Ratcliffe, Laura, 1836-1923

Laura Ratliffe was a Confederate Spy who spied for JEB Stuart and John Singleton Mosby. Born in Fairfax, Virginia her family had several plantations in Fairfax County. She met JEB Stuart at his Camp Qui Vive in Fairfax County, Virginia in 1861. She provided intelligence on Yankee troop movements to Stuart and Mosby. She left messages for Mosby at a rock formation on her property which would be known as Mosby Rock. She had a very close relationship with Stuart. He had a lock of her hair on him when he was killed at Yellow Tavern. She married Milton Hanna at age 54 on December 4, 1890 at the St. James Hotel in Washington, D.C. She died at her home Merry Brook in Herndon at age 87.