The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-14
For the Farmer aud Mech -
The True Story of Spy.
FAYETTEVILLE. y. G.. {
April L. - {

- -
Ejitor Of the Times
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
Ay informant adds. that Rebecca
Wright was young. pretty aud intell-
gent, and had many opportunities oi
couyersing with the Confederate officers.
none oi whom were aware, or had the
least idea OF her Union sentiments or
proclivities, but living in "A Southern
land, as she did. they believed aud had
reason To believe, III her loyalty to tie
Southern cause; thev talked freely be-
fore her. and divulg,d many important
facts relative to the movements Of the
Southern army. none of which escaped
her, but all were treasured up, 10 be told
when, aud To whom they would be most
valued, and do the Confederate, the most
injury.
My informant further adds that the
foregoing statement was made To him
by Rebecca l.. Wright in person, On the
Sd day Of July. lS65, setting IN the very
parlor, where Major came TO her
after finishing his breakfast on the morn
ing that she betrayed these, towards
whom She had made professions Of the
warmest friendship.
Thus the story is told aud unless
Rebecca L. Wright has told it to others
differently, this is the true history OF
tie deception practiced by a woman
who deliberately planned an act which
involves within itself ali the dark cum
ming, deep treachery. and wild wicked
ness of practised deceiycr; an act
which turns the cheek of honor pale !;
and ought to sutiuoe the fair face OF uni
versal wonanhood with the crimson
tint of shame an act compared which.
the baseness Of Brutus was honorable,
and the shameless treachery Of Arnold.
was exemplary and patriotic.
4 QuakeresS. the tenet of whose
religion made her opposed to all forms,
and all kind of strife. whose voice aud
influence was supposed to be for peace !;
who took no sdes(o aud thus invited,
if she did not encourage free, open
and fearless conyers alton upon the topics
Of the war, in her presence, and at the
same time was carefully aud surely cir
composing the betrayal and death Of
these confding ones. who had been
thrown of their guard by her words and
her actions
Ii some female resident of Gettys-
burg, whose dwelling was constantly
filed with Union officers, who had dis
cussed the situation III her presence.
had communicated to Gen. Lee. the
strength, weak places and position 81
Meades forces on Gettysburg heights.
what would the Northern people have
tIA,,s,t,t Of -
have given to Lee tie ,cor. as Rcbecca
Wright gave Winchester to Sheridan
Surely Lee could have well atiold-
ed to give her watch (~cvefal Of them)
as Sheridan gave one to Rebccca
Wright! and her name as Rehecca 5
ought TO be, would he handed down in
song and story as the ba>est of the
base. aud when her earthly dust should
be coffin II, Truth itself will lnstrlbc
upon her tomb. in characters more en-
during than triple steel, There lies the
traitress of the .'nineteenth century"
However much such an act OF faith
lcssness may have been beneficial to
the army Of Gen. Sheridan yet the i'll
strument OF its accomplishment, is ever
odious to. and condemned by every true
soldier; for against it there is no safe
guard. The most powerful are by such
arttul and deceptive devices rendered
absolutely helpless. The most vigilaut
and watchful, are always at the mercy
Of the secret foe, the dissemblcr, the
Spy,
That the work of such bascness, was
reserved for the mind and heart OF a
Southern woman for its accomplish
ment, is one of the unexplained mvste-
res OF those evil times. / is a deed
which has no eXemplGr, and which will
have no parallel in the worlds wide lati-
tudes; at the preparation OF which
Hope whitening fled and mercy sighed
farewell"
What can be said of woman, through
whose Vaccinations. hundreds. perhaps
thousands of men, were betrayed to
death. without moments warning, by
one whom they had been led to sup
pose was their friend. One whose ca
reer has made Winchester famous in
''the annals ot the war; aud herself in
famous,
OF one, who day by day aud all day
long, plotted against the lives OF the
brave souls whom She deceived. whom
She slew. and we may suppose teaeted
her eyes a. the sight of the stream OF
Iieblood, which she had caused to flow,
all the work of he;, deep-dyed treachery.
"A thousand years,
Ten thousand years together, naked,
fasting
Upon barren mountain and amid win
ter.
In storm perpetual, could not move the
Gods
To look that way thou vert,
THOMAS II. SUTTON.