The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-08-15
SHERIDAN AT WINCHESTER,
THE MESSAGE IN TIN-Fon--A ROMANTIC
INCIDENT OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864.
Correspondence of the Detroit Free Press

S '-'SJf SnN N'A9us WaS Uost stnuiug I'd 1eaT
mistake had been made in placing Sheri-
dan there. The Southern army were mass.
ing about Winchester, evidently for another
invasion of Maryland. Affairs had a dis
couraging outlook for the Federal army's
mai ching and fighting had ended invariably
Ia retreat.
AN EVENING CALL.
A round moon, warm and golden, shone
on the quaint old town of Winchester, Va,
one evening in the middle of September,
1864. In the vine-covered porch OF a
house, whose broad, brooding roof en-
veloped it in sombre shadow, sat brown
haired, hazel-eyed girl waiting for q Wis
itor.
A man erect and soldierly, wearing q
gray uniform, came up the walk. The
moonlight reburnished the faded gold
lace Of his epanlettes and sword knots with
something of their pristine splsndor as he
advanced. They talked of the then all
absorbing topic, the war that was blazing
its way through the lovely valley at their
feet with the ashes of homesteads, the
charred skeletons of mills and forges and
foraged lands. The officer was member
of Gen. Early's staff, a Louisianian, fervid
with hope and fierce with desire to drive
the Union soldiers back. The girl was a
Virginian of that simple faith which dis
believes in strife and bloodshed, and her
name was Rebecca. 1t was another F" Re-
becca at the well," with this difference
that she drew from the glib-tongued officer
the number and position OF Gen. Early's
army, their intrenchments and batteries on
the Oppequan, and what troops had been
Withdrawn. This was done in the most
natural manner possible, for to know these
things was interesting and she had no idea
Of making history or becoming heroine,
for the two had only met few evenings
previens 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. ,..-. -....-
THE BIRD CALL IN THE GRASS. s
On the following Friday, while sitting on
the same porch, she heard bird call, low
and tremnlous, in the shrubbery of the lawn.
She answered it by clapping her hands
softly, when a man, as black as the shadows
ahe sat in, came up, aud taking something
out OF his mouth, handed it to her and van
ished into the night. Speeding up to her
she found the gift to be small
roll Of tin-foil, such as is wrapped about
various articles, among others, chewing
So0sooo. -Ossrosos.y Is
of paper was found within, on which was
written:
"Have you any definite Information of
the forces and position of Gen. Early? If
80, transmit by bearer" SHERIDAN.
How strange is destiny! She alone, of
the few Union loving souls in Winchester,
knew what the harassed cavalry command
or desired. To put the information down
and roll it into the same receptacle did not
require many moments, when she again
appeared on the porch, clapping her hands.
The slave seemed to rise out of the earth
He hastily placed the tiny packet 10 his
mouth, and, without word or gesture, dis.
appeared.
-.s.. THE BATTLE AT WINCHESTER.
Before daylight, on the 10th of Septem-
ber, 1884, the Confederate pickets ware
charged on the Oppequan, and Sheridan
moved like an avalanche upon Winchester.
A terrible contest followed, the two armies
advancing and retreating like the surging
billows of the ocean. The battle never
ceased until shutdown, leaving Sheridan the
victor of the Oppequan. A series Of dis
asters pursued Early. and on the 10th of
October--a month later--was fought the
memorable battle of Whinchester-.which
brought peace to the Valley Of the shenan-
doah. talked with the gentle Quaker
lady yesterday. She said she was un
conscious of doing anything Of moment at
the time. She had known General Crook,
of General Sheridan's staff, and during the
brief occupancy of Winchester by the Union
troops, had said to him: IL he ever saw o
way that she could serve the Union cause,
to command her and he had mentioned her
name to General Sheridan. She showed me
an elegant watch, a souvenir of the event, q
gift from General Sheridan. On the inside
Ia engraved ...f aas
Presented TO z.
al s.. RRBEocA =. WRIGHT, "4
Winchester, Va, by General P. a. Sheridan
A memento of September 19, 1854.
The charm-holder is an ingenious ar
rangemsnt Of q horseshoe. gauntlet and
spur. The charms are tiny Cavalry sword
fleld glass, orderly cap, and other military
objects In miniature. The fate OF the