Richard Thomas Zarvona (October 27, 1833 – March 17, 1875), born Richard Thomas Jr., was an American adventurer, soldier, and a

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

officer who became known as "the French lady" after he disguised himself as a woman to seize a passenger steamer during the American Civil War.

Early life

The eldest son of former Maryland House of Delegates speaker Richard Thomas Sr. and the nephew of Maryland governor James Thomas, Richard Thomas Jr. was born and raised in "Mattapany," the Thomas family plantation south of the Patuxent River.Cox, Richard P., ''Rebel raider disguised in hoop skirt'', Washington Times An accomplished athlete and sportsman, Thomas attended

Charlotte Hall Military Academy Charlotte Hall Military Academy, located at Charlotte Hall, Maryland, was established as Charlotte Hall School in 1774 by Queen Charlotte to provide for the liberal and pious education of youth to better fit them for the discharge of their duties ...

and another military school in nearby Talbot County, Maryland, before receiving appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in 1850. Thomas survived his plebe year with 189 demerits, but resigned in October 1851.Holly, David C., ''Richard Thomas Zarvona (1833-1875)'' He then traveled the world, serving in the Second Italian War of Independence. He served either in the Sardinian or in the French Army, no written proof for which one available; though his new proficiency of the French language (coupled with a lack of Italian) and a deep interest in Zouaves strongly favour the later. It was then that he added "Zarvona" to his name; family legend establishing a French love who died and whose name he took. He returned to America in early 1861.

Civil War

In April 1861 Zarvona formulated his idea to support the Confederacy by either becoming an engineer officer or by going to the sea. A month later he formed a command of Zouaves that eventually would become Company H of the

47th Virginia Infantry The 47th Virginia Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia and was a unit in A.P. Hill's Light Di ...

Regiment. Simultaneously he started to plan the takeover of a ship; a plan that, with support of the government of Virginia, started on June 28. A disguised Thomas and a crew of accomplices seized the Bostoner passenger steamer ''St. Nicholas'', planning to use it to raid the sloop of war .

Notes

References

BiographyCol Richard ''Zarvona'' Thomas
Find A Grave Memorial *Cox, Richard P.
''Rebel raider disguised in hoop skirt''
October 6, 2007, The Washington Times (accessed October 14, 2007) *

Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their su ...

; Series I, Volume 4, pages 549-555 * Confederate States Army officers American Civil War spies People of Maryland in the American Civil War 1833 births 1875 deaths Charlotte Hall Military Academy alumni United States Military Academy alumni {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub