Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-05
Belle Boyd.

Yesterday evening, hearing that Miss Belle
BOYD had arrived from Galveston and was
stopping at the Dissen House, an Age reporter
called, aud in the second story parlor of the
hotel met this lady, whose name will live to
future ages along With that Of Joan dare, as
one of the romantic characters that loom up
from the great war of 1861.
Miss Boyd appeared neatly attired, and Is
rather handsome woman. whuse dark eyes
Ha>h with something Of the Virginia beauty IN
times gone by.
After a few minutes conversation the dis
course drifted to discussion OF the war.
Iu reply to question of the reporter, Miss
Boyd gave the following: account OF her saving
of Stonewa Jackson's army in the Valley, 10
1862:
At the time she was a prisoner of war IN
Winchester, which was then held by the Fed
erals. One evening Miss Belle was 10 the par
lor talking with Captaio Jones, oil the Twenty
fourth Indiaoa, when size overheard an officer
remark, We'll get old Stonewall this tune. .
Whilst pretending to talk to the captain she
iotently listened, but heard 90 more. A few
mioutes afterwards she managed TO get to
speak to negro man employed on the pr m
iscs, but without beirg overheard. She slipped
a note 10 his hand, at the same tune giving
him SIS, and telling him to deliver the note to
eertaiu lady of her acquaintance iu Win
chester.
The note requested her friends, among other
directions, to send Miss Belle country wo-
mans suit of clothes Immediately. The note
was promptly answered by the appearance Of a
negro servant girl, carrying bundle contain.
ing the country suit" 1t was conveyed into
the hands Of The ''spy" without exciting suspl-
cion. She Immediately habited herself IN the
coarse robes Of servant, and with long bon
net-such as used to be worn by negro servant
girls before the war-coverlng her features,
She passed the guard who supposed her to be
servant girl sure enough. Having escaped
she uade her way on foot to an old rebel,
Mr.. Gibsoo, FIVE miles from Winchester.
The spy" to whom Mr.. Gibson was we'll
known az an old friend, said:
Mr. Gibson, want horse.
Gibson: "Wbat in the world do you want
with horse?'
Miss Boyd: Il want to go to Jackson's
army
Gibson: "But how 10 the nation can you
think Of going in that dress p
Miss Belle: 81 don care how 60, or what
wear, so get to Sionewall Jackson to- night
want to save his army. don't care what
they take me for, or whether they think In
bigger or not.
The old man found it was of 20 use persuad-
ing nor. She mouoted q hlgh.mettled Vlr-
giuis steed, and struck out at gallop. After
riding some seven miles from Gibson's she
iug night. She drew rein and rode into the
L,, ,hos
have pursued and cut me off, she thought.
But it turned out to be some boys coon and
'possum hunting. This dissipated her fright.
She knew one Of the hunters.
II want you to tell me if you know anything
Of Stouewall Jackson's army" she Inquired of
him.
Yes, his army is some six or eight miles to-
wards the mountains, was the reply.
The "temae spy" rode on, and the dawn of
the morning was breaking upon the historic
hills of Virginia as she reached jackson camp.
Oae of the first persons she encountered was
an officer of his staff who had previously known
her.
Hey, Miss Belle" said he, what are you
doing bere2 thought you were 10 Winches.
ter yesterday evening prisoner
81 was" she replied, but am at Stonewall
Jackson's headquarters this morning.
Regarding her s.rvant's apparel, the officer
said
Miss Belle, who io the world has been hir-
ing you for a chambermaid since you've been
TO Winchester ?"
"Oh, nobody has been hiring me, but I've
come to be Stonewa Jackson's waitingmaid
to dayl"
She was Immediately carried to Gen. Jack
son 5 tept, where she informed him OF the III
tentions OF Fremont and Banks TO fall upon
him, and that his only move was to retreat.
lie did so, and intercepted Banks at the Gap,
aud afterward Fremont, with what result his.
tory tells. Houston Age.
SCENES IN BELGRADE.-A Servlan corre-
spoudent of the London Daily News says: The
picturesquoness of the Belgrade streets, of
which had heard so much, is destroyed by
their emptiness. There are here now only
lew Soldiers-the little garrison OF the forts and
some orderlies and office men-aUd all the man-
hood Of Belgrade has gone to the front, except
the people connected with the civil government,
some merchants, many of whom are foreigners,
and few teamsters aud people who fulfill the
duties of hewers Of wood and drawers OF water.
Let US sit down outside this cafe at the cor
her of the place." and look around u.s. The
low browed, one-story high oriental houses,
With the open front shop under the projecting
v9raudah. fail to hold their ground against the
0g, severastoried, ornamental fronted houses
Common u modern western cities. Belgrade
10 Its architecture is Cairo and Paris IN about
equal proportions. The streets are wide
ground is no object evidently here-and they
are lined with trees, which, when more grown,
WILL afford the graf full shade which is go much
leeded here ln the heat of the summer.
As In architecture so 10 costume--the east and
west meet in Belgrade. Look at the stately
gentleman promenading on the other side, OF
Tue way; he might be hadji, with that hoe
Im,Sn'hed face of the genuine "old Turk type.
t'o wears red and yellow ophod-like waistcoat,
scarlet iez, short braided brown JACKIE, with
aeape to it and long vouminous kilt, or