theaceanarchist:This right here is Mary Elizabeth Bowser and she is James Bond levels of dope.She wa
theaceanarchist:This right here is Mary Elizabeth Bowser and she is James Bond levels of dope.She was born a slave in Richmond, Virginia in 1839. We don’t really know anythingabout her parents or her childhood because she was born a slave in Richmond, Virginia in 1839.We do know that the plantation owner, John Van Lew was wack as hell, that we can be sure of.Don’t worry though, because John Van Lew dies in 1843, and his wife Eliza Baker and daughter Elizabeth Van Lew decide to be semi-decent and “free” all their slaves.Many didn’t want to leave, because what were they gonna do, pick up some shifts at Applebees? No, this is pre Civil War Virginia! Many of them chose to stay, and those that did were paid for their service.Mary Elizabeth Bowser chose to stay, either because of the promise of pay…or because she was five. Either way in 1855 a noticeably bright Mary is sent to the Quaker School for Negroes in Philadelphia.Upon graduating in 1860, Mary moves back to Richmond and meets a free brother named Wilson Bowser. Because of racism, we don’t know a lot about their courtship, but I’m sure it was fire because they were married the next spring, just four days before the beginning of the Civil War!So, Mary’s still working for Elizabeth Van Lew, and one day Elizabeth says to her: “Look, I know that the Civil War just started, and as an unmarried, land owning, southern woman in 1861 I seem like an unlikely participant, but I want to tell you that I am in fact the leader of an elaborate Union spy ring that has already infiltrated the Confederate Capitol, and I want you on my spy squad!”And Mary’s like: “Well, I have to think abou-YES, I’M ABSOLUTELY IN!”So Mary heads to the “Confederate White House” to pose as a servant. These Confederate dummies would come and be like “It’s a good thing no one’s here but these negros! Now we can talk in depth about our super secret plans! There’s no way we’re gonna lose!”And Mary would come back and relay everything! I mean we’re talking troop movements, strategies, all that! Oh yeah, and because they thought she couldn’t read, they’d just leave their documents around and she’d memorize them and pass them along!This goes on for four years before the Confederates realize that Mary is the leak. Realizing she’s been discovered, Mary makes a great escape from the Confederate White House that included her literally trying to burn that shit to the ground! Straight up action movie shit!So when the Civil War ended, a lot of records detailing Union spy efforts were burned so that no butt hurt confederate sympathizer could seek retaliation! Unfortunately, that means details of Mary’s post war life are largely unknown.What we do know is that in 1995 the United States army finally gave Mary Elizabeth Bowser her props by inducting her into the U.S. Army Intelligence Hall of Fame. Oh, and we also know the name she posed under, are you ready for it?…It was Bond, Ellen Bond! Because of course it was! She was perfect!Mary Elizabeth Bowser didn’t just fight for the union. Under the threat of certain death she worked to dismantle the confederacy from inside their very home and because of that on February 6th of every year, I’m remembering Mary Elizabeth Bowser. -- source link