Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-09
THE HEROINE OF wuNCHEsrER.
How n Quaker Maiden Assisted SherS.
dan 20 Win the Battle.


THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT CLERK AND THE sHKRr-
DAN TEsTIMoSIAIs-Eow THE UNION GENERAL
GOT WORD INTO WINCHESTER AND HOW RKBECCA
WRIGHT OBTAINED VALUABLE INFORMATION.
A modest little Quaker woman In the redemption
agency OF the Treasury Department wears gold
watch In which is Inscribed: Presented to Re-
becca l. Wright, Sept. 10, 81, by Gen. Phil. II.
Sheridan memento OF Sept 10, g." The watch
Is attached TO a long gold chain fastened at the
neck with clasp representing horseshoe, mill
tary gauntlet and stiTupS Hanging to a short
end Is a sword, a key and seal The wearer Of
this Is lady OF fifty, but she appears ten or fifteen
years younger. Her manner Is quiet, and her face
expresses amiabillty and the gentler womanly
qualities. There is nothing strong minded or
war-llke about her bearing-nothing TO suggest
the wearing OF military honOrs. Yet no SOL
der who followed sheridan into Winchester on
the 10Th OF september, 1864 did a greater service
than did this little woman on that occasion. II
was due TO her that Winchester was captured,
and sheridan always spoke with pride OF his "little
Quaker girl" she was little more than q girl
when he first met her.
when sheridan was lying before winchester
town, then held BY the rebel forces. They ne
were one OF a very few Union families who
remained in the place during the war. AS
Qudkers they were opposed TO war, and by the
teachings OF their faith they were loyal. During
the heat OF the contest the father, old man, was
made prisoner by the Confederates, and died from
confinement and hardshlps. The mother, one
daughter, and a little boy lived together, and were
much respected. Notwithstanding their want Of
sympathy with war and rebellion.
THE DAUGHTER WAS REBECcA WRIGHT,
then ABOUT twenty-five years old, and she it was
who furnished Gen. Sheridan with Information
concerning Gen. Early's forces, which lead TO the
successful battle OF september 10. She has been
married since then, and is now Mrs Bonsal.
STAR reporter called on her at the Treasury the
other day, and she told her story and showed him
the watch, which she seems 10 prize more as
present from Gen. sheridan than as a tribute TO
her own service. She Is renned and very intellt-
gent woman, and must have been a remarkably
pretty girl when she risked her life to serve the
cause OF the Union. She had never seen Gen.
sheridan at that time and knew nothing OF him.
81 was engaged In some household duties" she
said, recounting her story TO The STAR man. sit
was ABOUT noon on the 10th or september, 81 l
was interrupted by knock at the door, and, on
opening II, found an Intelligent looking colored
man, VINO asked TO see Miss Wright. There were
two Misses Wright living In Winchester, and
asked which he wanted. Miss Rebecca, he said;
the other Is in sympathy with The rebels He
would not say what he wanted, but, after looking
about carefully, asked 10 be allowed TO speak
with Ine alone. was impressed by his manner,
and took him into another ROOM He at once
closed the door. and became alarmed, as my
mother and Were alone In the house. But he
Immediately said he had a note from General
sheridan. who wanted me to give him all the in
formation could concerning the rebel forces. He
took from his mouth little wad OF tin-fOil, which
proved TO be
LETTER FROM GEN. SHERIDAN
written on tissue paper. The colored man said he
had carried 1t all the way In his mouth, and had
been instructed to swallow 1t II molested by the
Confederate pckets. He was engaged IN Carrying
PROVISIONS through the lines for the Use of the
town, and Gen. Sheridan had secured his services
not know what to do. l did not know how far
could trust the man. fearing that there might be
trick to get me into trouble, and told him that
knew nothing about the rebels. But the man
evidences
OF earneStneS5 that / concluded TO trIst him.
While he was talking was tearing the tin-foL
wrap the reply ill.,.
he said he would return at o'clock
sHERIDAN's NOTE.
"After his departure / read the note 1t was
written on very thin yellow tissue paper which
was greatly wrinkled and mussed from being
folded so tightly"
Mrs Bonsal showed The STAR man the letter
put In small picture frame behind glass for
protection. lt was written In very fine hand,
evidently by dicJatlon, and signed by the general
The sheet was only little larger than ordinary
note paper.
II said simply this:
81 learn from Major-Gen. Crook that you are a
loyal lady and still love the old nag.
'Can you inform Inc or the poStiopsf Early'S
forces the number OF divisions in his Army and the
strength OF all or any OF them, and his probable or
reported intentions. Have any more troops
arrived from Richmond, or are any more coming or
Il am very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"P Ii. SHERIDAN,
''MajOr- General Commanding
'You can trust the bearer"
"After reading the letter., continued Mrs.
her what had occurred. We were almost over
powered by the thought OF the great danger we
were In, but We concluded TO run the risk.
HOW THE INFORMATION WAS SECURED
"If 1t had not been for an accident, that seems
to have been providential, should have known
nothing to tell Gen. sheridan that would have
been OF value to him. As IL happened. did not
know now valuable the information possessed
might be. My mother and were known to be
loyal. and the ConfederateS mad very little TO do
with US, so we knew nothing or them or OF what
was going on. But Confederate officer, who had
been wounded and was then convalescent. was
boarding with one OF our neighoors. As cOnva-
leScent lie wandered about at will, and knew all
about the strength and movements, the dangers,
the hopes, ana the fears OF ElrlyS forces. II
CHANGED that just two evenings before got Gen.
Sheridans letter, and before had any thought of
serving him or the Union cause, this young
Confederate asked permission TO call on me. He
had often observed me from his window arranging
or gathering my flowers, and he was lonely and
sought my company. SO IL CHANGED that Two
evenings before got the note this officer was at
our house. We were strangers, with nothing in
common 10 talk about so the conversation turned
upon the war, and more especially the state Of al
fairs directly about us He described the situa-
ton from his standpoint-how many troops they
had and what they must rely on. l asked Ques-
tons without any purpose except TO keep up the
idea OF what Importance all this was, or that IL
would ever come OF use to me; but when / read
Gen. Sher1dan'5 letter 1t at once occurred to me
that could tell him what the Confederate had
told me.
THE ANSWER.
"When the colored man returned gave him an
answer to the generals letter, telling the number
OF troops, their situation, and the fact that some
had been called of for service elsewhere I told
him, in fact the very things as see now, that he
most wanted 10 know; but expressed regret that
could not give more information, and said would
try 10 gather more for him II he would send the
messenger back In day or two.
The colored man put the letter In his mouth
and left the house quietly. Many times during
the next day, Saturday, and the quiet Sabbath
the messenger and what would result from my
note.
THE TERRIBLE BATTLE.
"When l was awakened Monday morning by the
booming OF cannon my first thought was whether
my note had anything to do with 1t. 1t was a ter
rlble ngnt, and In the Afternoon when the streets
were nled with troops. wagons, cannOnS, and the
poor suffering wounded, and the buildings were on
lre ali around Us, my mother asked me, with tears
in her eyes, If / thought my note had anything TO
DO with this battle had Thought OF that all day
and was overwhelmed. / hid my face I'm INV
hands, ana cried: oh! no, no! don't believe he
got IT. IL was the most terrible day OF all my ex-
perience. Houses about US were on fire our own
fence was burning, and shells fell near that my
mother and Il went into the cellar for safety
Finally the rumbllng OF battle grew fainter and
FAINTER, Until IL got 50 quiet could not endure TO
remain In the cellar in ignorance OF the result
From the first moor could see nothing: nothiny
from The second noor, but from the garnet windows