A Southern Spy in Northern Virginia
Laura Ratcliffe, member of a prominent Fairfax, Va., family, was a reputed spy for the Confederacy. Naturally, she would have been reticent to publicize her involvement in such an enterprise during her own lifetime, but she left an album that provided intriguing connections with some of the most famous Confederate officers, namely J.E.B. Stuart, John Mosby and Fitzhugh Lee. Mauro’s book is really the story of that album and those who are mentioned in its pages. Originally a gift from Stuart, the album contained four poems (two original ones) penned by him to her. Lest anyone believe that romantic feelings existed between the two, Mauro quickly points out that there is no record of Laura’s feelings toward Stuart. Also Stuart’s naturally flirtatious behavior toward all women suggests his gift and the poems probably were an innocent gesture. According to Mauro, the album with Stuart’s written sentiments probably was more reflective of his appreciation for Laura’s services as a spy and his personal friendship with her. The album contained 26 Confederate soldiers’ and 14 civilians’ signatures. Protocol of the day dictated that visitors present a calling card to announce themselves. The album had calling cards drawn on its pages where the signatures were written. Mauro provides biographical sketches of the persons signing it. His problem is ascertaining when the signatures were written, and he tries to provide some sort of chronology based on where the signers might have been during certain periods and then to deduce when the signatures might have occurred in relation to those times. While there is no direct evidence showing how many of these people were directly involved in the gathering or dissemination of information for the Confederacy or used Laura’s residence as a “safe house,” the confluence of them together in the album raises the notion that perhaps they did one or more of these things. Admittedly, this is speculation at best, but it certainly would pique the curiosity of any conspiracy theorist. An interesting account of some of the people passing through Laura’s life, the book is also a good source for the history of Fairfax County during the war. Reviewer: Frank J. Piatek Frank Piatek graduated from Geneva College with a B.A. in history. He received his J.D. from Duquesne University in 1972. He is a member of several reenactment groups and past president of the Mahoning Valley Civil War Round Table.
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Illustrated, photographs, maps, notes, index, 222 pp., 2009, The History Press,