Belle Boyd: Escape to England

1862 - 1863 (Richmond)
August to following June

Belle Boyd is declared a heroine to the Confederacy
She becomes a popular guest at war rallies, and basks in her fame

1863 (Martinsburg)
June

Belle's mother is ailing again, Belle gets permission to visit her
At the same time, the Confederates deepest drive north occurs and ends July 3, 4 and­5th at Gettysburg
The Confederates retreat southward and Martinsburg is invaded by Union troops again
Belle Boyd, now notorious in the North, is arrested on suspicion of spying

1863 (Washington DC)
August

Belle is transported to Washington DC and is incarcerated in either Old Capital or Carroll Prison
While in prison she comes down with typhoid fever

December

Belle Boyd is released from prison and banished to the South for the duration of the war. She is told never to cross Federal lines again.
Still ill from effects of the typhoid, she returns to Richmond

1864 (Richmond)
March

Belle is contacted to make a trip to London with Confederate dispatches

April

Belle leaves for London aboard the steamer "The Greyhound" under the guise of recovering her health

May

The steamer is intercepted by a Union blockade vessel and Belle is arrested and sent to Boston for holding
An investigation of Belle Boyd's activities and her alibis ensues in Boston
Belle Boyd is banished to Canada with the warning that if recaptured, her punishment would be death
She becomes engaged to Union naval officer, Captain Samuel Hardinge and sails from Canada to England
Captain Hardinge is arrested and tried for helping Belle to escape to England. He is dismissed from service.

May/June

Upon arrival in England, Belle reports to the British Confederate agent that the dispatches she was carrying were destroyed upon her capture off the steamer.
Belle Boyd's service to Confederacy is ended. Samuel Hardinge follows Belle to London.

August 25

Belle Boyd marries Samuel Hardinge in the West End of London at a hotel on Jermyn Street with many British dignitaries in attendance.

Autumn

Samuel Hardinge returns to the United States on "private business" and is arrested and imprisoned
Belle's father, Benjamin Boyd, dies at age 46 while Belle is exiled in England

Winter

Belle writes a letter to President Lincoln appealing for her husband's release from prison

1865
Early February

Samuel Hardinge is released from prison in poor health

February 8

Samuel Hardinge sails for England, but dies before he is reunited with Belle

May to July

Belle Boyd Hardinge gives birth to a daughter
With no income, she sells all personal possessions for money
Broke and destitute, she is without resource for her livelihood

1866 (Manchester, England)
Belle Boyd turns to the stage and performs in "Lady of Lyons"
No longer exiled, Belle returns to the United States and appears on stage at various venues
She publishes a book, "Belle Boyd Starts Her Work As A Spy"