The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-13
THE REBEL SPY.

Belle BOYD the Confederate PeltIeOated
Courier in PIttSburgh-shs Is the GsnuIne
Rebel Spy,
PiitbuTgh DIIpGtch,
The original Belle Boyd, the famous
rebel spy, was in the city last evening,
and left for Greensburg, where she is
now making her headquarters, While
in the city a Dipalch reporter had a
short chat with her and she undoubtedly
proved that she is the genuine Belle,
To the reportershe said;
/ am not seeking publicity, but /
would like to set myself right before the
public, Since the publication Of the
stories that Belle Starr, who was muir
dered in the Indian Territory, was the
Belle Boyd OF Stonewall Jackson fame,
| have been considerably annoyed and
worried by a great many people who
think l am an imposter. In Green's
burg, where have been living, the
people believe me as they have the
proofs Of my identity, l have three
children to raise and | cannot afford to
allow their lives to DO Clouded by hav-
ing my name associated with Bell Starr
or any other persons who are impOsters.
was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley
county, (now West Virginia. May 0,
1913, My father was Benjamin Reed
Boyd, OF Martinsburg. | was educated
at Mt. Washington Female College, at
Baltimore county, Maryland, ! had just
left school when the war broke out, and
l determined TO enter the Confederate
service, During my career Us n spy l
was q prisoner for eleven months In the
old Capitol and Carroll prisonsin WASH
ington. was twice sentenced to be
shot, but each time managed to get re-
proved.
In May, 1864, ran the blockade, and
was captured and banished by President
Lincoln. sailed for England August
%, 1864. My first marriage took place
shortly aiterward to Lieutenant Samuel
Wylde Harding, OF the United States
Navy.
/ first went on the stage at the Theatre
Royal, Manchester, England, in May,
1866. After the general amnesty was
proclaimed by President johnson re-
turned to America aud made my first
appearance ut Ben DeBar's Theatre in
81, Louis. A short time afterward !
Joined stock company in Cincinnati,
under the name Of Nina Ben amln.
My second marriage was TO Colonel
John Swanson Hammond, on March II,
1869, in New Orleans. My health was
falling at the time and ! left the stage.
| took a trip to California, and my mind
becoming impaired went to the asylum
for the insane in Stockton, Cal. latter
ward came back to Maryland to be
treated by DR.. Stokes, OF Baltimore.
The first time any person tried TO i'm.
personate me was when was Ill and
was reported dead. One or two women
tried 1t, but were not successful. In 1883,
while living in Texas, a woman calling
herself Belle Boyd, but known In pri'
yate life as Mrs. Murphy, was travelling
through the country telling people she
was the Rebel Spy l succeeded in
running her down, and the woman left
the State.
A short time aiterward 1 was granted
u divorce from my husband, and on jan
uary 0, 1885, married Nat r. High, the
actor, OF Toledo. l began to travel with
him, delivering recltations, etc. The
first recital OF my life was in Toledo at
IN entertainment under the auspices OF
the G. A. r. / have since been deliver
ing lectures throughout the country"