Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-03
A LITTLE MATTER OF HIsToRY. Our read

A LITTLE NJ latter OF HISTORY. Our read
ers will remember that some time since Miss
Wright Of Winchester, Va, was presented by
Gen. Sheridan with magnificent gold watch
and chain, in acknowledgement of valuable ser
vices rendered him during the war General
Sheridan, while on a recent visit to his home
in Somerset, Ohio, related the secret OF this
present to some friends, which is thus given by
the Advocate, published at that place, in the
Generals own language
Miss Wright, Of Winchester, Va. lis
her fault she goti the newspapers, not mine.
When was preparing to drive Early out OF
that place, [ needed Information OF ITS tortlfl-
cations, strength, and the numbers L should
have to encounter. Disaster had so frequently
overcome our forces in the Valley that telt
extremely anxious to share the honor Of revers-
ing our fortunes in that region. Gen. Grant
had con6ded this great work to my charge. =
President Lincoln regarded my success as ex-
,remely essential, and the whole country seem
ed to hold its breath, as if listening for the
news from my army 41en. Grant visited me,
| suppose, Tor the purpose OF asceItanlng
whether fairly comprehended the situation,
and becoming satisfied with my precautions,
he made use of the homely, but very significant
phrase: Go in But before l. did tins L
learned something Of Miss Wright, who is
Quaker lady, and resides with her parents in
Winchester who, like myself, were unim-
peachably loyal | had never seen her, only
knew of her through spies and scouts, but |
determined to obtain some information from
her, believing could rely on it rs genuine. A
colored man in the neighborhood OF my head
quarters held a pass to go and come from WIN
chester with marketing. | had him brought Sc
cretly to my headquarters, and having con-
vinced myself that he would 90 to tie to, pla-
ced small piece Of paper in 4 small piece OF
tin foil and wrapped it up so closely that he
could take it in his mouth, while the ioil pro
tected it from injury, directing him to deliver
his next marketing to Miss Wright not to go
into the house, but leave the moment he had
delivered the foil and go about as if on other
business until her answer, was ready and wrap
ped up in like manner L thus obtained
much valuable information, and when L made
an attack on Early's forces knew there would
be desperate and bloody conflict, but my re-
lance on what Miss Wright had told me, and
on what knew from other sources, never fail
ed me through the severest trials on that mem-
orable day. On my recent visit to Washing
ton, [ made it convenient to so to Winchester
and to present to this unatfectetlIy modest lady
some token of my gratitude. l accordingly
rendered her fine gold watch, which cost me
several hundred dollars and would have given
her other valuable presents had my cxchequer
warranted them, but while [ made my visit
and my token of gratitude profound secret
she would not restrain her disposition to make
them both known, and instantly became the
victim of another rumor duplicating me in
making love to another Southern lady. As
for the colored man, it would be unsafe, even
now, to reward him suitably for his devotion
to our cause. ="