The time of the American Civil War was one of much conflict and death. This war may have gone even longer if not for the efforts of people in the world of espionage. Elizabeth Van Lew was one such person, building and operating an extensive spy ring in the southern states to help feed information to the North. Once the war was won, Van Lew was acknowledged as one of the most valuable assets to the war effort and the single largest source of intelligence for the Union.
