Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
BATTLE OF WINCHESTER
WON ON THE INFORMATION oF
A WOMAN.
Letter of Mrs. Bonsall, Then Miss Re
becca Wright, to General
Sheridan.

That the famous battle of Winchester
a woInan's information is not known to
many people, and still fewer realize that the
heroine of the incident is now working in
the Treasury Department, where she has a
life position given her in recognition of her
services. Yet this Is the case. The lady in
question is Mrs. William c. Bonsall, for
merly Miss Rebecca Wright of Frederick
county, Va. Miss Wright. like many south
ern women, belonged to a family that was
divided on the question of the Union. She
came of devout family of Friends, who
condemned war on general principles. But
as between the Union and the confederacy
Rebecca was a Union woman. while her
sister, who looked strikingly like her, was
thoroughgoing confederate
Her family occupied home on Fort Hill
In Winchester, the place where George
Washington built his famous Fort Loudon
some years prior to the revolution. Miss
Rebecca Wright was a school teacher
During the summer of 1864 she became
acquainted with Maj Gen Crook of the
federal army, and upon his finding out that
she was Union sympathiZer, he remarked
as he left for headquarters that he might
find 1t necessary to call on her for help at
some future time. Miss Wright then re-
SdluSu the as nothing more than a
joke.
A Negro Messenger.
One day early In September. however,
while she was teaching the children of her
school she heard rap at the front door.
Miss Wright opened the door and found
there a negro. who explained that he was
Jasper Laws of Berryville. Laws was
more apprehensive than Miss Wright for
he was spy, and had the confederates or
even their friends, known of his occupa-
ton at that particular time his body would
nave been sent to the potters field
Laws had been told that there were two
sisters who looked like twins and that he
must by all means locate Miss Rebecca
Wright alone, for he had been intrusted
with message of the utmost Importance,
the failure TO deliver which privately would
mean disaster for the whole Union army
1t was some time before he could be con-
WINGED that he in the presence of the
lady to whom he had been sent and not her
sister. When he was finally satisfied he
took from under his tongue a small piece OF
tinfoil and handed it to the school teacher,
telling her that she was expected to send
her reply wrapped In the same covering.
1t then dawned upon her that the tinfoIl
contained message, possibly from Gen.
sheridan, remembering the remark Gen.
Crook had made some weeks before
While opening the little package, Miss
Wright closely questioned Laws concerning
his movements. She became satisfied that
he had passed through the confederate lines
from Gen. Sheridan's headquarters and
had carried the note under his tongue in the
tinfon. so should circumstances render it
necessary he could easily swallow the pack
age, note and all. Telling Laws to return
at 3 O'Clock in the afternoon for an an
swer, she read the message. of which the
following Is the text:
Sept Is, 1864.
Il learn from Maj. Gen. Crook that YOU
are a loyal lady and still love the old flag.
can you inform me of the position of Early
ana his forces, the number of divisions in
his army and the strength of any or all OF
them, and mis- probable or reported inten-
tons?
Have any more troops arrived from
Richmond, or are any more coming or re-
ported to be coming?
am, very respectfully, your most ODE
dent servant,
'P. H. SHERIDAN.
Major general commanding
r S'-fou can trust the bearer"
Miss Wright's Reply.
Miss Wright was greatly troubled az IN
what course to pursue She was loyal to
the Union and still loved the flag" but
their house was divided against itself. She
had already seen more war than she had
ever dreamed of. Winchester had been
taken and retaken by the opposing armies
many times, and she wanted to see no more
or IT, But what If she refused 10 answer
Gen: Sheridan's note? Although a friend
or the cause he represented she knew
that Sheridan was looked upon by the
people as merciless commander, and her
failure to respond and give the information
he sought might prove disastrous not only
to her but to her family
Ihe previous day she had had a con-
Versatlon with young southern officer
who lay wounded in Winchester and he
told her of the movements and strength of
the confederate armies in the lower valley
of the Shenandoah. Miss Wright decided
to send the substance of the conversation
to Gen. Sheridan By the negro Going to
her desk in her schoolroOm she wrote:
September 49, 1864
Il have no communication whatever with
the rebels. but will tell thee what / know
The division of Gems Kershaw and Cut
shaw's artillery, twelve guns and men
Gen. Anderson commanding, has been sent
away and no more troops expected
as they cannot be spared from Richmond
] do not know how the troops situated
but the force is much smaller than repre-
scented. / will take pleasure hereafter in
learning all / can of their strength and
position, and the bearer may call again.
X. X. X X
Miss Wright did not sign the note.
The negro called promptly at o'clock
in the afternoon and, after being given
luncA to eat on the way, he left and made
quick time unnoticed to WILDWOOD a dis
lance of ten miles southeast of Winchester
Upon arriving at Wildwood, which is in
Clarke county and not more than six
miles from his home at Berryville he was
met by a scout and by him and a few
others taken to Gen. Sheridan's headquar-
tiers near the Shenandoah river. =
What Was the Result.
Practically every reader knows what hap
pened in and about the old town of Win
chester on the 10th of September 1864
when Sheridan threw his 10000 men against
Early's army of 10000. The official re-
ports show that 1t was one of the most
stubborn and bitterly-fought battles ever
waged on Virginia soil OF course Early's
army retreated, but not until there had
been a great slaughter on both sides; and
military experts have repeatedly expressed
wonder how the forces of Gen. Jubal Early
ever stood up under such torrent of shot
and shell as long as they did.
Late in the evening, while t. smoke of
battle still filled the air and the wounded
= low, hoy