The Case:
Did the Confederate South use a child’s doll, to smuggle drugs past the Northern blockade?
In 1923, the descendents of Confederate Major General James Patton Anderson donated the doll ‘Nina’ to the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, VA. The family says the general’s young niece carried the doll past the blockade with drugs tucked inside her hollow head. The morphine and quinine would aid sick soldiers.
An X-ray confirms the head is hollow, but the museum has no other documentation to prove the family’s claim.
History Detectives tracks down the story behind ‘Nina,’ a ‘much loved member of the Anderson family’ and whether she helped to relieve suffering and save lives during the War Between the States.
More Information
National Museum of Civil War Medicine
48 East Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21705
(301) 695-1864
http://www.civilwarmed.org/
The Museum of the Confederacy
1201 East Clay Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1615
(804) 649-1861
http://www.moc.org/
1201 E. Clay St, Richmond, VA
Andersons' correspondence
Read the Andersons' correspondence.
Related Content
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Related Investigation
Vicksburg Map
Could this mysterious map have been at the front lines of one of the most explosive battles of the Civil War?
-
Related Investigation
Red Hand Flag
Is this peculiar flag one that African-American soldiers marched under in the war to end all wars?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
Leopold Medal
What does this medal reveal about a top-secret American Military project during WWII?
-
Also in Civil War: 1850-1877
Face Jug
What does this ceramic face reveal about the Middle Passage and a captive people’s search for identity?
-
Also in Season 9
Hot Town Poster
What role did this striking poster play in the explosive events of 1960s America?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
Black Tom Shell
Is this shell from a devastating act of foreign sabotage on American soil?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.