 She would write the book "Three Score Years and Ten, Life-Long Memories of Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and Other Parts of the West", about the early days of Fort Snelling and her travels through the pioneer midwest.She was the first white woman born in the Wisconsin Territory, in the settlement of Prairie du Chien.Van Cleve served under Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas at Mill Springs, and was later promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on March 21, 1862, in recognition for his services at that battle.