Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-06-10


seemed absorbed in the thoughts she was
Iuttering in song her melancholy manner
Affected all who heai Il her. rot only with
/ compassion for her. bat with an interest
| in her which came near On several ccca>
sions bringing about n conflict between the
| prisoners and the guards.
Fronting on the same hall or stair land
ing On which Belle Boyu's room door OPEN
ed were three other rooms, all filled to
their capacity with prisoners mostly Cons
federaie oeAcers. Seyctm OF these we're
personally acquainted with Belle, os she
was most OF the time, and 10y nearly every
one, called. In the evenings, those priso-
ners were permitted to crowd inside ot
their room doors whence they could see
aud sometimes exchange word with Belle.
When this liberty was not allowed, Belle
conirived 10 procure large marble,
around which she world tie a note written
~ tissue plper aud when the guard turn
Ell hs back "a patrol his beat IN the hall,
she would roll the marble into one o, the
npen doors of the COntedIrate prison rs
rnums When the co1Ieuts Eerc read ANA
noted "a mis.ive would be written III reply,
and the marble. similarly hurdened as II
! came. would be- rolled back to Belle. Thus
was a cnrrps pnndpuce established and kept
M between Belle and her fellow prisoners
tll - more convenient and effective mode
was discovered. This occurred soon after
snmp of u were transferred from room
NJ. Is 10 No 10.
One day Mr.. Steward and we're rum,
maglny M M old. dirty, doorleSs closet in
No. 10. when we discovered an opening in
the floor. aud lookug doNn perceived the
hght IN the room below. which happened
to BE- that occupied 10y Belle Boyd Here
was discovery. No sooner was it made
than We set 10 writing u note, which was
1 tied to thread, and dropped down thro'
/ the Uncovered aperture 1t happened TO
| be seen by Belle, who soon returned the
compliment, Theuceiorlh regular mlll
passed through the floor in No. TO- and
i Ihough Lieutenant M.l.-rand Supernten.
! dsut Wood prlded tnem,elrrs on being
1 well informed Of every occurrence which
took place in the prison contrary to the
rules. with all their vgilence. aided by the
PRESENCE, rs they admllLel, oi d tectlge
| in every room IL he prison, except that
of Belle Boyd. they never discovered This
through tie floor mail. II would be not
the least interesting chapters of The MS
tors Of the Old Capitol to give ia II the let
tels to and from Belle Boyd. But the
time tor lhi, is rot yet.
/ Belle usually cnmmerced her evening
prs,r,tmunul with "Maryland my Ma
ryIand The singing Of this song often
brought Belle in collision with the guard
who passed 10 and Iro in trouto her room
door. This occurred especially toward,
! the close, where particular stress was laid
upon the sentiment,
"iluzza she spurns the Northern scum y
which vas sung 10y every rebel voice wl'hN
in hearing. The guard would tell Belle 10
hush up. Belle would reply, Il shan't do
-" srG then repeat
Hat7a sbc spurn. the Northsru scum"
and suilug 'hs nc'lon 10 the word, she
would seize broom aud apply it to that
part O. the loor uod 10y the guard. Tnis,
Of course, WAS provoking to the guard +;
Lut was such place tho proper one to i'm,
prison a female and especially one who,
whatever may nave been her offence Was
IN the estimation Of the world, . lady
belie was allowed to 20 into the yard on
Sundays, when there was preaching there.
On these occasions : e wore a small Con
fedcraie flag IN her bosom. No soOne'
wuuii her presence he known TO the Con-
gederale prisoner lhun they mHnI'eslei
toRalds her every mark of respect which
persons in them situations could Jc-tow.
Most of them dOilnd their hats as she ap'
proached them, and she, with o grace and
dignity which might be envied by queen,
extended hand TO them rs she moved
along to her designated position in a cor,
, 80. %. hRH ~
prisoners oi State envird the G. niederate'
r who eujoyed the acquaintance OF kel'c
! Boyd. and secured from her such E!ances
Q OF sympathy As can only glow FROM wo'
s mans eyes
p Bellies situa' ion was peculiarly trying
J one. II Sue Kept her room, a solitary
f prisoner. her health and probably hei
. mind would become affected 10y the con
a iinamrnt ard solitude, aud if she ndulg
{ ed herself 10y sitting outside Of her room
door. she brcatue exposed to the gaze Of
: hundred prisoners, nearly all OF whom
I were strangers 10 leI. and many of theu
{ her enemies w The laws nf war. Nor Wa,
this all. She could not help hearing tn,
comments nude on her aud the opinions
+, expressed Of her by passers 10y, some o
, them complimentary ry and iiatiering, 1t i
/ true, but ottentimes cnuched ~ expression,
. which were not What she should hsar -
: The guards. too, were sometimes rude ;o'
wards her, both 10y word and aclioa. Que
& time. especially, one Of the guards pre-
. sentng his BAY ou-ted musket at her in q
: threatening manner. She, brave and un'
e tel rliird, dared the craven.hearted fellow
D to put his threat into execution. II wa
: we'll lnr him that he dill rot. for he wouit
o have been torn in pieces before IL could
= be known TO the PRISON authorities wha
u bad happened.
Belle was subjected to another worse
L annoyance and lndignity than even this
n Her room irnnted on A street and aswa.
e usual with al. the prisoners whose room,
. had windows opering toward the street
. Belle would SIT at her window sometime
r and Look abroad upon the houses, streets
} and people Of the city named after Wash
i in gton. II happened frequently tha
e troops were moving 10 and fro, aud it VA
J ON such occasions especially that Belle
/ prompted by that curiosity which seem,