Belle Reynolds

Arabella Loomis Macomber Reynolds (; October 20, 1840 – July 28, 1937), better known as Belle Reynolds, was an American Civil War nurse, physician, and woman's club leader.

Reynolds joined her husband Lieutenant William S. Reynolds who was enlisted with the Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Regiment and traveled with him to battle during the American Civil War. She became a heroine because of her involvement in the Battle of Shiloh, where Belle helped the wounded soldiers.

Early life and family Belle Macomber was born in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Thence, her family removed to Iowa, where the young girl had many pioneer experiences. Returning East to complete her education, she afterward became a school teacher in the then wilderness of Cass County, Iowa. Marrying, in 1860, Mr. Reynolds of Illinois, she removed to Peoria, where on the anniversary of her wedding she heard the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter.

Civil War service A few months later, she was with her husband, following the fortunes of war, in the Seventeenth Illinois. She arrived at the camp on August 11, 1861, and after three days of convincing the regiment's colonel, headed to the front with them. Reynolds moved with the regiment, sometimes marching beside the troops. With the regiment, she traveled to the Mississippi River with General Grant's campaigns at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. It was not alone for her courageous defense of a transport of wounded soldiers, but for devoted service upon all occasions, that she was singled out by Gov. Yates, who presented her with the title of Major. She continued practicing her profession in Santa Barbara, California where she became allied with progressive movements of the day. She served as President of the Woman's Parliament of Southern California in 1898.

Dr. Belle Reynolds died in Santa Barbara, California, on July 28, 1937, the Associated Press reported her death on the same day, identifying her as the "first woman major in the United States army."