's over.

I don't recommend this book. Go read Rose Greenhow's autobiography instead, according to this author it's actually very factually accurate, and it has to be more interesting than this was.

[Holyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fascinating story. Terribly dull writing. It was hard to get through.

[T.D. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an exhaustively researched yet easy to read retelling of Rose Greenhow's life. Blackman tells the story with an objective eye and the occasional editorial comment that Rose herself would likely have added.

I was a little disappointed in the lack of detail regarding Rose's spy ring, though it is not terribly surprising that such records were hastily destroyed, if they ever existed at all.

Blackman dwells on John C. Calhoun more than I found necessary, though this is surely due to his significant impact on Rose's life and thinking.

To those who think its length appears daunting, bear in mind that it contains a substantial list of references and footnotes, so (on my Kindle, at least) completion of the primary text occurs at about 75%.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, although it was not so much a story about spying as it was a biographical and historical account of mostly Southern life and struggles during the War of Northern Aggression, Civil War, or War Between the States (wink). Rose did not apologize for her beliefs and was an advocate for the South even when she might have been better just pulling on the reins a bit. Tragic end to a remarkable life even if you did not agree with her.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly well-researched book about a pretty fascinating woman. It was good timing to read this while living in the South and especially during all the Confederate flag controversy; excellent insight on racial discrimination and its links to the Confederacy. Wish Part 1 had been in its chronological sequence rather than at the beginning of the story.

[twilightsprincess · Rating 3 out of 5]

とうとう読み終わった！！三週ぐらい読んだ。。。本当に面白かったけどちょっと読みにくい。
Finally finished reading!!! It took me about 3 weeks... It was really interesting but it was a little bit of a hard read.
**I bought and read this for Womans History Month but I couldn't get through it fast enough lol it was in the window at Brattle Street Bookshop!

[Kenneth Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing about Rose Greenhow before reading this book. It has been enjoyable getting to know her and her devotion to a cause that she believed in and actually gave her life for. Her spying may have been amateurish and her methods not always conventional, but the people she knew and associated with during this time of the Civil War make this book a good and interesting read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me about 3 weeks to read this for a couple of reasons. It was too large to carry around and it was chock full of facts. Blackman really did her research and the book is full of footnotes, an index, a bibliography and a lot of extra information.
I don't agree with Greenhow but she was a remarkable woman in an era in which women were not respected for their intellect.

[Nancy Forbes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. Well written, but the title led me to believe I would be reading all about Rose’s spying rather than a history of the civil war. Most of the book was information about the war, related to Rose in one way or another, but there wasn’t much about her actual antics as a spy.

[Jeannene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really informative and easy to read trip through American history. Some reviews claimed this book was boring, but I found it very interesting. It is non-fiction, not a novel, so there is no hugely dramatic plot, but I found the life of Rose Greenhow as portrayed to be quite entertaining and thought provoking.

[Marcia Seybold · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK CLUB CHOICE. At times it was difficult to read and she repeated the same story a couple of times in the beginning. I did enjoy it to a point but could have been written better. The last 3rd of the book was better than the beginning.

[Cyndee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting information given by the author.

Interesting information given by the author with lots of little details to make it real. Easy, light reading that one can put down and pick back up later with no problem.

[Sperry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, she was intelligent and resourceful and knew exactly what her intentions were and played it out brilliantly. She was never deterred from her objectives and used friend and/or foe to get what she wanted.

[Dave Cavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capitol Hill socialite becomes a celebrated Confederate spy.

[William Whalen · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was poorly organized and much of it felt like filler.

[AshleyKantorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story but the writing was very dull. I pushed to get through the book because the story itself intrigued me.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a great deal of Civil War history and Rose O'Neale Greenhow has come up quite a bit in my reading, but this was the first book I read just about her. She was a very interesting and infamous woman. The biography was interesting and I am glad to know more details about her, though I feel like at times the author was trying to fill up the pages in spots where we don't know much about Rose's life. The book probably could have been a bit shorter. The author presented a balanced biography though, not hiding Greenhow's problematic views on race or her darker side.

[Tanis Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

Found this hard to follow. Some interesting facts , lots of period related information . Just not interesting to me. Will stick to historical fiction.

