Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-02-23
Belle Boyd, the Rebel Spy

A Gi-pach from Saratoga, N. Y, says
"Beiie Boyd, the Rebel Spy" wens to Hoo
sick Falls short time ago to give an enter
taiument here. She was accompanied By
her husband, Nat B. High, and three
children. and shty al went 10 the Com
mercial Houee. where tie children we're suf-
fereG to remain while the father and mother
gave performances in ueighbosing places.
Bale" several times sent money to the ho-
tel proprietress for board for her children,
but not enough to pay the foil board. aDd
so Mrs. Turner, pfoprietrsss ofthe hotel, en-
| tered complaint to the Poormsster go es TO
pu, the childreu upon the town. and war
rant wac Issued fort he sr:est OF Belle Boyd "
She was arrested Ia Cstskill snd taken back
to Hoosick Falls On The trial 1t came out
that the $40 week which had been sent
for the care of the children had been applied
toward the payment Of b3ard bill previous
y contracted and which vas partly due,
and that the children bad been prjnstiy
given to The charge Of the PoormaateF. The
Justice decided that there was no cause OF
action belle Boyd" comes ofen excsleut
West Virginia family. Sae is 45 ysars
old, aid is OF striking appearance. As
a girl che won reputation as horse
hack rided. She rode in mans clothes SO
often as In woman's dress. She was In sym.
patty with the rebellion, and gave fr' qoent
proof bv dangerous service OF her devotion
to the S7uth. When she learned of some
Federal movement which she ihorsbt
would oe valuable for Stouewall Jackson TO
know, she rode By night in tho midst Of
dangers and gave him the Information.
From that 'me she wse attached to Jack
sons Brigade. She rode across the battle
6sd ci Port Roysl and carried dispatches to
Jackson which sent him In pursuit of Banks.
She became the pet of the Confederate
army. Later, ,ckson recommended her to
Mr.. Davis. and be commissioned ber to
carry an important document to England.
She sailed from Wilmington on the steamer
Greyhound as one of the crew. The vessel
Was captured bs the steamer Massachusetts,
md she, with the crew, was taken TO Bos-
ton and lm prisoued. ALI the prisoners we're
court martiaIed aud shot except toe daring
Belle Boyd. When her sex beo,me known
her sentence was commuted to banishment
through ths influence of Lieut.. S. w Hard
iug her cap,or. Belle went TO London, and
soon after Harding also went Tiers and met-
red her. Harding died soon after. She re-
turued to this country aud married Pala-
aslphiar. Then she went TO Texes and
here mArrlGd agaia. This, her third hu.-
bspd, died In D lsoit. Teen she married.
uccessively, Coie Younger, Sam Starr, aud
Jim Starr She two Stars heirg full blocded
Cunciaw Iudiaus. All lbess busoands, as
we'll as bersef, we're handy with weapons
Several gears rs she wounded and nearly
killed msp whom she charged win hey'
ing made improper edvauces TO ber daugh-
ter. OF late years "Ba|le" has devoted her
time to lecturing. at which she has been
moderately successful. Nat. R. High, her
seventaenth husband, is also her business
maDager. He declares that his wife, Belle
Boyd, the Rebel Spy" will sue Mistress
Turner, proprietress of the Commercial
Hotel for damages.'