About Lily Mackall
Lily Mackall was a spy.
Lily Mackall (sometimes, Lillie Mackall) (c. 1839 – December 12, 1861) was a messenger for Rose Greenhow, a Confederate spy during the American Civil War. Arrested with Greenhow, they were held under house arrest, although Mackall was allowed to leave freely and used this to smuggle out some of the most sensitive documents in her shoes. The pair were then confined in a single room, along with Greenhow's daughter. Greenhow noted that during this time, she and Mackall were "like Siamese twins, inseparable". On September 25, 1861, Mackall was ordered out of the house and prohibited from returning, on the direct orders of Allan Pinkerton; she fell ill in October, and eventually died, with Greenhow being prohibited from seeing her. She was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Lily Mackall?
American spy
What was Lily Mackall's occupation?
Lily Mackall was a spy.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lily Mackall. https://biography.guide/lily-mackall/
MLA: "Lily Mackall." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lily-mackall/.
Chicago: "Lily Mackall." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lily-mackall/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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