Belle Boyd (1843–1900) was a famous Confederate spy born in Martinsburg. She started her spy career after shooting a Union soldier on July 4, 1861, and was imprisoned twice. After being acquitted, she moved to Front Royal, Virginia, where she gave Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson important information during his 1862 Shenandoah Valley campaign.

Nancy Hart was another Confederate spy. She helped Perry Conley and his Moccasin Rangers resist Union control in Western Virginia. In fall 1861, she was captured but convinced Union troops she was innocent, so they released her. She used this chance to gather information and return to the Confederates. In summer 1862, she was captured again and held in Summersville. There, she tricked her young guard into letting her hold his pistol, then killed him and escaped. She returned with 200 Confederate soldiers and captured Summersville, along with several Union officers.