Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-18
when they left them carelessly about

when they left them carelessly about,
and these she forwarded to the enemy.
She was suspected after time, and
then one Of her notes fell into the Fed
eral hands and she was arrested, repri-
manded and threatened, but Gen,
Shields set her Mt liberty. Gen. Shields,
she said afterward, was completely off
his guard and introduced her to officers
Of his staff.
~ Sentenced to Be Shot.
The night before Shields set out after
Stonewall jackson he announced that
he was going to whip Jackson and a
council of war was held in what had
been the drawing-room of Bellies aunt's
house. Through the floor of closet
off bedroom above the drawing-room
a hole had been bored. Belle crept up
to the closet and applied her ear to it
when the council assembled. She was
able to be Of such service to Jackson
that he sent her a letter after his de-
feat of Gen. Banks, dated MAY %.
1862, thanking her for her Immense
services" On Jackson's advice she re-
moved to Winchester, and Jackson
made her an aide on his staff with the
rank of captain. While at Winchester
she was made aware of several very
suspicious Northern plans which would
destroy the counter-movements of the
armies of her beloved Confederacy.
Without thought of the danger to
herself she instantly started from the
town to the point of land occupied by
General Jackson and the Southern
troopers, point she gained after a
most perilous and narrowing RIM
through the fires of both armies. Dur
ing her career rs spy she was twice
sentenced to be shot, and was for II
months prisoner in the Carroll and
Capitol prisons at Washington.
Bello Boyd's career in the military
service ended in 1864, when she was
captured with dispatches on a block
ade runner. Lieut.. Sam Wylde Hard
ing, of the navy, was put in charge Of
the blockade runner, which was or
dered to Boston. The lieutenant and
Belle Boyd were thrown together a
good deal and left largely to them.
selves. He quoted from Shakespeare
and Byron to her, she tells in her au-
photography. When he began to talk
Of tender subjects she thought he
might become useful to her cause, so
when he asked her to become his wife
she told him that it might involve serl.
GUS consequences. He was ready to
face them, apparently. and renewed his
proposal while the ship was in Long
Island sound on the way to Boston.
So she told him she would be his wife.
When they were coming to anchor
off the Boston navy yard Lieut.. Hard
Ing went forward to give some orders
and his tiancee invited the two Yankee
pilots who were aboard to come down
\ to the cabin and have some wine. which
they did. The captain of the blockade
runner, whom she called In her book
Capt. Henry, and another man were Of
the party. Harding had called small
boat alongside preparatory to going
ashore and this boat had dropped un-
der the quarter. At moment she
thought suitable the girl nodded to
Capt. Henry, whom she had planned to
have escaped. He left the wine party
and stepping into the shore boat which
was soon handy he was soon on his
way to Boston. When later Harding
came aft he asked Belle where his pa
pers were and she told him that prob
ably they were in the lower cabin,
where he had been dressing, and he
went after them, while the small boat
got farther away.
Her After Career.
| For allowing the escape of his pris-
oner Harding was arrested and tried,
but he was not convicted. Belle Boyd
was banished by Lincoln and went to
England. Harding deserted shortly
afterward and went to England, where
he and the spy were married on Aug,
%, 1854. Harding returned to this
country and became Confederate spy.
His wife became an actress in England
and returned to America after the proc
lamation Of general amnesty.
In his attemDt To raiSe n heard the