Cynthia Charlotte Moon (1828–1895) was born in Danville, Virginia, on August 10, 1828. She and her sister, Virginia Moon are best known for their role as Confederate spies during the American Civil War. When the girls were young, their father sold their slaves and moved the family north to Oxford, Ohio, where they lived in the house that is known as the "Lottie Moon House."[1] As spies for the Confederacy, Lottie and Ginnie smuggled information and medicine from North to South.
Moon performed in amateur plays, often using her skills as a ventriloquist. As a young woman, she was engaged to a young officer (and later Union general), Ambrose E. Burnside, whom she left at the altar. When the minister asked if she took Burnside as her husband, it is claimed that she answered "No siree, Bob!" Later, she was engaged to sixteen Confederate soldiers at once in an effort to allow them to at least die happily.[2]
Espionage careeredit
Before the American Civil War, Moon married Judge James Clark. Her younger sister lived with them briefly after being expelled from her school for her pro-Confederacy views. The Clarks' home was a stopping point for Confederate couriers, and Moon began her espionage career when a letter needed to be delivered but no courier was available.[2] Throughout the war, both sisters used various disguises. Various anecdotal incidents include spying on President Abraham Lincoln, passing herself off as a traveling British subject with forged papers, pretending to be in horrible pain due to a dislocated jaw, and hiding medicine and pain relievers in her quilted hoop skirts. Once, the sisters and their mother were caught by Moon's jilted ex-fiancé, General Burnside. He kept them under house arrest, but eventually released them.[2]
Post-waredit
After the war, Moon moved to New York with her husband, Jim Clark. They had one son, Franklin Pinckney Clark. Moon began a second career as a journalist, eventually covering the Franco-Prussian War from various capitals in Europe.
She died in Philadelphia on November 20, 1895, and was survived by her son and her sister.[3][4]
^ abcEggleston, Larry G. (2003). Women in the Civil War : extraordinary stories of soldiers, spies, nurses, doctors, crusaders, and others. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN0786414936. OCLC 51580671.
^"Cynthia Charlotte Moon 1828-1895 - Ancestry". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
^"Clark". The Times. November 22, 1895. p. 7. Retrieved August 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Further readingedit
Bucy, Carole Stanford (25 December 2009). "Virginia Bethel Moon". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Knoxville, Tennessee: The University of Tennessee Press. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
Jim Weiss. “Not Quite Like Anyone Else: The Story of Lottie and Ginnie Moon.” Women in Blue and Grey. (Audio Recording)
May 05, 2024
cynthia, charlotte, moon, confused, with, lottie, moon, 1828, 1895, born, danville, virginia, august, 1828, sister, virginia, moon, best, known, their, role, confederate, spies, during, american, civil, when, girls, were, young, their, father, sold, their, sla. Not to be confused with Lottie Moon Cynthia Charlotte Moon 1828 1895 was born in Danville Virginia on August 10 1828 She and her sister Virginia Moon are best known for their role as Confederate spies during the American Civil War When the girls were young their father sold their slaves and moved the family north to Oxford Ohio where they lived in the house that is known as the Lottie Moon House 1 As spies for the Confederacy Lottie and Ginnie smuggled information and medicine from North to South Cynthia Charlotte MoonBorn 1828 08 10 August 10 1828Danville VirginiaDiedNovember 20 1895 1895 11 20 aged 67 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaOccupation s Actress journalistSpouseJames ClarkRelativesVirginia Bethel Moon sister Contents 1 Early life 2 Espionage career 3 Post war 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life editMoon performed in amateur plays often using her skills as a ventriloquist As a young woman she was engaged to a young officer and later Union general Ambrose E Burnside whom she left at the altar When the minister asked if she took Burnside as her husband it is claimed that she answered No siree Bob Later she was engaged to sixteen Confederate soldiers at once in an effort to allow them to at least die happily 2 Espionage career editBefore the American Civil War Moon married Judge James Clark Her younger sister lived with them briefly after being expelled from her school for her pro Confederacy views The Clarks home was a stopping point for Confederate couriers and Moon began her espionage career when a letter needed to be delivered but no courier was available 2 Throughout the war both sisters used various disguises Various anecdotal incidents include spying on President Abraham Lincoln passing herself off as a traveling British subject with forged papers pretending to be in horrible pain due to a dislocated jaw and hiding medicine and pain relievers in her quilted hoop skirts Once the sisters and their mother were caught by Moon s jilted ex fiance General Burnside He kept them under house arrest but eventually released them 2 Post war editAfter the war Moon moved to New York with her husband Jim Clark They had one son Franklin Pinckney Clark Moon began a second career as a journalist eventually covering the Franco Prussian War from various capitals in Europe She died in Philadelphia on November 20 1895 and was survived by her son and her sister 3 4 References edit Lottie Moon House Oxford Ohio 1988 www midpointedigitalarchives org Retrieved March 3 2018 a b c Eggleston Larry G 2003 Women in the Civil War extraordinary stories of soldiers spies nurses doctors crusaders and others Jefferson N C McFarland ISBN 0786414936 OCLC 51580671 Cynthia Charlotte Moon 1828 1895 Ancestry www ancestry com Retrieved March 3 2018 Clark The Times November 22 1895 p 7 Retrieved August 8 2020 via Newspapers com Further reading editBucy Carole Stanford 25 December 2009 Virginia Bethel Moon Tennessee Encyclopedia Knoxville Tennessee The University of Tennessee Press Retrieved 2012 05 17 Jim Weiss Not Quite Like Anyone Else The Story of Lottie and Ginnie Moon Women in Blue and Grey Audio Recording Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cynthia Charlotte Moon amp oldid 1216637589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
