Martinsburg in Berkeley County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Belle Boyd House

Home of a Spy

— Antietam Campaign —

Belle Boyd House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 23, 2025

1. Belle Boyd House Marker

Inscription.

Belle Boyd House. Home of a Spy. , Isabelle "Belle" Boyd, the Confederate spy, lived here during part of her childhood. The ten-year-old and her family moved here in 1853 and left in 1858 for a dwelling (no longer standing) on South Queen Street. According to Boyd, when Union Gen. Robert Patterson's army occupied Martinsburg in July 1861, she escaped prosecution after she shot dead a soldier who invaded the Queen Street house and insulted her mother, Mary Glen Boyd., In the spring of 1862, Belle paid a visit to her Aunt Fanny Stewart in Front Royal, Virginia. There, on May 23, she first gained fame as a spy. When Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and his army approached the Union-occupied town, she ran to the advancing Confederates, waving a bonnet, and informed them of the strength of the small Union force. Federal authorities later imprisoned Boyd twice for "communicating with the enemy." In December 1863, she sailed for England on a blockade runner, bearing diplomatic letters from Confederate President Jefferson Davis. When the ship was captured, Boyd persuaded the Federal naval officer in charge to let her go and later married him., Her flamboyant personality, scandalous behavior (by the standards of "well-bred" Southern society), reckless courage, and undeniable charm made her a natural for the stage, where she recounted her exploits. In 1865, she published Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison, blurring the lines between fact and legend. Married three times and the mother of four, she died on June 11, 1900, in Kilbourne, Wisconsin., (Sidebar):, Benjamin R. Boyd, Belle's father, built this Greek Revival-style house in 1853. When it was threatened with demolition in August 1992, the Berkeley County Historical Society rescued it. The Society operates the Belle Boyd House as museum and learning center open to the public., (Captions):, Belle Boyd, ca. 1860s. - Courtesy Library of Congress, Postwar image of Belle Boyd in her stage costume. , Public domain.

Isabelle "Belle" Boyd, the Confederate spy, lived here during part of her childhood. The ten-year-old and her family moved here in 1853 and left in 1858 for a dwelling (no longer standing) on South Queen Street. According to Boyd, when Union Gen. Robert Patterson's army occupied Martinsburg in July 1861, she escaped prosecution after she shot dead a soldier who invaded the Queen Street house and insulted her mother, Mary Glen Boyd.

In the spring of 1862, Belle paid a visit to her Aunt Fanny Stewart in Front Royal, Virginia. There, on May 23, she first gained fame as a spy. When Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and his army approached the Union-occupied town, she ran to the advancing Confederates, waving a bonnet, and informed them of the strength of the small Union force. Federal authorities later imprisoned Boyd twice for "communicating with the enemy." In December 1863, she sailed for England on a blockade runner, bearing diplomatic letters from Confederate President Jefferson Davis. When the ship was captured, Boyd persuaded the Federal naval officer in charge to let her go and later married him.

Her flamboyant personality, scandalous behavior (by the standards of "well-bred" Southern society), reckless courage, and undeniable charm made her a natural for the stage, where she recounted her

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exploits. In 1865, she published Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison, blurring the lines between fact and legend. Married three times and the mother of four, she died on June 11, 1900, in Kilbourne, Wisconsin.

(Sidebar):

Benjamin R. Boyd, Belle's father, built this Greek Revival-style house in 1853. When it was threatened with demolition in August 1992, the Berkeley County Historical Society rescued it. The Society operates the Belle Boyd House as museum and learning center open to the public.

(Captions):

Belle Boyd, ca. 1860s. - Courtesy Library of Congress

Postwar image of Belle Boyd in her stage costume.
Public domain.

Erected 2025 by West Virginia Civil War Trails.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1853.

Location. 39° 27.578′ N, 77° 57.699′ W. Marker is in Martinsburg, West Virginia, in Berkeley County. It is at the intersection of East Race Street and North Spring Street, on the right when traveling east on East Race Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 126 East Race Street, Martinsburg WV 25401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Eastern Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Belle Boyd House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, July 23, 2025

2. Belle Boyd House and Marker

are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Belle Boyd House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Martinsburg Roundhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore and Ohio Roundhouse and Shop Complex (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Shop Complex (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Berkeley Hotel (about 300 feet away); Armed Forces Memorial (about 400 feet away); Apollo Theater (about 500 feet away); Belle Boyd (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Martinsburg.

Other markers no longer nearby. Belle Boyd House (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Martinsburg Roundhouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Berkeley Hotel (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 175 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 29, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.