Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-09-01
THE BATTLE OF wINCHEsTER.

The Confederates had it all their own
way for a long time in the valley, and
Grant was beginning to fear miss. A
mistake had been made in placing Sher-
idan there. The Southern army were
massing about Winchester, evidently for
another invasion of Maryland. Affairs
had discouraging outlook, for the fed
eral army's marching and fighting had
ended invariable in defeat.
A round moon, warm and golden.
shone on the quaint old town of Win
chester. Virginia, one evening in the
middle of September. 1864. In the
vine-covered porch of house, whose
broad, brooding roof enveloped it in
so@ers s.sl ,l shadow. sat . brown haired,
man erect and soldierly, wearing a gray
uniform, came up the walk. The moon
light reburnished the faded gold lace
of his epaulets and sword. knots with
something of their pristine splendor as
he advanced. They talked of the then
all-absorbiDg topic. the war. that was
blazing its way through the lovely val
ley at their feet with the ashes of home
steads, the charred skeletons, of mills
and forges, and foraged lands. The
officer was member of General Early's
staff, a Louisianian, fervid with hope
and fierce with a desire to drive the
Union soldiers back. The girl was
Virginian of that simple faith which
disbelieves in strife and blood-shed, and
her name was Rebecca. 1t was another
"Rebecca at the WE'LL" with the differ
ence that she drew out of the glib
tongued officer the number and position
Of General Early's army, their intrench-
ments and batteries on the Oppequan,
and what troops had been Withdrawn.
This was done in the most natural man.
ner possible, for to know these things
was interesting, and she had no idea of
making history or becoming a heroine,
for the two had only met few evenings
previous at social gathering. when he
had sought an introduction and the
privilege of calling upon her. This was
his first visit and it proved his last.
When the young aide-de-camp departed
that Wednesday night, he had told SO
much that he had placed the fortune of
his command in the keeping of Rebecca.
On the following Friday, while sitting
on the same porch. she heard bird
call, low and tremulous, in the shrub
clapping her hands softly, when man
as black as the shadows she sat IN came
up, and, taking something out of his
mouth, handed it to her and vanished
into the night. Speedily up to her
chamber she found the gift to be small
roll of lead foil such as is wrapped
about various articles, among others
chewing tobacco. Carefully unrolling it
a small bit of soft paper was within, on
which was written:
Have you any definite information of the forces and
position OF General Early? II 30, transmit by bearer
| SHERIDAN.
How strange is destiny She alone OF
the few Union-loving souls in Winches-
ter knew what the harassed cavalry
commander desired. To put the infor.
nation down and roll it into the same
receptacle did not require many mo-
ments, when she again appeared upon
the porch clapping her hands. The
slave seemed to rise up out of the earth.
He hasterly placed the tiny packet in
his mouth, and without word or gesture
disappeared.
Before daylight on the 10th of Sep
tember. 1864. the Confederate pickets
were charged on the Oppequan. and
Sheridan moved like an averlanch upon
Winchester. A terrible contest followed.
the two armies advancing and retreating
like the surgiDg billows of the ocean.
The battle never ceased until sundown,
leaving Sheridan the victor of the battle
of oppequau. A series Of disasters
pursued Early, and on the 18th Of oc-
tober-a month later-was fought the
memorable battle of Winchester. which
brought peace to the Valley of Shenan-
doah. talked with the gentle Quaker
lady yesterday. She had known Gener-
| al Crook. of General Sheridan's staff,
and during the brief occupancy of VIM
chester by the Union Troops had said to
him. if he ever saw way that she could
serve the Union cause, to command her;
and he mentioned her name to General
Sheridan. She showed me an elegant
watch, souvenir of the event. gift
from General Sheridan. On the inside
is engraved:
Presented to
REBRccA L. WRIGHT,
| Winchester Va, by Gen. p. H. Sheridan,
memento of September IL, 1861.
The charm-holder is an ingenius ar
rangement of horseshoe. gauntlet and
spur. Tho charms are tiny cavalry
sword, feld-glass. orderly cap and other
military objects in miniature. The fate
of the young staff officer is unknown to
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