Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

HISTORY records the fact that General
IL Phil Sheridan directed and won great
battle at Winchester on September 10, 1864;
but the official and unofficial histories do
not mention the name of the heroine of
that battle, much less give her credit for
her LOYALTY and intelligent fidelity.
Rebecca Wright, modest little Quaker
girl who did not believe in war, gave to the
quick and ready brain of Sheridan the in
formation of incalculable value upon which
he formulated his plans and then executed
them with Napoleonic CELEBRITY and force.
In 1861, when the minds of men were all
aflame with sectional passions, the Quaker
family of Wrights resided at Winchester,
where they were very much respected.
They were opposed to the war, and they
prayed for peace. Today everyone cheer
fully comedies the right of men thus to be-
ieve and direct their prayers. But, be-
cause of peculiar environments at that
time, there was an all-pervading sentiment
that war should and must be, and that
be ready to go to that war, regardless OF
religious or philosophic proclivities.
To the chagrin and surprise of the whole
community the Quaker held to his religion
and refused to 60 to war. Then they fell
upon Quaker Wright and cast him into
prison. Because of starvation and other
cruelties the unfortunate man died there.
Rebecca Wright and her little brother
lived on with their widowed mother; a life
of utter sadness because of their needless
and shameful bereavement. But in their
hearts they did not cherish anger, resent
ment, or thoughts of revenge: They were
all the more loyal to the old Union, however.
1t never occurred to the quiet, beautiful,
sweet little Quaker girl that she was to be
made the instrument for the revenge of the
death of her beloved father.
ABOUT noon on September II, 1864,
"A colored man knocked at the back door
and asked permission to see Miss Rebecca
Wright. There were two Misses Wright in
Winchester, and the colored man expressed
great anxiety to be sure that it was Miss
Rebecca whom he was to see. Having as
sured his mind on that point, the colored
man looked carefully round the premises
and then entered the house. He said that
he had a message that he must deliver to
Miss Rebecca alone The mother stepped
into the adjoining room, out of sight but
within call. Then the colored man told his
story but little above whisper, saying:
a have message from General Sheridan,
and it is best for your mother to be able to
saw that she knows nothing about it.
Thereupon the negro took from his mouth
a little ball of tinfoil, which he handed to
Rebecca. Carefully and slowly she I'M
rolled it, and found therein letter from Cen
eral Sheridan, written on tissue paper. The
paper was so wrinkled that she had great
difficulty in deciphering it; but she finally
made it all out. Here is copy of it:
learn from General Crook that you are
loyal lady and still love the old flag. Can you
inform me of the position of Early forces, the
number of divisions in his army, the strength
of any or all of them and his probable or re-
ported intentions? Have any more troops ar
rived from Richmond, or are any more coming
or reported to be coming?
am very respectfully your obedient servant.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major General Commanding.
You can trust the bearer.
General Sheridan was asking the little
Quaker girl to take an awful risk, the risk
Of DEATH She consulted with her mother,
and they knelt in prayer over it. Both of
them realized that compliance with the re-
quests of General Sheridan would consti-
tute them spies in time of war.
Rebecca Wright finally reached the con-
clusion that she would take that risk. She
had the information desired, even more
than General Sheridan had anticipated, and
she determined to give that information at
the risk of her life for her country.