Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Belle Boyd: Cleopatra of the Secession

Belle Boyd (1844-1900) was 16 when the Civil War began. A member of a prominent family in Martinsburg, Virginia (it became part of WestVirginia), she’d been in boarding school in Baltimore when the Southern states began to secede. She made he way back home, and when the war began, she promptly decided to do whatever she could to help the South win. 

She became a spy.

 

Her hometown afforded more than ample opportunity; like doe so many other towns in contested areas, control of the town changed hands several times. She made no secret of her sympathies; she did make secret her listening in on Union plans and army movements. In one particularly amazing incident, she braved gun and cannon fire in rushing across a large field to bring news of Union army reserves to Gen. Stonewall Jackson.


To continue reading, please see my post today at Dancing Priest.


Some Wednesday Readings

 

The Little Church Around the Corner,” the Civil War, and the Draft Riots – Patrick Young at The Reconstruction Era.

 

“Brother Cally, They Have Killed Me”: Morgan’s Raiders in Lebanon, Kentucky – Carline Davis at Emerging Civil War.

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