Evening star., 1922-11-19
BY MARION e. USHER.

situated pretty town
named Kilbourn. known
chiefly because of its scenic attrac-
ton. the Dells. Comparatively few
persons in the United States know
that in Spring Grove cemetery in Kill
bourn a woman who was a national
and international figure during the
civil war is buried. On her monu-
ment is the following inscription:
BELLE ROYD.
Confederate Spy.
Born in yirginia.
Died in Wisconsin.
Erected by a Comrade.
Belle Boyd was the most noted wom-
an spy of the confederacy. Her ca
reer was thrilling. Her history reads
like a work of fiction. She was q
young southern girl of good family
and good breeding. with attractive
ness, fascination, education. strong
convictions, great daring. She bore
a charmed life and ran the gantlet
by land and sea. She was arrested
many times. reprimanded. threatened.
imprisoned. released. banished. She
took refuge in England and while
there wrote book entitled Belle
Boyd. In Camp and Prison." which she
called the story of her adventures,
mEfortunes and imprisonments. Her
fascinating and graphic narrative Is,
perhaps, as little known as Is her
burial place.
She was born in 1874. in Martins
burg. Va. now West Virginia. In the
lovely Shenandoah vallen. Her
mother was the daughter of an officer.
Bellies home was a two-story house.
whose walls were hidden by roses and
honeysuckles. Near the house were
silver naples. At a short distance
flowed a pretty stream. The air was
soft and fragrant-the air of the
sunny south.
Belle was educated at Mount Wash
ington College. At the age Of sixteen
years she entered society in our Ma
ticnal Capital. where her uncle and
aunt lived. The season of 1S60-1861
was a brilliant one. The war broke
out and Belle went home. Her father.
John Read Boyd. enlisted in the Con-
federate army. and was in that Sec
ton known afterward as the Stone
wall Brigade"
X + x X
NHARTINSBURG. being on the bor-
wi der of the state of Virginia. was
a bone Of contention during the war.
1t was alternately held by Federals
and Confederates. When the Federal
troops first entered the town. Belle
was in a hospital attending two
wounded Confederate soldiers. A
Union captain came into the hospital
to look into matters there. Belle
began her war career by defying him.
Before he left he emphatically ex-
pressed his opinion that she was an
Independent rebel lady"
The Federal troops were going to
raise the Stars and Stripes over the
Boyd home. Mrs. Boyd declared to
them that every member of her
household would die before a Union
flag should be raised over her house.
A Union soldier, 1t was alleged by
Belle, then spoke extensively to her
mother and to her. and Belle shot and
killed him. The soldiers were going
to burn the house in retaliation. but
Belle got a message conveyed to the
Federal officer in command. and he
prevented its destruction. The COM
manding officer called to investigate
the matter of the shooting. and after
inquiring into the circumstances de-
n, hot j0h
Sentries were placed around the
house. and a Federal officer called
every day to inquire II the family had
any complaint to make concerning
the behavior of the troops. A fine
pistol was presented to Belle by
Federal officer as a token of admira-
tion of the spirit she had shown In
Later it was brought to Washington,
placed in the War Department, and
labeled, "A trophy captured from the
celebrated rebel, Belle Boyd"
Bellies residence within the Federal
lines and her acquaintance with many
officers enabled her to gain informa-
tion concerning the Federal forces,
which she recorded In writing. and
when the opportunity offered, sent a
dispatch to Confederate officers. One
of her messages fell into Federal
hands. Her writing was identified
and she was summoned to headquar-
ters. threatened. reprimanded. and
the article OF war regarding aiding
and abetting an enemy Of the govern
ment, the penalty for which might
be death. was read to her. She
bowed. sarcastically said. Thank you.
gentlemen of the jury" and left.
From that time she was a suspect"
On every possible occasion she con-
fscated and concealed the pistols and
swords Of the Federals and smuggled
them away to the Confederate camp.
At that time the Federal officers little
dreamed who had taken them. Belle
acted as courier between Gen.
Beauregard and Stonewall Jackson
and their subordinates.
0NE evening at Martinsburg she
" went horseback riding with two
officers, a cousin and a friend Her
horse became frightened, ran away
and carried her within the Federal
lines. She rode up to the officer In
command Of the pickets and explain
ed how she happened to be there.
I'VE are exceedingly proud of our
beautiful captive" said the officer,
but, of course. we cannot think of
OBTAINING you"
He informed her that she would