The Infamous Belle Boyd

[dawna]

Belle began her career at the age of seventeen, when she shot a Union soldier for using offensive language when speaking to her mother. Instead of punishment, she was absolved of guilt by Union officers who agreed that a lady had a right not to hear offensive language. Less than a week later, Union officers pardoned her yet again, this time for soliciting information from Union soldiers and passing it on to Confederate officials.

The infamous spy continued her work throughout the war, completing such feats as capturing Union cavalrymen as her prisoners (they agreed to escort her back to the Confederate line after her horse ran into the Union line.) In fact, the charming Belle Boyd is credited with having enabled Jackson’s troops to capture Front Royal, Virginia from the Union. In order to deliver information about the Union movements in the impending battle, Belle had to pass through the Union lines in Front Royal. She accomplished this feat, as usual, with the gracious aid of a Yankee official. After sending Union Colonel Fillebrowne a nice bouquet of flowers, Belle attached a note requesting his permission to return to Front Royal. Permission was granted, and Belle’s useful information gave the advantage to Jackson’s troops.

Belle Boyd’s exploits have become a thing of legend. Her manipulation of gender expectations allowed her the freedom to aid her beloved Confederacy while claiming blamelessness. Though the Union eventually imprisoned her, the confinement lasted only two months, during which time she received special treatment, became friends with the superintendent of the prison, and became engaged to a fellow prisoner.

[jenna]

It's been a while since we have talked of Belle, but my mom and dad just recently spent the day up at the Dells where she is burried and learned some very interesting things that I wanted to share.

First off here is a link to a story that was done last Memorial day about how the ladies of Virginia came up and honored Ollie, who is a WWII vet that every Memorial Day went to Belles' grave site and made sure it was clean and put a Confederate flag up for her: http://vaudc.org/wisconsin/ Also click on the link in the articel to see the other story of Belle that was written up there.

In 1972 the common wealth of Virginia wanted Belle exumed and returned to Virginia, but her relative did not. So as a comprimise all of the Wisconsin soil was removed from around her tomb and a truck load of Virginia soil was laid around her instead. The wall that is around her casket has bricks in it from every Confederate state. Every Memorial Day and 4th of July the Union flag, Confederate flag, and the Virginia state flag is flown on her memorial in honor of her. Ollie, who is pictured on the last picture of the article, died this year, and is burried in the same cemetary not to far away from Belle. She currently has a WWI star on her grave stone, because her GAR star was recently stolen once again.

I just thought it all so very interesting and wanted to share.

Jenna

[dawna]

Jenna:

Thanks for posting this link, and Belle Boyd remains one of my favourite Civil War ladies - she was a beautiful, fascinating woman.

Thought you might enjoy this portrait.

Dawna

Belle Boyd (1843-1900)