The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-16
a WAR RENIINISCENCE
The Despatch That Came in q Monstroua
Month

1ne Oespatcn Tnat Came IN q MonStrouA
Mouth.
The Loyal Girlof Winchester is the
sobriquet given to Mrs. Rebecca M. Bon
sal. Her maiden name was Wright,
and she sprang from Quaker stock.
She and her family, with the exception
Of one sister, were loyal. Her two
brothers were in the northern army,
and her father refugee It would take
q volume to tell of their prosecutions
and s~ufferings, and Rebecca's active in.
terest in the cause has been toldin song
and story. Tuesday evening she was
complimented with a historical recital
by post 2, G.. A. r. of Philadelphia.
The wheel of fortune has not turned
many prizes for her. A position at the
national capitol is about h e.only recog-
milton h has ever received from the
government for most acknowledgements.
Our grand army posts are about to dc
something in the way of a tardy recog.
milton of her loyal and brave conduct
in time of revolution. 8
When Sheridan took command in the
Shenandoah valley he was in sore dis
tress for information as to the strength,
position and condition of General Early's
army. All his spies failed to give him
the needed knowledge. He had heard
OF Miss Wright's (nowM Mrs. BonsaD pro-
nounced union sentiments and he de-
termined to approach her upon the sub
lect OF the enemy's plans. One day in
September, 1864, a trusty black man
appeared in her house and said;.
Miss, am yo' fo' de union?
Shy and suspicious, she did not at
first answer him, but finally her natural
womanly instinct determined her to
trust the messenger, so she answered:
Eyes, John. Why?"
The darkey smiled broadly and then
proceeded to dislodge from his mon
strous mouth a little roll Of paper; done
up IN a t%in-foil, the following note.
SEPTEMBER Il, 1S64.-I learned. from Major
still love the old flag. Can You inform me Of
me position Of Early's forces, the number Of
divisions in his army and the strength of any
Or az OF them, and his probable or reported in.
!ehtlohs! Have anymore troops arrived from
tnGhraond, or are any more coming or reported
to be coming? | am, very respectfully, your
ooen1eht servant p. H SHERIDAN,
Major General Commanding.
Ion can trust tho bearer.
Without hesitation she replied to this
note as follows:
SEPTEMBER 16s1S64. Il have ne. oennnannica-
non Whatever Sath the robels, bntwill tell you
know. The division Of General Kers6aw
snc outshaw'ss artillery IL guns and men,
oenera! anderson commanding, havebeen sent
Is ana no more arc expected, as they cannot
Pc spared from Richmond. lido, not know how
me troops ars situated but tie. foree is much
smaller than represented. I will take pleasure
hereafter IN learning all I can of their strength
md position and the bearer may call again.
Very respectfully yours,
Upon this information Gen. Sheridan
at once acted. Fought and won the bat.
tie OF Opequan, on the 10th Of Septem-
Der, the key to his whole campaign in
The valley. LATER he acknowledged the
valuable information she had given and
presented her with a watch and chain
asa memento of the occasion. The gov
eminent then followed with a olerkship,
and o the G. A. r. proposed to rec
osnize her loyal service not only senti-
mentally but substantially by holding
receptions for her benefit.