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
Anti-Slavery Flag
Did this old sheet found in a family trunk contribute to the end of slavery in America?
-
Related Investigation
WWI Chemical Warfare Map
Could this map be an authentic relic from a critical WWI battle?
-
Also in Civil War: 1850-1877
Whaling Ship
Might a ship docked in Mystic Seaport, hold secrets to the Underground Railroad?
-
Also in Civil War: 1850-1877
Lincoln Forgery
Could this piece of sheet music have come from Abraham Lincoln's private collection?
-
Also in Civil War: 1850-1877
Civil War Sabotage?
The steamship Sultana exploded one night in 1865, killing more than 1,800 people. Was the disaster a result of Civil War sabotage?
-
Also with Gwen Wright
U.S.S. Thresher
Do these documents disclose information about U.S. secret weapons in the Cold War?
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.