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Rebecca

Ms. G

Humanities

29 November, 2016

Emeline Pigott

Emmiline Pigott was the most famous female smuggler and spy in North Carolina, as

well as a nurse for confederate soldiers during the time of the Civil War. Due to the fact the she

was a female and a spy against the Yankees, Emeline faced many challenges with the

government and men, but she overcame these challenges. Emeline was born on December 15,

1836 and she was born and lived her youth in Harlowe Township, Carteret County, North

Carolina. Later on in her life she moved to Calico at Crab Point where she started her nursing at

a young age. Living near a Confederate soldier camp site, Emeline was very compassionate and

wanted to help the wounded soldiers, so she did. After getting more involved with the War

against the Yankees, she took the job of spy. Emeline was a huge contribution to her society and

made an impact on American History.

Becoming a nurse for the Confederate soldiers, Emeline had many opportunities to cure a

man and send them to war again. She did so several times, sometimes even taking the wounded

soldiers in her own home making sure they get back to health. Emeline started to get more

involved with the war so she decided to take the risky job of being a spy to get information from

the Yankees stopping future destructions. She gathered information from Yankee families and

fishermen who were selling fish to the Yankee people. She wrote down the information she got

and hid the pieces of paper under her dress where she had pockets. Based on WNC History,

Local loyal fishermen also gathered information about Union boats' cargoes and destinations as
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they sold the Yankees fish. They then reported to Pigott, who carried the valuable information

hidden in big pockets under her hoop skirt.

Emeline also placed clothing, food and water in hollow trees for the confederate soldiers

to get on their way back to camp. According to Civil War Women, She offered her services as a

spy and gathered food and clothing for the soldiers. She hid these items in designated hollow

trees, so the soldiers could retrieve them later. Emeline showed society that even if she was a

women, she could do anything a man could do. Emeline Pigott made a huge impacted on her

society from doing all of these things.

Emeline Piggots had many challenges with her society which influenced her in many

ways. When she was a nurse for the Confederate soldier, she had to move to many locations

because the Yankees kept invading their camp site. When Emeline was a spy for the

Confederates, she got arrested many times due tot the fact that she was caught many times. The

last time she was arrested, she swallowed some of the very important information she hid under

her dress so that the Yankees could not find them. After she was arrested for the last time, she

was watched constantly by Yankee spies, but she kept doing her job under the dangerous

conditions. Not only was it hard for her to be spy against the Yankees, but it was hard for her to

be a woman at the same time. She received a lot of shade from men but she persevered through

those hard times. Society had a huge impact on Emeline Pigott.

Emeline Pigott made a huge contribution in the American history leading her to have a

legacy of her own. Emeline was a spy gathering information from the Yankees stopping future

destructions and she was North Carolina's most famous smuggler and spy. Emeline also helped

create and organize the Morehead City chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and it

was named in her honor. A street in Morehead City was named Emeline Place after her.
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According to, After the war, she organized the Morehead City chapter of the United Daughters

of the Confederacy, and it was named in her honor. In addition, a street in Morehead City was

called Emeline Place. She was a women with not a lot of power who stood for what she thought

was right which meant she was fighting against slavery. She showed people that women can do

what men do and she was brave.

Emmiline Pigott was the most famous female smuggler and spy in North Carolina as well

as she was a nurse for confederate soldiers during the time of the Civil War. She offered many

advantages towards the Confederates and changed the world all due to her bravery and

compassion.

Work Cited

MacLean, Maggie. "Home." Civil War Women. N.p., 20 Sept. 2006. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.

"Pigott, Emeline Jamison." Pigott, Emeline Jamison | NCpedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.

"National Women's History Museum Spies Exhibition." National Women's History Museum Spies

Exhibition. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.