Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-10-11
sECRETING THE MESSAGE.

1 SECRETING
| middle military division, composed of
| the Eighth, Sixth and Nineteenth in
| fanty corps, and the cavalry corps of
the Army of the Potomac. This force
| was sent by order of Gen. Grant to
clear the valley of Virginia not only
| of armed foes, but of all provisions. 1t
was war in all it's cruelty, for it
brought ruin and suffering to defense
| less women and children. But as a
war measure it was a necessity, for
the fertile valley of Virginia furnished
all of the food supplies for the army
of Lee. Confederate soldiers recog-
| nize that campaign as war measure,
but the writer has seen and conversed
with many elderly ladies there Who
hate the name of Sheridan because of
| the sufferings which they endured.
They saw their crops ruined, the
homes, barns and fences burned; some
of them carrying infants in their arms
| were left without roof, food or cloth
ing.
While preparing for his initial move
ments in the vicinity of Winchester
Gen. Sheridan found it difficult t obtain
reliable information concerning the
location and number of Gen. Early's
forces. At last Rebecca L. Wright, a
little Quaker girl residing in
Winchester, gave him accurate Enfor-
nation, and upon that he planned.
fought and won the battle of Opequan
Creek, on September 10, 1864; the bat
tie being commonly termed the battle
of Winchester.
In the treasury department, in the
office of the treasurer, and in the re-
demption division, the little Quaker
girl is employed, and has been there
for many years Her name is Mrs.
Bonsa1 now, and she is little more
than so years of age. She has gold
watch in which are inscribed the
words: presented to Rebecca L.
Wright, September 10, '67, by Gen.
Phil n. Sheridan. A Memento of Sep
TENDER 10, '64. The watch is attached
to a long gold chain fastened at the
neck with horse shoe clasp, a mill
tary gauntlet and stir4ups. Hanging
from the short end of the chain is a
| sword, a seal and a key. With the
watch came a letter, of which the fol-
lowing is a copy:
HEADQUARTERS, Department of the Gulf.
New Orleans, January z, 1867.
ssMy Dear Miss Wright: You are prob
ably not aware of the services you rendered
the union cause by the information you
sent me by the colored man, a few days
before the Opequee, on September 49, 1854
1t was upon this information that the bat
tie was fought and probably won The col
ored man gave the note rolled up in tin
foil to the scout, who awaited him at Mill
wood. The colored man had carried 1t in
his mouth to that point and delivered 1t to
the scout who brought ii to me.
'By this note became aware of the true
condition Of affairs inside the enemy's
lines. and gave directions for the attack.
will always remember this courageous
and patriotic action of yours with graft
tude, and beg you to accept the watch and
chain which 1 send you by Gen. = w
Forsyth, as e memento of September le
1854. Very respectfully yours,
"P. H SHERIDAN, Major General"
Mrs. Bonsal has placed this letter in
double frame, so that the writing on
both sides can be seen through the
glass covering. On the back of the
letter is an autograph Endorsement by
Gen. Grant. requesting the appoint
ment of Miss Wright in the treasury
department, and upon that request
her original appointment was made.
While in the department she was mar
r1ed to Mr.. Bonsal, and after his death
she was reaPpointed and is regarded
as one of the best and most indus
trious clerks in the civil service.
The Quaker family OF Wrights resid-
ed in Winchester. AS Quakers thew
| were opposed to war, prayed for peace,
but remained loyal to the union cause.
Because the father would not fight, he
| was arrested and imprisoned by the
| confederates, and died in prison be-
cause OF confinement and hardships.
| The widow lived on with her daughter
and little boy, unhappily because of
| the bereavement, but with undimin-
| ished loyalty. They were much re-
spected by the people of Winchester.
About noon on the 10Th of Septem-
Der, a colored man knocked at the
door and asked to see Miss Wright
There were two Miss Wrights residing
| In Winchester and the colored man
said he wanted to see Miss Rebecca.
After looking carefully about him, the
! eolorsd man entered and asked per-