The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-11
Belle Boyd in Print.

federate Spy and Mrs. hardinge,'
has no idea of passing as yet from
public notice. On the contrary, she
has just published, in England, an
autobiography. with an introduction
by friend OF the South, wherein she
rccapitulates her Virginia experience.
Among other things, she boasts as lol-
lows of having, upon a certain oc
cSsion, shot Union soldier:
One Of the soldiers, thrusting HIM
self forward, addressed my mother
and myself in language as offensive as
it is possible to conceive. L could
stand it no longer; my indignation
was reused beyond control, my blood
was literally boiling i'll my veins. L
drew my pistol and shot him. He was
carried away mortally wounded and
soon after expired"
This Young lamsel was accustomed
to practice almost daily with llcr
pocket pistol, and many are thc stories
related by the people of N[altinsburG
and vicinity of her accurate aim.
She asserts the truth Of the story so
current III the Shenandoah Fal.c*, as
to her having once conveyed intorMa
ton TO Stonrwall Jackson which led
| to a victory. She says Jackson was
advancing against our forces q:
.Martin>h!lrg. then commanded. il We
! mistake ,ut BY General Banks. It
was of the greatest Importance that he
should.bc informed OF the disposition
Of or troops.
Having appealed III vain 70 severa!
resolved to perform 1t in person.
Skirm;shing between th2t outposts
was going on. The artillerymcn on
both sides were pouring shot and shell
against thei. r"sptctivr foes. Not
/ 'withstan.;ing this. she crossed tho
ground then swept by III" fire, the
bullets whis:ling arorud hrr: h"r
dress was pierced b. several Of tlcm.
and she was ovrn obliged 10 fall tl:lt on
IL" ground in order To escape del1h
from Il shell which exploded within
twenty yards of hcr feet. However.
| she Darscvrrcd gained the Confo(lr-
rate lines in safety, and there imp.rt-
ed the intelligence which assured
victory to her friends. As !. rvr"%li-
! ton of what She had done, General
Jackson wrote to her as ;ollowS: u
thank ,v"1l for myself and Inc army,
! for the immense S'r.!,." tn&r vu' have
/ rendered vonr country to-lay."
After the recapt.lre "i Martins
burg by the Un;onist, SIZE w:t, allow
ed to remain for time uumolrstcd BIZ
tie Fcdcruls But Mr.. Stanton soon
ordered her to be arrested and Carried
to Washington Thithcr She was
tnkCn under the escort of two hundred
and fifty cavalry. and cast INTO prison.
IScyond the unpleasant fact OF inc:lr'.s,-
ration she had not much 70 complain
OF. She tells us that Mr.. Stanton
bread and water diet, but adds that
this order was not carried out. The
following is the bill OF fare of her
dinner; ''So1p, bccf-stcak, chickens,
boiled corn, tomatoes, Irish stew,
potatoes, bread and butter, cantc-
lopcs, peaches, pears, grapes" She
was afterwards exchanged with two
hundred other prisoners.
She likewise confirms the statements
as to her having learned through
Federal officers Of the Federal plans
in Northern Virginia. On obtaining
any information Of this kind, she
would gallop off towards the rcbc1
lines, and 10y some means impart it fo
the ins,lrgent leaders. On ono occ:,-
sion her horse ran away with nrr, ant
she was captured by Il Union picket
and taken to headquarters. SlIy, s;lio
to the commanding officer, sYor
must know have been taking IL rid,
with some friends; my horse ran away
with me, and carried me within yolu
lines l am your captive, but / beg
you will permit me to return" Ht
believed her story, and sent her back
with an escort which she conducted
into II rebel ambush. She relates nu
merolls other incidents, already fami
liar to the soldiers who have served il
Northern Virginia.
Not satisfied, however, with Il reca
pitulation OF her exploits, she proceed:
tn nj for,,, fhn ,>,,l>!,. A. L..