Ellen Bond was the name used by Mary Elizabeth Bowser who worked as part of a spy network run by Elilzabeth Van Lew during The War Of The Slaveholders' Rebellion. Thought to be dim-witted and dumb, she became a worker in, of all places, the Confederate White House. Mary, a graduate of the Quaker School for Negroes in Philadelphia was asked to go undercover by Van Lew and accepted the assignment.

She is cited as having possessed a photographic memory and could recite verbatim anything that she read. Mary is enshrined in the U.S. Army Intelligence Hall of Fame at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. "In a highly dangerous mssion," a plaque reads, "she was one of the highest placed and most productive agents of the Civil War."

BlackCommentator.com artist/cartoonist Charles E. "Chuck" Siler's works feature a variety of themes ranging from New Orleans' lively and unique jazz scene to its lively and equally unique political scene. He uses his art and political cartoons to comment on life's complexities, warts and beauty marks.

His creations include fine watercolors and acrylics and pen and ink cartoons. His cartoons are featured on a regular basis in The Louisiana Weekly.

A Katrina evacuee, Siler has spoken on New Orleans history across the USA at universities and culural events.

Click here to contact Mr. Siler