The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-05
BELLE BOYD, THE spy.
Career of Woman Whose DaughteE
Was Recently Married.
New York Tribune.


The recent marriage in this city of the
eldest daughter Of Belle Boyd. the South
ern spy of the civil war, will recall to many
who were participants In the struggles OF
1876 incidents in the career OF this noted
woman. The daughter, who was married
TO Charles w. Chase a few days ago. was
the eldest of the three children OF Belle
Boyd and her second husband, Col John
S. Hammond. She was few years ago
regarded as having much of her mothers
disposition and daring.
Belle Boyd, as she always preferred to be
called, was born i'm Martinsburg, w. Va,
in 1916, and she came from an excellent
family, Notwithstanding her reputation as
had six husbands I'm all. They were Lieut..
Samuel w, Harding; volunteer navy of
ficer; Col. Hammond, Of Philadelphia; Cole
Younger, Sam Starr, Jim Starr and Nat
r. High She had excellent girl assoc.a-
tions, and, though not a pretty woman. she
was attractive because OF her dashing and
fearless manner. AS a girl she won a repu-
tation as a horsewoman. riding in mems
clothes as often as In women's dress She
was well educated, her father was prom
inent merchant and her mother was OF good
family.
She was in sympathy with the South at
the outbreak Of and during the civil war.
and her secret service proved invaluable TO
the Southern commanders, especially TO
'Stonewall' Jackson in the Virginia cam
paign. Her first work as spy was in the
course of visit to Winchester, Va, after
war was declared. when, learning OF q
movement which threatened her beloved
South" as she called IL, she calamity rode
by night tc "Stonewall' Jackson's head
quarters and gave to him the details. From
that time she was attached to Jackson's
brigade of the army. Later, when JEFFERSON
Davis stated that he wanted the trust
worthy services of some one to carry an
important document TO England, Jackson
recommended Belle Boyd, and she was
lected. She sailed from Wilmington. N
c., on the swift English blockade runner
Greyhound as one of the crew on May s,
1864, and a few days later the vessel was
massachusetts,, which vessel Harding
was an officer, and she was taken 70 Bos-
ton. where the prize vessel and her cargo
were sold. 1t was stated that Harding
secured a large part OF the proceeds or the
SALE for he went to Europe soon after
captured, court-martialed and was SEN
fenced TO be shot, but her sentence was
committed to Punishment to the South.
At Boston she was again court-martaled
and second time ordered 10 be shot, but
Harding. through the influence OF some po-
TO Punishment, and she went 70 England.
Harding followed her soon afterward and
married her in London on Aug. Is, 1854
He disappeared few years later, and u
was reported that he had died. when Belle
Boyd married Col. Hammand- Harding
one Of the crew OF the United States war
ship Juniata when she went 10 the Arctic
regions I'm 1873 in search Of the Hall-Polarie
castaways, and on which vessel Commander
De Long and Lieutenant Chip made their
arctic cruise. AT the same time Harding
had a suit in the Court OF Claims for his
pay as lieutenant. he having found that he
had neither been discharged nor dismissed
from the navy. General Butler was biz
counsel.