A Civil War Love Story

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Surratt House sponsored another well-attended program yesterday with Michelle Krowl of the Library of Congress presenting a Civil War love story -- actually one better termed a "Mixed Marriage" of the Civil War. Her topic was Antonia Ford of Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, who is believed to have spied for Gen. Stuart and Mosby and was part of the plans that allowed Mosby and his Rangers to capture Gen. Edwin Stoughten.

The mixed marriage or love story angle derives from Antonia being arrested and sent to Washington's Old Capitol Prison where she met and fell in love with one of her captors, Major Joseph C. Willard, one of the owners of the famous Willard Hotel. The love story is made more complicated by the fact that Willard already had a wife (that he had been estranged from for years). Love wins out, however, at least for a short time. To learn the details, go here https://www.historynet.com/mosbys-female...a-ford.htm

What makes the story beneficial today is that Major Willard kept all the correspondence between him and Antonia, and it is now in the holdings of the Library of Congress. Michelle Krowl is part of the team that is studying these types of treasures and digitizing them for further use. She explained the project to our audience, and they are seeking volunteers. We have posted this on the forum before, but go to crowd.loc.gov to find out more.

P.S. A descendant of the Willards was in the audience. Antonia and Joseph had only one child survive to adulthood, and his daughter married Kermit Roosevelt, a son of Theodore Roosevelt, but I'm not sure if the descendant who attended is directly descended from them.