Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison

CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XV WHEN I CAME DOWN TO BREAKfast on the following day, my many acquaintances and friends in the hotel were astonished to see me, for few had expected that I should be released, and none that I should so soon arrive at Richmond. The morning papers announced my return in flattering terms; and, as it thus became generally known, I was at once besieged with company, and every afternoon and evening I held a perfect drawing-room, if I may be allowed to make use of the expression. My reception was every thing that I could wish; but, alas! my happiness was of short duration, and my freedom was dearly bought. I was at a large dinner-party on a Saturday evening exactly one week after the day I had arrived. I was joyous and light-hearted, little dreaming of the blow that wasto overwhelm me with sadness—little dreaming that I should be so cruelly reminded of the words of the Preacher, that "in the midst of life we are in death"; but so it was. On Monday morning, the 14th, before I had risen, I received a little note from Captain Hatch, in which he expressed great sorrow at having to be the bearer of mournful tidings, and said that, as soon as I was dressed, he would call in person with the wife of the proprietor of the hotel. For one moment I could not imagine what he meant, but, dressing myself as speedily as I possibly could, I sent for them. They came: Captain Hatch held in his hands a newspaper. He approached me, saying, B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N 1J5 "Miss Belle, you are aware that you left your father ill?" In one moment I comprehended every thing, and exclaiming "My God! is he dead?" I sank fainting to the floor. This swoon was succeeded by a severe illness; and I felt all the loneliness of my position. An exile (for the Yankees held possession of Martinsburg ) and an orphan—these words described me; and, ah! how hard they seemed! One of those strange warnings that are sometimes given to mortals, or that are, some would say, the imaginings of an excited brain shaken by sickness, ought to have prepared me for my sad bereavement. Some saythat gleams of a remoter world Visit the soul in sleep. The night upon which my father died I had retired to rest somewhat earlier than usual. How long I slept I do not know, but I suddenly awoke, or seemed to awaken, from my sleep, although I had neither the power nor the wish to move. In the centre of the room I saw General Jackson, whose eyes rested sorrowfullyupon me. Beside him stood my father, gazing at me, but saying nothing. I was dumb, or I should have spoken, for I did not feel alarmed. As I looked upon those two standing together, General Jackson turned and spoke to my father. I remember the words distinctly. "It is time for us to go," he said; and, taking my father's hand, he led him away, adding as he did so, "Poor child!" I afterwards learnt by a letter from my mother (the first and only communication received from her until my arrival in this country) that my beloved father, at the news of my being sent South, where I should have to battle alone with the world, had grown rapidly worse, and had expired the very next day after my arrival in Richmond. My mother and the children had been sent for, and reached my father just before he died. Although he retained his senses up to the last, he frequently spoke of me, declared that I was hovering around his couch, and would become quite restless ifpeople in the room went to a certain spot near the bed,exclaiming that "I was being torn from him!" Several of our senators and exchange officers, with many other influential persons, wrote to the Federal Government to try and obtain 1/6 B E L L E BOYD IN C A M P AND P R I S O N permission for me to return to my sorrowing mother. I myself wrote to the Northern President and Secretary Stanton, at the suggestion of my friends, and appealed to them as a Mason's...