Mary Elizabeth Browser: Major Union Spy

Mary Elizabeth Browser, also known as Mary Jane Richards, was another major Union spy. She was born a slave to the Van Lew family of Virginia. When Mr. Van Lew died he specifically stated that none of his slaves were to be freed. But his wife and daughter, who were secretly against slavery, freed all of there slaves including Browser. She began bringing supplies to the Union soldiers of war, and she carried messages back to their commanders. She was instrumental in the liberation of multiple military prisoners. She used a complex clandestine network made up of both blacks and whites to achieve her espionage. Her life after the war is unknown but it is widely believed that she just went back to regular