Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-05-30

/ circumstances ne lSHilGtl GiuEES ZOE LiltslT
immediate relief, one of which, still pre-.
served among the papers Of Majo,
| ,Griest, who was then issuing commits.
sary on Sheridan's staff, is as follows:
Capt Griest: Give Miss Wright ali
the fresh beef she needs. 49,,
% P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General
After the war had closed Sheridan
further expressed his gratitude by pre-.
senting her with a handsome gold watch
and chain.
The fact of this presentation became
known and the causes that led to itsoo1
leaked out. Asa result Miss Wright and
her mother were socially ostracised by
the pepole of Winchester; their boarding
house was tabooed, their means of live
lihood disappeared, and they were re-
duced to even greater distress than dur
ing the war. About this time Robert
J. Houston heard of Miss Wright's
story through james Van Ormer, a
Winchester merchant. The account OF
Miss Wrights heroism during the war
and the condition she was now reduced
to by reason of her devotion to the
Union in 1868, actuated Mr.. Houston tc
endeavor to lay her case before Thad-
deus Stevens in Washington. The old
Commoner, however, was even then on
his death bed, and Mr. Houston final
ly approached Senator Simon Cameron,
stated to him Miss Wrights case, and
suggested that he should SECURE her a
pension.
In reply Senator Simon Cameron said
TO Mr. Houston: mo, I don't think
could get her a pension, and
anyhow [ am opposed to granting
pension to civilians. There were
5l1lmberlees loyal southern people who
gave us information during the wal.
Even when was secretary of war hun
dretls of these Southern Unionists sent
us Intelligence of great value; they did
it every day; their clairas for pension
would be equally strong with that OF
Miss Wright
"But there ought to be something done
for her. Sheridan ought to marry her,
and III tell him SO, too. He is all-pow~
erful with this administration and
he could get her a clerkship
easily as not. You leave this matter
with me-" continued Mr. Cameron,
"and when Sheridan gets back to
Washington I'll lay the matter before
him, and between us we'll see what can
be done" Mr.. Houston then left, hav-
ing, as he said, no faith in Cameron s
promises, and thinking he only wanted
to get rid Of me. Six months after
wards the heroine of Winchester was
1pc+o11cI al w, E, In,
partment Of the government she had so
nobly served.
The salary Miss Wright received was
not al extravagant one, but it sufhced
TO procure for herself and mother, who
has since died in Missouri, comfort
able living. Soon an intimacy deve-
Hoped between her and a Young Quaker
named Bonsall Marriage followed,
she resigning her clerkshio, and they
settled in the vicinity of Rising Sun,
Cecil county, Md, where he was born
and raised. There they lived happily
until financial distress overlook Mr..
Bonsan. Then his energetic wife again
secured the c]erkship she had resigned
and which she holds to this day.
Those who saw Mrs Bonsall at the
reception recently rendered her Ivy the
Grand Army post Of Philadelphia could
easily believe that she IS woman of
firmness and decision Of character; but
it would be more difficult to convince
them that u score Of years ago, when
fraternal blood was redcning the sod Of
Virginia's ambrosiil vale and Sheridan
was just entering upon campaign that
would make his name immortal, this
Quaker woman had only reached the
I'D year of her age.