Rose was a rich, attractive, and outgoing widow. She was born in Port Tobacco, Maryland. She was a very popular member of Washington's social circle so most of her friends were former presidents, senators, and generals.
Her job was to gather valuable information to report for Rebel Government. Allan Pinkerton was very suspious about Rose's activities so he arrested her in August 1861. They searched her house and found very detailed maps of Washington's fortifications. She was then sent to prison in January 1862 at the Old Capital Prison in Washington. She still managed to continue her activities.
After getting out of jail she had another assignment, she was forced to the sand bar. She was very scared someone would catch her and place her in prison again, so they took a small life boat. There was a large storm during the time she was gone, a few days later her body had washed up on shore. The sea had sunk her boat because of the weight of $2,000 in gold that she carried took her under the waves. She was given a military funeral and buried in Wilmington, Delaware.