Solon High Students Explore Civil War Espionage Through Living History Presentation

Solon High School U.S. History students recently stepped back in time during a living history presentation, Connivers in Corsets: Female Spies & Smugglers During the Civil War. The program was led by Barbara Toncheff, a retired Cleveland Clinic cardiac technician turned historian. Her passion for genealogy and Victorian history led her to uncover the little-known stories of the women who spied, smuggled and survived during the Civil War.

Dressed in an 1850s-style riding habit and carrying a period-style riding crop, Toncheff performed as Belle Montgomery, a fictional Civil War-era spy based in Cleveland. She recounted thrilling tales of espionage from both Union and Confederate perspectives and highlighted the contributions of notable Cleveland-area spies, including Elizabeth Brown Stiles, Sarah Thompson and Pauline Cushman.

Students learned about the ingenious methods women employed to outwit enemy forces, from false-bottom wagons and baby dolls to hoop skirts used for smuggling. The stories revealed how women of all ages, from teens to nearly 80, and various social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds risked imprisonment and death to gather and pass along intelligence. 

The interactive session featured props, historical photos, news clippings and biographical sketches. Students examined how historians use primary and secondary sources, evaluate the credibility of evidence, and develop historical theses.

During the presentation, Toncheff encouraged students to see themselves reflected in the past. “I want to inspire everyone, especially the girls, to find a connection with history,” she said.