The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-06
The Quaker Girl OF Winchester.

In the city of Winchester. Va
Sheridau's Winchester-an officer of
the southern army, who had been
wounded ia one Of the Virginia battles
of the late war, was boarding through
cut his ccnvalesceuce in one of the
many families Of southern sympathizers
in that place. From the window of his
sick-room he watched the garden next
door where two young women read,
sewed or gathered flowers. AS his
convalescence grew near its end, on the
evening of the 14th of Septembt r, 1864,
he called upon those neighbors and
spent with them a few hours in con-
versation, which was at once his enter
tainment and his causes undoing.
OF these two women one was sym
patlizer with her state and the other
with her country, and as a matter of
course the conversation drifled upon
the strength of the Confederate forces
aud upon the likelihood of General
Early's detachment being reinforced by
troops from Richmond. The Southern
officer gave it as his opinion, founded
upon knowledge, that General Early's
force was very much overestimated as
to its numbers by the Northern army,
aid that troops were SO badly needed at
Richmond that they were calling in
forces instead of sending them out. To
this he added some specific information
as to an artillery division which had
been withdrawn from Early's COM
mand. Later in the evening he left
his hostesses without a thought as to
the ultimate effect of the nights con-
versation.
One of them, by name Rebecca
Wright, had been at the opening of the
war teacher in the Winchester school,
but had be en- expelled because of her
loudly proclaimed sympathy with the
Union. Collecting the children from
the few Unionist families in Winches-
ter, she had opened private school,
which had proved quite successful.
On the second day after the even
ins's conversation with her Southern
guest Miss Rebecca Wright was sit
ling in her schOol-room during the
noon recess. Her response to knock
at the door brought into the room an
intelligent, well-dressed colored man.
Asking Miss Wright if she were en-
tirely alone, he proceeded to close the
doors of the room in a mysterious man
ner.
81 want to see Miss Wright. want
to see you" was his reply.
"There are two Miss Wrights," said
the school teacher. Perhaps thee
wants to see my sister,"
"No, don't. Your sister is not on
our side. l want to see Miss Rebecca,
the Unionist. have letter for her
from General Sheridan"
SO saying, he handed her a roll of
tinfoil. Much amazed, Miss Wright
began to tear the tinfoil.
Don't do that, ma'am," said the
man. You will need it TO wrap your
| answer in. 1 carried the letter wrapped
in it, under my tongue, so that il was
arrested and searched could swallow
it,"
Before opening the letter Miss
Wright asked the man several questions
as 10 Sheridan's position, and, beng
convinced of his honesty, told him that
he might return at three O'Clock for
| her reply. AS soon as she was alone
she opened the letter and read:
| "SEPrEMBER Is, 1864.
81 learn from Ma ior-General Crook that
! you are loyal lady and still love the old
flag.
Can You inform me OF the position Of
! Early and his forces, the number Of divi-
sions in his army, and the strength of any or
all of them, and his probable or reported
intentions? Have any more troops arrived
from Richmond, or are any more coming or
repaired to be coming?
D" am very respectfully, your most obe-
dent servant
"P. II. SHERIDAN.
Major-General Commanding.
" You can trust the bearer"
To say that Miss Wright was troub-
led as to what course to pursue is 10 TX.
press nj dy the doubts which besel
her. In her perplexity she turned to
her mother, also a strong Unionist, and,
after long discu, sion, decided 10 run
the risk, and take upon herself the
great responsibility. The conversat on
with the Confederate officer, her guest
of few evenings earlier, formed the
bass of her reply. Her letter was as
follows, dated but unsigned, and writ
ten in clear, firm hand:
SEPTEMBER l6, 1864.
Il have no communication whatever with
the rebels, but will tell thee what | know.
| The division Of General Kershaw and Cut
shaw's artillery, twelve guns and men,
General Anderson commanding, has been
sent away, and no more troops are expected,
! as they cannot be spared from Richmond.
| do not know how the troops are situated,
but the force is much smaller than repre-
sented. / will take pleasure hereafter in
learning all / can of their strength and po-
siton, and the bearer may come again.
Very respectfully.
TX. X. X. X"
The note was wrapped ia the foil, and
given 10 the messenger, who called fon
it in the afternoon, and who rode
swiftly to Wildwood, when he was met
by scout who traversed the many
miles which lay between the meeting
place and Gen. Sheridan's headquarters,
and on the next morning delivered the
little ball OF tinfoil into the hands of
the general.
The order was given to march, and
on the second morning thereafter, the
10th, the two armies met in battle so
disastrous that over four thousand lives
were lost.
The roar Of the battle on the out
skirts of the little city aroused Miss
Wright, as It did all the inhabitants of