Porter Broyles’s Reviews > Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy > Status Update

Porter Broyles
Porter Broyles is 20% done
Varon is one of my all time favorite authors, I really like her work, but I didn't think the story of a spy sounded that great. Sounded like a dissertation turned into a story. I was so wrong:

Chapter 1 - talks a lot about the role of women in politics in the South before the vote.

Chapter 2 - talk about the secession movement in Virginia and the efforts pro/anti Union.
May 18, 2023 03:33PM
Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy

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Porter’s Previous Updates

Porter Broyles
Porter Broyles is 85% done
Interesting. When running for President in 1876, Grant wrote a declaration that it was time to recognize the role women had in winning the war. This helped align suffragist to the Republicans.

The trade off that got the 15th amendment passed guaranteeing blacks the right to vote, was a general amnesty to former Confederates, granting them the right to vote.
Jun 16, 2023 10:40PM
Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy


Porter Broyles
Porter Broyles is 40% done
The book isn't so much about Elizabeth Van Lew, but about Unionist activities in Richmond before and during the war.

Van Lew is a major player in those activities, but so far I wouldn't consider this to be a biography about her.

While I am somewhat disappointed that the title and contents don't match, Varon remains one of my favorite authors.

She brings in a lot of info from the period otherwise ignored.
May 22, 2023 03:28PM
Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, a Union Agent in the Heart of the Confederacy


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