The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-05-05


Der, 1866, q polored mar knocked NJ
the door and asked to see Miss Wright
There were two Miss Wrlghtk Ia win.
chester and the eolored man stated
that he wanted TO see Miss Rebecca.
After looking carefully about him. the
oolored man asked permission 60
speak 20 Miss Wright alone. Tho re-.
quest was granted. they entered an,
other room, and the man closed the
door. The little Quakeresa was fright.
ened, but was Immediately assured
hat her visitor was from General
sheridan; and che colored man said
that Il would be better for her mother
no 10 know the message. Then.
taking a roll Of tinfoll from his mouth.
no handed IL TO the young lady. She
slowly unrolled Il. and found therein
a letter from Gen. Sheridan. written
on tissue paper. The colored man
said he had carried II in his mouth,
with instructions TO swallow Il II mo
Tested by the Confederates. The man
then left. saying that he would re
turn at 8 o'clock. The letter follows:
Il learn from Gen. Crook that you
are a loyal young lady, and still lo9e
the old flag. Can you inform me of
the position OF Gen. Early's forces,
the number Of divisions in his army.
and the strength of any or all OF
them? His probable or reported in.
tentions? Have any more troops ar
rived from Richmond, or are any more
coming. or reported to be coming?
4 am, very respectfully, your
obedient servant.
p. II. SHERIDAN.
Major General Commanding
"IOu can trust the bearer
Miss Wright consulted with her
mother, and they concluded to run the
risk-the risk of death. She says.
only a few evenings previous. a con
valescent Confederate oficer had
spent the evening with as. We talked
OF the war. and he voluntarily told
us all about the purposes OF Gen
Early, the number and disposition Of
his troops, and the salient fact that
several thousand OF Early's troops had
been called elsewhere. These facts
I tent by the colored man. and Sheri
dan saw that il was time 70 make the
attack. On the following Monday
morning ! was awakened by the boom
ing Of cannon. and the battle was on
BY NOON our streets were hlled With
troops. houses we're blazing all around
US. being fired by exploding shells
and in the evening there was a elat
tering Of sabers on our steps. Wher
| opened the door two officers en-
tered. n OF them introducing him
self as Gen. Sheridan. He thanked
me most earnestly for the information
| had furnished him. At my desk he
wrote a brief recount OF the battle
then rode away, after assuring mt
that hts victory that day was due e
the Information | had sent him in the
tintoil covered note.
In 1861. when the watch and chair
came accompanied by that very hear
" letter from the famous soldier
Miss Wright felt safe in telling hes
friends What SERVED she had rendered
But no sooner did Il become known
IN Winchester han the ultra charac
ters OF her own sex ~ostracised her
Then Il al that she applied for 81
position and was appointed In tn,
government service: and she hal
ever since made her home Ia the IA
uonai capital.
Mrs. Bonsal Is a quiet Quakeress
with sweet face. intelligent eyes
beautiful hair. and must have been al
c-onsplcuously handsome young lads
when she rendered such hazardous
service. risking her life and that q.
her mother for the Union cause, The
u-npreteniious heroine Of course holds
a life position. the Endorsements o.
Grant and sheridan being all-sum
cient-smith d. Fay In Los Angeles
Times.