Belle Boyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Boyd
|
|
|---|---|
Boyd in c. 1870
|
|
| Born |
Maria Isabella Boyd
May 9, 1844 Martinsburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), US
|
| Died | June 11, 1900 (aged 56) |
| Other names | Belle Boyd, Cleopatra of the Secession, Siren of the Shenandoah, La Belle Rebelle, Rebel Joan of Arc |
| Occupation | Confederate Spy |
Maria Isabella Boyd (born May 9, 1844 – died June 11, 1900), known to many as Belle Boyd, was a brave and daring spy for the Confederate side during the American Civil War. She earned nicknames like the "Cleopatra of the Secession" and "Siren of the Shenandoah" because of her cleverness. Belle operated from her father's hotel in Front Royal, Virginia. She provided important information to Confederate General Stonewall Jackson in 1862, playing a key role in some battles.
Contents
Belle Boyd: A Daring Civil War Spy
Early Life and Education
Maria Isabella Boyd, or "Belle" as she was called, was born on May 9, 1844. Her hometown was Martinsburg, Virginia, which is now part of West Virginia. She was the oldest child of Benjamin Reed and Mary Rebecca (Glenn) Boyd. Belle often described her childhood as a happy time. She first went to school in Martinsburg. Then, at age 12 in 1856, she attended a finishing school in Baltimore, Maryland, called the Mount Washington Female College.
Her Start as a Spy
.jpg)
Belle Boyd's journey into spying began unexpectedly. In July 1861, Union soldiers came to her home. They heard she had Confederate flags. An incident occurred involving a Union soldier, which led to her being closely watched. Sentries were placed around her house. Officers also kept a close eye on her activities.
Belle used this situation to her advantage. She became friendly with some of the officers. One officer, Captain Daniel Keily, unknowingly shared important information with her. She wrote in her memoir that she received "a great deal of important information" from him.
First Missions and Close Calls
Belle shared these secrets with Confederate officers. She often used the help of Eliza Hopewell, a person who worked for her family. Eliza carried the messages hidden in a hollowed-out watch case. Belle was caught during her first attempt at spying. She was told she could face very serious punishment for her actions.
Helping General Stonewall Jackson
In May 1862, General James Shields and his team met in a local hotel. Belle hid in a closet and listened through a small hole. She learned that General Shields's troops were moving east from Front Royal, Virginia. That night, Belle bravely rode through Union lines. She used false papers to get past the guards. She then reported the news to Colonel Turner Ashby, a Confederate scout. After delivering the message, she returned to town.
When Confederate soldiers advanced on Front Royal on May 23, Belle ran to meet Stonewall Jackson's men. She avoided enemy fire, even getting bullet holes in her skirt, according to her story. She urged an officer to tell Jackson that the Union force was small. She encouraged him to "charge right down and he will catch them all."
General Jackson followed her advice. He later sent her a note of thanks. He wrote, "I thank you, for myself and for the army, for the immense service that you have rendered your country today." For her brave help, Belle was given the Southern Cross of Honor. Jackson also made her a captain and an honorary aide-de-camp.
Arrests and Later Life
Belle Boyd was arrested many times, at least six times in total. Yet, she always managed to avoid being held for long. By July 1862, detective Allan Pinkerton had three men working on her case. Union officials finally captured her on July 29, 1862, after she was betrayed. They took her to the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C. the next day.
An investigation was held in August 1862 about how she was being held. She was kept for a month. Then, she was released on August 29, 1862, as part of a prisoner exchange at Fort Monroe. She was arrested again in June 1863. However, she was released after she became sick with typhoid fever.
In March 1864, Belle tried to travel to England. A Union blockade stopped her. She was sent to Canada instead. There, she met Samuel Wylde Hardinge, a Union naval officer. They later married in England and had a daughter named Grace. After her husband passed away in 1866, Belle became an actress in England to support her daughter. She and Grace then returned to the United States.
Life After the War
Back in the United States, Belle Boyd used the stage name Nina Benjamin. She performed in several cities. She eventually settled in New Orleans. In March 1869, she married John Swainston Hammond. He was a former British Army officer who had fought for the Union Army. They had two sons and two daughters, though their first son died as a baby. Belle divorced Hammond in 1884. She then married Nathaniel Rue High in 1885. After this, she began traveling across the country. She gave dramatic talks about her exciting life as a Civil War spy.
Final Years and Legacy
Belle Boyd wrote a book about her wartime experiences. It was called Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison. The book was a two-volume story, but it was highly fictionalized. She passed away from a heart attack on June 11, 1900, in Kilbourn City, Wisconsin. This town is now known as Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. She was 56 years old.
Belle was buried in the Spring Grove Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells. Members of the Grand Army of the Republic helped carry her coffin. For many years, her grave had a simple inscription:
- BELLE BOYD
- CONFEDERATE SPY
- BORN IN VIRGINIA
- DIED IN WISCONSIN
- ERECTED BY A COMRADE
See also
- American Civil War spies
- Hattie Lawton
- Kate Warne
