State

Although not a beauty. Belle 8oyd had pretty eyes and hair and a charming personality, spiced with wit and humor. — (Courtesy Library ot Congress.) carry messages through the Union lines. Her chance came shortly after the first battle of Manassas when friends got her placed as a courier and official member of the Confederate intelligence service. Her first mission was carrying dispatches for Generals Beauregard and Jackson. Although blockade running is gen¬ erally associated with fast steamers stealing in and out of North and South Carolina ports, another sort was in full swing throughout most of the war — inland blockade running. This involved smuggling much-needed supplies from Northern areas into the South. For sev¬ eral years Belle Boyd performed valu¬ able services on the inland route, pass¬ ing back and forth across the border with messages sewn into her riding and even today reads like a real-life drama: As Belle entered Butler’s office he looked up from his desk and said, we suspect with heavy sarcasm, "Ah! So this is Miss Boyd, the famous Rebel spy! Pray be seated.” Belle answered in a low voice, "Thank you General Butler, but I pre¬ fer to stand." Glancing at her face he could sec that she was upset, whether from anger or fear, he could not decide. So he said again. "Pray be seated. Why do you tremble so? Are you frightened?" Quickly Belle saw her opening and made the most of it. "No . . . she be¬ gan. then. ". . . ah! That is yes. Gen¬ eral Butler. I must acknowledge that I do feel frightened in the presence of a man of such world-wide reputation." Belle Boyd— Siren lor the South The daring' young woman who .spied for the Confederacy, was captured aboard a blockade runner, and married three “enemy” suitors. She was admired by men. sneered at by women, galloped through enemy lines with messages for Stonewall Jack- son. hounded by Secretary of War Stanton, shown clemency by President Lincoln and became a peacetime stage celebrity. This was Belle Boyd, second only to Rose O'Neal Greenhow as the Confederacy's most successful female spy. Her appearance and personality were in striking contrast to the cold, haughty, dignified and handsome Mrs. Greenhow. Belle was bouncy and ath¬ letic. Although her features were plain, she was warm, outgoing, quick witted and dramatic. Her birthplace was at Martinsburg. now a part of West Vir¬ ginia. Something of a hoyden. Belle- had a hair-trigger temper and a large measure of courage bordering on reck¬ lessness. She was an excellent horse¬ woman which enabled her to run the land blockade many times. As an ar¬ dent Southerner just turned eighteen. Belle longed to do something more than roll bandages or make jelly for sick soldiers. She was intrigued by Mrs. Greenhow’s spy ring and wanted to By HAMILTON COCHRAN habit or concealed in her tawny coiled hair. Belle and “The Beast" Belle was caught twice by Federal authorities and imprisoned both times. Her first capture was on orders from Secretary of War E. M. Stanton. After being lodged in the Old Capitol Prison, the close confinement made her ill. Then she was released along with a number of Confederate soldiers. When she recovered her health she resumed her spying. After her second capture, she spent six months in prison. Why she was released so soon has never been explained, although it has been said that President Lincoln interceded in her behalf. In any event, she was sent to Fortress Monroe which at the time was in charge of General (“The Beast") Butler. His appearance even without his reputation was enough to frighten a young girl. Butler was a short, chunky man with heavy jowls, a red-veined face, small, crafty eyes and an irritable expression. A record of the brief interview between Belle and "The Beast" has been preserved We can almost sec the pompous general smiling his crooked smile and preening himself at her reply. Then he asked, "What do you mean when you say I am widely known?" Belle took a deep breath and fixed him with a devastating look of con¬ tempt. "I mean. General Butler, that you are a man whose atrocious conduct and brutality, especially to Southern ladies, is so infamous that even the English Parliament commented on it. I naturally feel alarmed at being in your presence." Butler rose angrily and ordered her out of his office. "The Beast" — bested by a woman! Belle went home after being released from prison and toured the South to help rally flagging morale. She was driving herself to do it, for her health had again suffered from fetid air and bad food. She fell ill, depressed and restless. On her return to Richmond in March 1864 she decided she wanted to travel to Europe. She interviewed President Davis and he quickly gave his consent and arranged to have her carry important dispatches as he had THE STATE. MAY 15. 1971