Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-06-29
BELLE BOYD IN PRINT.
From The New York Commercial

Belle Boyd, of Virginia notonety. variously
known as toe " Aartinsburg Beauty Rebel in
PetlicoatS' Confederate Spy" ami Mrs
Hardnge," has NO idea OF passing as yet from
public notice. On the contrary she has just pub.
iished, in Engand, an autOb ography, with an
introduction by friend OF tie South, wherein
sls recapitulatas her VlrginiI experience
Among other taings, she boasts ss follows of
having, upon certain occasion, shot Union
zone Of the soldiers, thrustins himself for.
ward addressed my mother and myself in lIr.
gunge as offensive IS IL is poss be :, conceive.
could stand I! DO longer, my indignation was
boi irG iu my veias. drew rly pistol and shot
him. de was carried away mor:aly wounded
and soon alter expired"
This young dan.sel was accustomed 10 practice
am oct daily with her pocket pistol and many are
the stories re!sted by the people OF Martinsburg
and vicinity Of her accurate am.
She asserts tie truth OF the story so current in
the SheaaDdoah valley, as 70 her having once
convey,d i inform ItiOu 10 StOnewail Jackson
which led 10 a victory. She says jackson was
advancing against OR forces az Maltinsburg,
then commanded, If we mistake not by General
Banks II wac OF the greltest impo:taGce that
he slC uld be Informed OF the disposition Of our
troops.
Having appealed in vain 10 several gentlemen
70 undertake the dlty, she resolved 10 perform il
in psIson. Skumishing between the OutpoSls
was going on. Tho artillery men on both 5 dts
were pouring shot aud she'll against their respec.
tive foes Notwithstanding this she cross the
ground then SWEPT 10y the fire, the baLeis whisllng
around her; her dress was placed Dy several oil
them and she WAS even obliged to fall Hat on the
uronnd in order 10 escape death from slel which
eypIoded within twenty yards . her feet. How
ever she persevesCd, gained the Confederate lines
in safety, and there impaired the intelligence
which assured victory 20 her fdelds. As a re.
cornition of what she bad done, General Jackson
wrote 10 her q, f1ioSs: thank you, for my
self and the ormy, Tor the immense service that
YOU have rendered your untry to-day
After the Tecaptule OF MhrtnSburg by q G
Unionists she was allowed - rcpain for time
unmolestel by the Federals. But BIZ Stanton
soon ordered her to be arrested and carried TO
Washington. 1hither she was taken under the
escort OF ioar hundrei and fifty cavalry, and cast
iato prisou. Beyond the unpleasant fact oil in
carceTation, che had not much 10 complain Of =
Size tells us that Mr.. Stanton ordered that che
q ould be keptC bread anl-wafe: diet, but ad Is
that this order WAS not carried cut. Inc ioilow'
ing is the bill OF fare Of her dinner soup. beef
steak chickens, boiled corn tomatoes, Irish stew,
potato S, bread and butter, can.elopes, pea hes,
pears grapes hhs was afterward exchanged
with two hundred other prisoner.
She likewise confirms the statement as TO her
having learned through Fede al officers OF the
Federal plans in Northern Virginia. On obtain
ing any information Of this kind she would gal
Ion off toward the rebel lines, aud by some
means inpart II TO the irsurgent leaders. On
one occasion her horse ran away with her, and
she wys captured bya Union pcse. and taken Ike,
70 beadouarters. She said to the commanding
officer. You must know | have been taking q
ride with some friends; my horse ran away with
me, and hes carried me within your lines. ! am
your captive, hut beg you will permit me 10 ie-
turn" BE believed her story and sent her BACK
with an escort which she conducted into q Teeel
already familiar to the soldiers who have served
in Northern Virginia. -. .,,..
Not satisfied, however with recapitul@tlon
of her EXPLOITS she proceeds to inform the Eng
I;sb nnbIic that she knew oil about the assassina-
ton conspiracy Il was cOncocs:, s she says, b., by
Vice President johnson, on . enerai b1ter, ana jim
with Mr.. Lincoln, Grant Seward, and Stanton
ana then raise themselves into power. She adds
| !. Not only were hey doomed but so als1 were al
those most in favor of conci.iatory measures to-
ward the South"