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


that the troops should press forward
Seeing a female standing undauutedly on
the battle field, amid such fearful shower
of shot, filed the Confederates with the
widest enthusiasm, and cheer after cheer
rang through the welkin. The troops dash.
ed upon the town, and the heroic girl pro-
ceeded on to deliver a note with which she
had been entrusted, to one of the Confed.
crate Generals. Acting upon the informa'
ton which she had conveyed to the Con
federates, they gained complete victory,
and it was proud day for Belle Boyd
when the following note was placed in her
hands:
"May %, 1862.
"M1ss BELLE BOYD: thank you, fol-
myself and for tie army, for the immense
service that you rendered your country
to day.
Hastily, 1 am your friend,
It. j. JACKSON, g. S. A."
But dark days of imprisonment and
suffering were approaching for tue intrepid
'srebel spy," as the Northern press called
her. Imprudently entrusting letter for
General jackson to the care of person
who called himself Southern soldier, but
who, in reality was Federal spy, the doc
ument was forwarded to Washington, and
an order for her arrest issued by Mr.. Stan
ton. 1t did not take long to put the order
into execution, and Belle Boyd was soon
safely enscouced within the walls of the
Old Capitol The poor Gagged bird, who
had scared with so free wing through the
fields of the sunny South, now beat its
wings wearily against the hard prison bars;
but there was no escape. The young prls-
oner could but think of the sunshine with.
out; of the sweet liberty Of which she had
been deprived; of the daring deeds she
would have done Of her bleeding, suffering
country she might have helped, and pine
| with throbbing heart for tie days that
we're no more, for the loved home so far
away, and for the desolate hearts who Wept
| over the cruel captivity of this heroic and
daring child.
But no trouble seems to have tanned her
spirit; she refuses to take the oath, hangs
up Mr.. Davis portrait over her mantel-
piece, with the inscription, "Three cheers
for Jeff. Davis and the Southern Confede.
racyW communicates with the prisoners,
through holes in the wall and crevices iu
the floor, and sings "rebel" songs in clear
firm voice, and with very disloyal empha
sis. Here, for several months, she was sub
jected 10 rigorous treatment-the sentry
even going so far on one occasion as to break
her thumb with the butt end of his musket,
for placing some sugar in the hands of one
of the officers of the prison, to be passed
over to some Confederate soldiers, by per-
| mission of that very sentry himself.
But at length came the joyful news
she was free; and, escorted by Maj. Fitz.
hugh, of Stuart's staff, she entered an open
carriage, and amidst the cheers of the spec
| tators, was driven to the wharf. The per-
| tinacity of this young girl is remarkable ;
all her trials could not shake her allegiance
to the cause she thought just; and we find
her bearing off, concealed about her person
two gold sabre knots, one Of which was in
tended for present to Gen. Jackson, the
other for General Joseph Johnston.
When Belle Boyd returned to the South,
she received her commission as captain and
honorary aid-de-camp to "Stonewall Jack
| son" When the troops we're reviewed in
the presence of Lord Harrington and Col.
Leslie, she attended on horseback, and was
associated with the staff officers of the sew
eral commanders.
After tour tn, ough the Southern States,
she returned to her home in Martiusburg,
but she was not suffered to remain there
long. Martinsourg became again in the pos
session of the Federal troops, who placed
the :'rebel spy" under the strictest espion'
age, not even allowing her to walk out into
her own balcony At length there came a
SUMMONS from Washington for her arrest
and, accompanied by her father, Belle Boyd
was torn from her sick mother and proceed
ed with heavy heart and fearful eyes to
meet her doom of imprisonment in the Cap
ital Prison, in Washington Once more
the heavy iron bars of a prison shut out this
Young Southern girl from all that made life
pleasant to her; and again she commenced
the weary round of captive's life. But
she found ympathiziug friends without as
we'll as within the prison walls, who man
aged to watt her many comforting missive.
Confederate flags were also sent her, with
which she decorated her room.
Then came scene of suffering which the
past had nothing to compare. A severe at
tack of typhoid fever laid her on bed OF
illness The mothers hand, which had al
ways been placed softly on her brow, was
far away; no gentle voice whispered com
fort to her heart no kindly friend was per
mittcd TO visit her. She says, in alluding
to the distress she suffered:
"Years may roll by, but my sufferings in
that prison, both mental and physical, can
never be obliterated from my memory and
to attempt to describe them would be utter.
lyimpossible.
When she recovered, it was to be told
that she had been sentenced to hard labor
during the war, in the Fitzburg Jail. This
information caused relapse, and again she