A spy for the Confederate Army in North Carolina, Pigott organized fishermen to spy for her as she hid secret messages in her skirt and carried them from New Bern through the sea ports to be transmitted to the proper authorities. Though she had been arrested by the Union forces several times on charges of blockade running yet she still continued on. She oftentimes entertained Yankee soldiers at her parent’s farm so as to distract them while her brother-in-law, Rufus Bell, carried food to the Confederates hiding in the nearby woods.
Emeline Pigott (December 15, 1836—May 26, 1919) was a Confederate States of America spy from North Carolina, USA. For several years, she hid secret messages in her skirt and carried them between New Bern, North Carolina and the sea ports. She was almost caught several times. Eventually, Union forces arrested her on the charges of blockade running, and she was sent back home.
Biography
Emeline Pigott was born on December 15, 1836 in Harlowe Township, Carteret County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Col. Levi Whitehurst Pigott and Elizabeth Dennis. She grew up in Harlowe and when she was 25, she moved with her family to Crab Point, near current day Morehead City, North Carolina. There was a encampment of Confederate soldiers across the creek from the farm that were stationed there to help protect the North Carolina Coast.
She met and fell in love with a young soldier by the name of Stokes McRae. McRae was involved in the Battle for New Bern and the regiment was sent north to Virginia. Stokes was born to a wealthy farm family in Montgomery County, NC. He attended and graduated from the University of North Carolina and led a life of idleness until he felt he was called to fight in the Civil War.
Emeline followed the men of the 26th to New Bern, hoping to be of some help. New Bern fell to the Federals after only four hours of fighting. She remained in New Bern until the last train carrying Confederate wounded to Kinston. She remained there for several months nursing the wounded.
The 26th NC fought in Virginia, and returned to eastern NC to protect Richmond, VA. In May 1863, the regiment was attached to the Army of Northern Virginia and they headed north. On July 1, the regiment took part in the Battle of Gettysburg. McRae, then a sergeant major, was hospitalized with a shattered thigh. He died on August 2, 1863.
In December 1863, Emeline made her way to Concord, NC when the Federals took Kinston. She finally worked her way back down to the coast and her home near Morehead City.
Emeline organized fishermen to spy for her and she passed this information to the proper authorities. Emeline also entertained Yankee soldiers at her parents’ farm, distracting them long enough for her brother-in-law, Rufus Bell, to carry food into the nearby woods for Confederates hiding there. Rufus was the husband of Emeline’s sister, Abigail.
In 1864, Emeline and Rufus were arrested on the suspicion of spying while trying to carry supplies and messages across the lines. Rufus was searched and released when no contraband was found on him. While the police were looking for a woman to search Emeline, she ate some of the incriminating messages and tore others into tiny pieces.
Emeline was transported to New Bern to stand trial. She was allowed to take her cousin, Mrs. Levi Woodburg Pigott, with her. One night, someone tried to kill the women with chloroform, but they broke a window in their cell and took turns breathing fresh air until help arrived.
Over the next month, Emeline was scheduled for trial on several occasions, but never went to a hearing. She was unexpectedly released from her incarceration and returned home. After her release, Federal soldiers constantly harassed her until the Civil War ended.
Emeline was a member of the New Bern Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and in her later years organized a chapter in Morehead City. It was named for her and she held the title of honourary president until her death on 26 May 1919, at the age of 82.
Emeline is buried in the Pigott family graveyard on the north shore of Calico Creek just off of what is now the 20th Street and Emeline Place in Morehead City. The graveyard is cared for by the city, but is padlocked. Her headstone can be seen from the padlocked gate.
