Belle Boyd

Biography

Belle Boyd (1844-1900) was a Confederate spy and one of the most famous female intelligence operatives of the American Civil War. Born in Martinsburg, Virginia, Boyd used her social position and charm to gather military intelligence for the Confederate Army, earning the nickname 'La Belle Rebelle' from Union officers. After the war, she became an actress and author, writing her memoirs and performing on stage, transforming her wartime notoriety into a career in entertainment and public speaking.