Harper's Weekly (New York), April 4, 1863: "Gen. Stuart's New Aid [Aide]." Stettinus Papers, #2723

This Union propaganda cartoon of a uniformed female spy/scout alleges Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart unfairly employed female spies knowing that if caught the Yankees would not execute them because of their gender.

Boyd, Belle, Belle Boyd, in camp and prison. South, London: Saunders, Otley, and Co., 1865.

Belle Boyd (1844-1900) spied for the Confederacy by carrying important letters and papers across enemy lines. At one time, she was imprisoned in a Union prison for her espionage activities. In the passage shown, we find Belle Boyd on the Greyhound, a ship captured by the Union navy while attempting to run the blockade and get to Europe. A Union naval officer, Captain Harding, took command of the ship and brought it to Boston. Belle Boyd, masquerading as a Mrs. Lewis, tells how she helped the Confederate Captain "Henry" of the Greyhound escape from the captured ship. Soon after, U.S. Marshal Keyes boarded the vessel to bring Captain "Henry" ashore but could not find him. When Marshal Keyes informed Belle Boyd of Captain "Henry's" escape, she writes: "What!" said I; "it is impossible! Only a few moments ago he was here!" And I looked very serious, though all the while I was laughing in my sleeve, saying to myself, "Again I have got the better of the Yankees!" Ironically, before the war ended, Belle Boyd married Captain Harding, the Union naval officer who took command of the ship.