On April 12, 1861, the civil war hit both the Confederacy and Union. During this time, many of the Van Lew family's neighbors deeply fell for the Confederate cause, the Van Lew's told them candidly about how they supported Northern abolitionists and were antislavery.
In result, Elizabeth and her mother were neglected from their community.
Many neighbors started ignoring them, calling them traitors, publicly humiliating them (pasting horrible comments about them on their house, giving out threats (such as setting their house on fire, or even making death threats towards them. They did many terrible things to them that no person should ever experience.
It was hard for Elizabeth and her mother to live as Unionists in a Confederate state.…show more content… In doing so, she used her time, energy, and money towards giving freedom to those who were kept in bondage.
The civil war was a tough time for the Van Lew's. As women prided themselves on taking over businesses and contributing to assist the Confederate soldiers in any possible way they could, the Van Lew's stayed back.
Later, they unwillingly allowed themselves to deliver religious books to the soldiers of the south.
During the deadly war, many Union prisoners were held in Libby Prison. She had heard stories of the poor care the soldiers received and how chances of them dying before the war ends were excruciatingly high. She was determined to help care for the soldiers and after pulling a few tricks up her sleeve, she entered the prison with books, food, and gifts for the Union soldiers.
Her visits became more frequent and Elizabeth started having a charitable prison work. In addition, she gave out money to many of the guards as bribes and with her charm, she had a lot of control over them. She used them to do whatever she wanted and eventually began receiving regular reports from them, as well as reports on the prisoners (to see what they needed, for example, additional food, bedding, clothing, fresh air,
