Ms. Blackman talked about her book Wild Rose: Rose O’Neale Greenhow, Civil War Spy, published by Random House. A Maryland native, Rose O’Neale Greenhow (1817-1864) grew up in Washington, D.C. and eventually became one of D.C.'s first lobbyists. The author explained how Ms. Greenhow used her connections, established through her marriage to a member of the State Department, to form an intelligence community that provided information to the Confederate Army. She continued to spy until her eventual incarceration in the Old Capitol Prison. Released to go South, she traveled to Europe as an emissary from Jefferson Davis and died in a shipwreck on the voyage home. 

Ms. Blackman used slides throughout her presentation. Following her speech, she responded to questions and comments from members of the audience.