The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-06

circumstances he issued orders for the1r
immediate relief, one of which, still pre-
served among the papers of Major
,Griest, who was then issuing commits
sary on Sheridan's staff, is as follows:
Capt Griest: Give Miss Wright all
the fresh beef she needs.
P. II. 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 itsoon
leaked out. As 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, o
Winchester merchant. The account of
Miss Wright's 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 to
endeavor to lay her ease before Thad-
deus Stevens in Washington. The old
Commoner, however, was even chen on
his death bed, and Mr.. Houston final
~ approached Senator Simon Cameron,
stated to him Miss Wrigbt's case, and
suggested that he should secure her a
pension.
In reply Senator Simon Cameron said
20 Mr. Houston: "No, l don't think [
could get her u pension, and
anyhow 1 am opposed to granting
pension to civilians. There were
numberlees loyal southern people who
gave us information during the war.
Even when 1 was secretary of war hun
dreds of these Southern Unionists sent
us intelligence of great value: they did
it every day; their claims 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 I'll 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 MI. Cameron,
land 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, hay
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
installed as a clerk in the treasury de-
partlnent of the government she had SO
nobllyy served,
The salary Miss Wright received was
not an ~extravagant one, but it sufficed
to procure for herself and mother, who
has since died in Missouri, a comfort
able living. Soon an intimacy deve-
loped between her and a young Quaker
named Bonsall. Marriage followed
she resigning her clerkship, and they
settled in the vicinity Of Rising Sun,
Cecil county, Nd, where he was born
and raised. There they lived happily
until financial distress overlook Mr..
Bonsall. Then his energetic wife again
secured the clerkship she had resigned
and which she holds to this day
Those who saw Mrs Bonsall at the
reception recently rendered her by the
Grand Army post of Philadelphia could
easily believe that she is woman Of
frmness and decision Of character; bgl
10 would be more difficult to convince
them flat q score of years ago, when
fraternal blood was redening the sod o,
Virginia's ambrosiai vale and Sheridan
WIS just entering upon a campaign that
would make his name immortal, this
Quaker woman had only reached the
ODD year of her age.