The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-19

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.
| was told by the old gentleman who is
the local historian of the town and the
country thereabonts that the contending
forces marched in and out of Winchester
thirty-seven different times during the
four years they rayaged and despoiled
the fair valley, beneath whose now grad
ually rejuvenating soil ), 600 of them sleep
their last sleep. 1t is not difficult, there
fore, to imagine the privations that the
poor people of that country endured.
And Rachel Wright aud her daughter
Rebecca soon found that their subsist-
ence must depend upon the gratitude Of
the General to whom they had rendered
such signal service. AS soon as Sheri! IN
learned of their circumstances he issued
orders for their immediate relief, one OF
which, still preserved among the papers
of Major Griest, of this city, who was
then Issuing Commissary on Sheridan's
staff, is AS follows:
CAPTAIN GRlEsT: Give Miss Wright
all the fresh beef she needs.
p. H. SHERIDAN, Majcr-General.
After the war had closed Sheridan
furth II expressed his gratitude by pre-
senting her with handsome gold watch
and chain.
PATRIOTISM REWARDED WITH osTRACIsM.
The fact Of this presentation became
known and the causes that led to it soon
leaked out. AS a result Miss Wright
and her mother were socially ostracised
ing house was tabooed, their means Of
livelihood disappeared and they were re-
duced to even greater distress than dur
ing the war. About this time Mr.. Robert
}. Houston, of this city, heard of Miss
Wright's story through Mr.. James Van
Ormor, Winchester merchant, whose
wife was a Lancaster county woman. 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 case before Thad
deus Stevens in Washington. The old
Commoner, how eve:, was even then on his
death bed, aud Mr.. Houston finally APP
preached Senator Simon Cameron. stated
to him Miss Wright case and suggested
that he should secure her pension.
In reply Senator Cameron said to Mr..
Houston: NO, don't think / could get
her pension, and anyhow | am opposed
to granting pensions to civilians. There
were numberless loyal Southern people
who gave us Information during the war.
Even when | was Secretary of War hun.
dreos of these Southern Unionists sent
us intelligence Of great value; they did
it every day; their claims for a pension
would be equally strong with that OF
Miss Wright.
But there ought to be something
done for her. Sheridan ought to lnaIry
her and III tell him so, too. He is all
| powerful with this administration, and
he could get her clerkship as easily as
| not. Yen leave this matter with me,
| continued Mr. Cameron, and whel
| Sheridan gets back TO Washington II
lay the matter before him and between
us we'll see what can be done MI
Houston then left, having, as he say
mo faith in Camcron's promises arc
thinking he only wanted to get rid OF
me- Six months afterward Van Ormol
| again visited Lancaster county. Meet
ing Houston he said: Il want 10 thank
you for securing that Miss Wright {
clel kship.' 1t then TRANSFERRED that
within six weeks after the Houston Cam
eron interview the heroine of Winchester
Was installed as clerk in the T.eaSury
| Department of the government she haC
so nobly served.
HER MARRIAGE AND SUBSEQUENT LIFE
The salary Miss Wright received Wa.
not an cxtravagent one, but it sutiicet
to procure for herself and mother who
has since died in Missouri, comfortable
living. Soon an intimacy developed be
! tween her and a yeung Quaker namet
! Bonsall. Marriage followed. she resign
ing her clerkship, and they settled il
the vicinity of Rising sun, Cecil county
| Md, where he was born and raised
There they lived happily until tinanca
| distress overlook Mr.. Bonsall. Then hi.
energetic wife again secured the cIel k
ship she had resigned and which 81,
! holds to this day. Those who saw Mrs
Bonsall at the reception recently ten
| dered her by the Grand Army Posts q
| Philadelphia could easily believe that six
is a woman of tirmness and decision o
| character, but it would be more difficult
to convince them that a score OF year.
ago. when fraternal blood was reddeuins
| the sod of Nirginia's ambrosial vale arc
Sheridan was just entering upon cam
paign that would make his name i'm
mortal, this Quaker woman had nnl,
reached the twenty year of he
| age. However. time has touched he
not urgently, and whether or not She i.
entitled to the pension General Sheridan
speaks of. she is. ii MAJ BE- permitted
to paraphrase the lannon's fighters lie
mark quoted at the opening of this ar'i
Gle, at least ''entitled, damn it. to IL
respect and gratitude Of AL vino lcv,
the Union.'
| How PIGS became Pork IL Clnicacn