The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-11
From the Ne,c York Watchnaa. I
Belle Boyd, the Southern Heroine


Belle Boyd, the Southern Heroine.
The first sight we ever had of
Belle Boyd was in the cars, in Janu-
ary, 1864. We entered at Chester,
South Carolina, en- route for Colum-
bia-that Columbia whose winding
sheet was of lurid flames. When we
entered the cars, every seat was soc-
cupied, and we stood few seconds
for in Southern car no lady ever
stands longer than that space of
time-looking about for a place to
sit. There reclined on seat near
us a figure, but whether it was that
of man or q woman, we were at q
loss to decide. On seeing us, the
person arose, and in decidedly femi-
nine tones courteously offered us her
seat. OF course we declined, and
some Confederate soldiers on the
next seat politely vacated it for us.
When seated, we took survey of
the lady in front of us-for lady she
turned out to be. She wore gray
dress, the jacket of which was but
toned up to the throat with gilt but
: tons; the sleeves were made like a
mans coat sleeve, and decorated with
the insignia of captain in the Con-
federate army. That sleeve conveyed
the impression that man wore the
dress, but the rest of the costume
was al womanly. A straw hat and
black lace veil surmounted the short
hair, which was brushed in slight
c9rls over the temples; a grey shawl
thrown back, and neatly fitting pair
"a kid gloves completed the costume.
The appearance of this lady, not
@ithstanding her somewhat mannish
dress, was exceedingly prepossessing.
She was very youthful in appearance,
seemingly not more than twenty
Eears of age. Her hair was of deep
aburn, her complexion brilliant,
lad her features somewhat aquiline.
She was tall and decidedly distin-
guished in appearance. One of those
remarkable instincts which are some
'tlusesgiven us, told us at once that
this lady was no. other than Belle
Boyd. that young and daring South
ern girl. in whose exploits we had
felt so much interest.
We soon entered into conversation,
and she said, with amusing nacete,
Perhaps you have heard of me;
am Belle Boyd"
Heard Of you! Yes; you are one
OF our leroines' %
ssThanl1 you, she said quietly.
We did not tell her how, in our
Northern. home, where fate had
placed us the first two years of the
war, she had been to us a peculiar
object ofsympathy and solieitude.
How we daily scanned the papers for
: reg of her daring-how we
mad nouS Jedover her Imprisonment,
and Thought with horror Of what
might be her ultimate punishment.
And noWherA we were, in our own
\ sunny South, quietly sitting, talking
with Her, after her second captivity
of many long and tedious months.
She had just been released from pri-
son, and her mind seemed full of the
horrors she had endured.
She told MS that she was complete
ly shattered in mind and body; the
typhoid fever, from which she had
just recovered, had left her with
violent cough, and In miserable
Z k'efSlSSy IA 1lc2t1tx DIG never men
toned the services tflatshe had rem
dered her conntry; her mind only
reverted to the fearful horrors of her
prison lite. The most mortifying
circumstances of her career was, that
she was marched up toButler's head
quarters, at Fortress Monroe, through
q file Of negro soldiers. She appear
edsto dread the idea of being taken
captive in her anticipated running of
Sthe blockade at Wilmington, the pos
sibility of which we limited at.
81 will throw myself into the sea, {"
she said, "sooner than again fall into
the hands of the Yankees. -
She was attended by q major of the
Confederate army, who remarked to
us aside, that she was the bravest
person under fire ever seen; and had
done more to advance the cause of
the South than some of her gene
rals-that she was the only regularly
commissioned female officer in the
Southern army, and well deserved
the compliment.
AS the shades of evening approach
ed, Belle Boyd commenced song, in
which she was joined by the soldiers
present; and soon the sweet strains
Of Home Again foated out on the
silent air. It was o touching sight
to see this young girl, who had
braved so xsrIch Suffarad en- ,oY,ob