Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-06-07

SOLne Will Ine uldLho VI ueep Wounoo ooii
upon them, singing in unison the song
which doubtless had cheered many of th'
weary hours in camp. This little musica
scene would have made beautiful picture
As Belle Boyd sang, the soldiers gathered
around her, and told with looks not to bt
mistaken how dear the regard they felt fol
this brave child of the Confederacy.
"Miss Belle is charming lady," said one
as he turned to leave the cars.
"Most charming" was the enthusiastic
answer of the young soldiers.
When the war broke out, Belle Boyd's
pleasant home was among the first devas
tated by the Northern army. Enthusiastic
and daring by nature, she threw herself
heart and soul into the contest, stimulated
by the wrongs and woes which had faller
upon her beautiful home in Martinsburg
There was no Office she disdained for the
Confederates and when the sick and
wounded we're brought to Martinsburg she
devoted herself to nursing them. When
the Confederates under Jackson retreated
to Winchester, Martinsburg was entered by
the Federal troops. Here they committed
many depredations, destroying property
which they did not want, stealing what
they did, and in the grossest language in
sultiug the women. :.
Determined to serve her country, Belle
Boyd made the acquaintance of many oi
the officers of the Federal army, from
whom she obtained much valuable infor
nation, which she committed to paper, and
despatched to some of the Confederate
generals. One of her missives falling into
the hands of the Federals, she was taken tc
headquarters and severely reprimanded
From this time she was suspected, and the
epithet "rebel spy" fixed upon her Moth.
ing daunted by her castigation, she paid q
visit to Manassas where her father was sta.
toned, and frequently acted in the capacity
of a courier between Generals jackson and
Beauregard
When the Confederate forces retreated
down the Valley, Belle Boyd was at Front
Royal. Being desirous of returning to
Martinsburg, she obtained pass to do so q;
but was seized while on her way there and
taken to Baltimore as prisoner. How
ever, she was soon released, and sent home,
where the strictest surveillance was kept
over her. After a while permission was
granted her to 60 to Front Royal, and it
was there that she performed those deeds
which have made her so justly dear to the
Southern army.
General Shields held a council of war in
what had formerly been the drawing room
of the aunt of Belle Ever on the alert
to carry out her mission, the young girl
stole up stairs, and finding hole in the
closet floor, she applied her ear to it.
Here she remained until one o'clock, over.
hearing the whole of the deliberation, and
took down in cipher every thing that sht
thought was of Importance, To communi
cafe the intelligence thus gained was the
next object Being surrounded by the
Federals, she had to proceed cautiously
Making her way to the stables, she saddled
her horse, and galloped alone in the direc
tion of the mountains. Being several
times brought to halt by the sentries, she
showed them her passport, which was a
pass she had procured for Confederate
soldier going South, and which had not
been used for that purpose.
Suspecting nothing, they let her go on
her way, and thus she dashed on for fifteen
miles, through the darkness of the night,
and through fens and marshes, until abe
reached the house of a friend. No woman
not possessing brave spirit could have
taken such a ride as this alone, in the
midst of enemies and on a dark night
But there was no sacrifice Belle Boyd was
not willing to make for her beloved South ;
and let those of her sisters who stigmatlze
her as "fast," ask if they have done even
this, the least of her deeds, for the sake Of
their country.
After communicating her information tc
Colonel Ashby, she remouuted her horse
and reached her home safely, barely escap
ing q bullet which sleepy sentinel sent
after her.
The Federals little imagined how {
young girl had put to flight all their wary
plans for entrapping the Confederates
There was soon an unusual stir in From
Royal, for the Confederates were approach
ing unexpectedly upon the town; but the
heroic girl was possessed of further infor
nation which it was desirable to convey tt
the approaching army Generals Banks
White, Shields, Geary, and Fremont were
to cooperate against General Jackson with
their separate divisions, was the information
she wished to convey to that General
How to reach him was the question ; but i
did not take her long to decide. Putting
on her white sun, bonnet, she proceeded
through the streets, which were crowded
with Federals officers, and soon gained th'
open fields On, on she went, while TIT
bullets poured like thick rain around her
Exposed to cross-6re from the Fedora
and Confederate artillery, the shot ane
she'll whistled over the head of the daunt
less girl, who was also exposed to a tir'
from the picke,s of the Federals, and from
the windows Of the hospital. The sho
pierced her clothing, but not one reached
her body. A shell burst Immediately ii