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure I like Rose O'Neil Greenhow. She was awfully sure if herself, imperious, rude to those she disagreed with but could be quite charming, affectionate, endearing to those who were her friends. She was absolutely sure she was right on slavery - that it was the destiny of blacks. She didn't have but a few herself although her father was supposedly killed by one of his slaves when she was quite young. (I say supposedly, because the opinion of doctors was that he would have died from the injuries he received in falling from his horse in a drunken stupor.) After her mother lost the plantation, the girls were sent to relatives in Washington DC where Rose became interested in politics. Several Congressmen boarded at the rooming house an aunt kept and she came to know many politicians quite well. After she married, she was ambitious for her husband and continually worked to get him good jobs within the government. She was intrepid and traveled to California after her husband died while working there to collect his belongings. She hated sailing and was always seasick but that didn't make her hesitate to sail when she needed to.
I think there was much to admire in her life and character, but also much I deplored.

[Truitti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is how biographies should be written. I was fascinated with Rose O'Neale Greenhow and the times she lived in. Family history is fascinating to me and I have found my ancestors who lived during the civil war period. Albeit, my ancestors were in rural towns and villages, and Rose O'Neale Greenhow lived in the midst of the political excitement, this book gave me the flavor of what political atmosphere of the time.

Rose Greenhow fascinates me. This story also doesn't pull any punches, divulging the manipulations, feminine wiles used, and daring used by those women who have a staunch opinion and are willing to die for.

The idea of a female spy captured my imagination, but the well written story surprised me of how women have not really changed when a woman strongly believes in a cause.

[Eva Nickelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally get into Civil War books, but Blackman did an amazing job of bringing the time period to life. While the book's pacing was off, it was very interesting. Rose was an amazingly annoying woman, both arrogant and full of herself.

The story doesn't have a lot of papers to back it up, so Blackman uses what research she has. It jumbles up the pacing, but does offer interesting insights to the times and the people. Rose knew/socialized with quite a few well known politicians, including senators and a president.

All together, it was an interesting story. I learned a lot about the Civil War and the time period from the view point of the South.

[Laura Rowlands · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the beginning third of the book was a slow read. I am unsure if this was due to do many facts and back story, but by the middle and end, I was much more caught up in the story and trying to guess how it would end. The way Rose died seems so small and unnecessary compared to the history she ultimately helped form. It was a good reminder of how frail life can be.
Having visited ft fisher several times, the story took a much more interesting scope when Rose was finally in the south and the references to Wilmington and the forts

[Meira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. It had a great historical setting and an intriguing heroine, but somehow it just fell flat for me. I think part of the problem was the lack of surviving documents written by Rose herself, so the author had to rely on other sources and sometimes I felt I received the same information in multiple chapters. I'm not sorry I read this book as it was interesting to read about the Civil War through the lens of a female spy, but I felt it could have been much more captivating.

[Pudds Downing · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book served to reinforce my belief that women have been largely and unfairly ignored in the telling of history. I will readily admit that my knowledge of the Civil War is not extensive, but I had never heard of the women spies who served their countries and risked everything during the war. While I do not agree with the stand that Rose took, I admire her courage and committment to her cause.

[Sandra Sullivan]

I love historical works and this was great. Read it a while ago and would even reread it.

This is from Novelist....

"Drawing on a previously unpublished journal, a profile of a remarkable woman describes the espionage career of Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a grande dame of Washington society and devotee of the Southern cause who used her connections and her charm to provide valuable information about Union military secrets to the Confederacy during the Civil War."

[Mary Katherine Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written engrossing story of Rose O'Neale Greenhow and her role as a spy during the Civil War. The background and details recreate an in-depth picture of life during the Civil War, I picked this up on a whim while at Fort Donelson with my brother on a summer road trip. "Rose defiant as ever, refused to buckle." this hardly matches the notion that woman during this period were meek and deferential.

[Shala Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're expecting the story of a woman straight out of _Alias_, go elsewhere. Spycraft in the Civil War simply wasn't that advanced. Measured against our current standards, Rose Greenhow wasn't so much a spy as an extremely well-connected woman who was a very determined correspondent. Still, an interesting read.

[Sonyajohnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every year when my classroom studies the Civil War I try to read a book about the time. This year I read the story of a Confederate spy. I enjoyed learning more about the times and how bold Rose was. There are parts in the book that is upsetting to today's standards about African slaves and how they were viewed.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book so I could see if doing my senior research project on female spies in the Civil War would be interesting and find something new to write about. While the book didn't cover much on the actual spycraft of women Confederate Spies, it was a very interesting read about one women's determination for her cause.