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Sinking
Treasures
Rose
O’Neal Greenhow (1817-1864) was born in Port
Tobacco,
Maryland
. Orphaned as a child, Greenhow was invited to live
with her aunt in
Washington
,
D.C.
as a teenager. While living in the nation’s capital,
she was introduced to important figures in the
Washington
area. One of those figures was John C. Calhoun, a man
of pro Southern politics, who apparently convinced
Rose to also be of pro Southern interests during the
time of the American Civil War.
Greenhow's
sympathy for the Confederate cause grew after the
death of her husband, Dr. Robert Greenhow.
Her loyalty to the Confederacy was noted by
those with similar sympathies in
Washington
, and she was soon recruited as a spy...
In
July of 1861, Greenhow passed secret messages to
Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard containing
critical information resulting in the Union rout at
the First Battle of Bull Run. Suspected of espionage
and imprisoned in August 1861, she continued gathering
and forwarding information vital to Confederate
operations. News of her activities brought publicity
and tremendous popularity among Southern sympathizers.
After being brought to trial in spring 1862, Greenhow
was deported to
Richmond
, where cheering crowds greeted her.
That
summer Jefferson Davis sent her to
Europe
as a courier. She stayed there collecting diplomatic
intelligence and writing her memoirs until recalled in
1864, apparently bearing dispatches urgent to the
Confederacy. Sailing on the British blockade runner Condor,
she reached the mouth of the Cape Fear River just
outside
Wilmington
,
N.C.
, when a Union ship, the USS Niphon,
gave chase, forcing the Condor aground on a
sandbar early on the morning of October 1, 1864.
Greenhow,
fearing capture and re-imprisonment, persuaded the
captain to send her and 2 companions ashore in a
lifeboat, but the small vessel was capsized by a wave.
Greenhow, weighed down with $2,000 worth of gold from
her memoir royalties intended for the Confederate
treasury, drowned.
The
demise of Rose O’Neal Greenhow illustrates the end
of all those who cling to “sinking treasures.”
People throughout the ages seek security and
happiness in material wealth, but Jesus warned:
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's
life does not consist in the abundance of the things
he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
The
true and eternal Treasure is found in Jesus Christ.
He is the ONLY Savior and Giver of eternal life
in heaven (John 14:6).
And, He will save those who believe
in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confess
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). He
will give safe passage to eternal bliss those who
continue to cling to Him in trusting obedience.
Stop
clinging to “sinking treasures.”
The REAL treasure is salvation in Jesus
Christ, and it can be YOURS
if you will trust and obey Him.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
Information
gleaned from Wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Greenhow)
and the Rose O’Neal Greenhow Biography Page (http://www.civilwarhome.com/greenhowbio.htm)
which quotes from "Historical
Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War" edited by
Patricia L. Faust.
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