The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-11

1AA .nJ thS1nOIy, uuu I'd dCtcfnpC TO
describe them would be utterly i'm
possible
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 q relapse, and again she was
thrown on bed of illness. BY the
exertions of her father her sentence
was commuted to ''banishment to the
South, never to return North again
during the war" When it is remem-
bared that her parents lived within
the Federal lines, Martinsburg being
in possession of the North, this SEN
tence will not appear a light one.
On the first day of December, she
was released from prison and sent
South, without being permitted to
see her father, who lay ill in Wash
lngton. At Fortress Monroe, her
trunks were examined; and any one
who has undergone this ordeal knows
precisely what it means. It means,
(so at least our experience proves,
wholesale theta gigantic robbery;
a license to pillage and plunder; a
starting with full trunk from North
ern shores, and landing on Dixie's
soil with q lamentably empty one.
The celebrated s'forty thieves were
moderate in their exactions compared
with these "fag of truce trunk ex-
am1ners, and "snappers-up of other
peoples unconsidered trihes."
The contents of this daring girls
trunks not little astonished the man
and two women who were ransackinc
them. Out came two suits of gen
tlemnh.s clothes, generals
uniform, dozen linen shirts, several
pairs of army gauntlets, and other
'contraband' goods. How she had
managed to smuggle these things into
her prison remains mystery. ex-
cepting to favored few. OF course.
they were taken away from her, to-
gether with n pair of field glasses
which had formerly belonged to Gen.
Jackson, and which Belle Boyd great
iy priced, and also nearly all Of her
clothing. Thus bereft, she had to
undergo Personal search, and was
then permitted to proceed on her
way. When she reached Richmond,
she met with most enthusiastic re-
ceptioli. But her Happiness was soon
destroyed by the news of her fathers
death. The shock she then expert
anced produced severe illness; and
then 1t was she felt, as she says, all
the loneliness of her position. In
vain did she petition the authorities
ut Washington to permit her to re-
turn to her heart-stricken mother;
g. ,1x,
and as her health was considerably
undermined, she determined on a
visit to Europe.
On the Sth of May. entrusted with
dispatches for the Confederate Go
vernment, Belle Boyd set sail from
Wilmington, in the Greyhound. But
here her good angel deserted her
again, as was the case on several
former occasions a Federal cruiser
bore down upon them, and after a
pretty hot fire, during which it is
said that Belle Boyd, the only lady
passenger, sat quietly on deck, fam
ming herself, and watching the effect
OF the shot and shell, the whole party
were captured. This was severe
blow to the pleasant anticipations of
Belle Boyd, but what seemed to her
sure road to another long and weary
imprisonment, proved the way to a
more agreeable and happier destiny.
II 1T be true that marriages are made
In heaven, then Providence took this
way of bestowing II protector upon
tins desolate young girl, and in her
captor she found loving
and tender husband.
The second evening after the cap
ture, Belle Boyd and Lieutenant
Hardinge were seated on deck. The
evening was lovely, and these two
young hearts full Of love. Love at
first sight is not impossible With
some temperaments; and so it proved
in this case. The gentleman told his
love and the lady listened But she
was little prudent, for she deferred
her answer until they should arrive ut
Boston. The result may be easily
answer was not a
rebuff, and Belle Boyd pledged her
faith to one who was to her almost n
stranger, but who seems to have won
her regard by his kind and gentle
manly demeanor-so different to that
which she had experienced from her
former captors.
In Boston, she was under the sur
velllance of spies; and, after remain
ing there weeks, Il telegram arrived,
l.