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

lage and plunder starting with full
trunk from Northern shores, and landing on
Dixie's soil with lamentably empty one.
The celebrated ''forty thieves" were mode.
rate in their exactions compared with these
nlags of truce" trunk examiners, aud
"snappers up of other peoples unconsider.
ed trifes."
The contents of this daring girls trunk
not little astonished the man and two wo.
men who we're ransacking them. Out came
two suits of gentlemen's clothes, a major.
generals uniform, dozen linen shirts, sew.
eral pairs of army gauptlets, and other
"contraband" goods. How she had man.
aged to smuggle these things into her pris-
on remains mystery, excepting to favor
ed few OF course they we're taken away
from her, together with pair Of field glass,
es which had formerly belonged to General
Jackson, and which Belle Boyd greatly
priced, and also, nearly all of her clothing.
Thus bereft, she had to undergo a per-
sonal search, and was then permitted to pro.
ceed on her way. When she reached Rich
mond, she was met with most enthusiastic
reception. But her happiness was soon des.
troyed by the news of her fathers DEATH
The shock she then experienced produced a
severe illness and then it was she felt as
she says, all the loneliness of her position.
In vain did she petition the authorities at
Washington to permit her to return to her
heart stricken mother; but every appeal
was sternly refused, and as her health was
considerably undermined she determined on
a visit to Europe.
On the 9th of May, entrusted with dis
patches for the Confederate Government,
Belle Boyd set sail from Wilmington, in
the Greyhound. But here her good angel
deserted her again, as was the case on seve-
raj former occasions. A Federal cruiser bore
down upon them, and after pretty hot fire
during which it was said that Belle Boyd,
the only lady passenger, sat quietly on deck,
tanning herself, and watching the effect Of
the shot and she'll, the whole party were
captured. This was a 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 more agreeable and happier desti.
ny. If it be true that marriages are made
in heaven, then Providence took this way
of bestowing protector upon this desolate
young girl, and in her gentlemanly captor
she found loving and tender husband.
The second evening after the capture,
Belle Boyd, and Lieutenant Hardinge we're
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 at Boston. The result may be easily
auticipated-the answer was not rebuff,
and Belle Boyd pledged her faith to one
who was to her almost stranger but who
seems to have won her regard by his kind
and gentlemanly demeauor-so Indifferent
to that which she had experienced from her
former captors.
In Boston she was under the surveillance
of spies, and, after remaining three weeks,
telegram arrived, saying that she was to
be escorted beyond the lines into Canada ;
and If again caught IN the United States
or by the United States authorities she
should be shot. She soon, however, left the
American shores, and, after prosperous
voyage, landed in England. Mr.. Hardinge
followed her, and, in August, 1864, they
we're married in London. Her felicity was
not of long duration After they had been
married two months, Mr.. Hardinge found ii
necessary to return to America, leaving his
yonng wife in England. He was arrested,
when op visit to Virginia, and thrown in
to prison by the United States Government
With feeling of agony his wife heard of bis
fate and, to add to her unhappiness, the
remittances sent to her failed in reaching
their destination. Sick and destitute, alone
in the wide world of London, no wonder this
brave spirit that had stood the fierce fire OF
thousand guns and dared her prosecutors
in her lonely prison, almost sank with dis
may at the pressure of this new burden put
upon her. But at length her husband was re-
leased, and it was not long before he found
his sorrowing young wife in her London
home.
Such is brief history of the varied ca
reer of Belle Boyd, "the rebel spy"-the
Southern heroine.
Itseems somewhasremarkable, thatthough
the Southern women entered with all the
enthusiasm of their natures into the late
war, so few of them distinguish themselves
for any daring deeds in behalf of their suf'
fering country. We can only account fol
it by the fact that the Southern women are
naturally retiring, and shrink instincsively
FROM notoriety. They were not found on
the battlefield, but they took their places
amid the wretcbed wards Of the hospitals
and wherever a Southern soldier was found,
there was the Southern woman, too, his
ministering angel. We do not think that
the entire annals of womanhood present a
more complete picture Of unselfsh devotion
to cause, and perfect self.sacrifce, than
that exhibited by the Southern women du'
ring the late unhappy contest. Although
| there WAS hnt one Belle BoYd among them,