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

ton, and 1OT no OUleI purpose, L dSkeu
many questions, which he very frankly an
swered. Consequently, when the colored
man returned at three O'Clock that after
noon, by agreement, was able to furnish
to him and did hand to him a reply that was
exceedingly comprehensive; particularly as
I told that some troops had been called else
where just at that critical time.
"Wrapping my note in the same t1nfo1l
that had covered the Generals letter, the
colored man put it in his mouth, assuring
me that he would swallow it if captured,
and then he disappeared. That was on Sat
urday afternoon. On the following Mon
day morning Twas awakened by the BOOM
ing of cannon, and the battle was on.
Mother and were very unhappy that day.
We deprecated war, and there it was before
our very ewes. Much of the time we were
in the cellar for safety. Houses all around
us were on fire from the bursting shells. In
the afternoon the streets were filled with
soldiers, and we were right in the midst of
an awful battle, with shrieking shells and
pinging bullets making weird music such
as we had never heard before.
an the evening sabers were heard clat
tering on the front steps to our port1co. l
opened the door, and two Union officers
entered One of them introduced himself
as General Sheridan, and he thanked me
very earnestly for the information | had
given him. Frightened as | was, | begged
the General never to mention it, because
some of my neighbors would surely take
my life. He kindly assured me that the
Confederates would never come back, and
that the city and section would remain IN
control of the Union troops
Sitting at my little desk General Sheri-
dan wrote an official telegram of the bat
tie and then rose to depart. He assured
me that his victory of that day was primarily
due to the accurate information had given
him; for on that information he had planned
and successfully fought that battle. Then
he rode away, and it was many years after
ward before saw him again.
EBECCA WRIGHT, the little Quaker
II heroine, lived on at Winchester until
the spring of 1867, when it became advisable
and necessary for her to change her resi-
dence. She received, and some of her clos
est friends were shown, watch and chain
from General Sheridan, in grateful remem-
brance of her services. With the present
came letter of which the following is copy:
Headquarters, Department of the Gulf.
New Orleans. January Z, 1867.
MY DEAR Miss WRIGHT-You are probably
not aware of the service you rendered the
Union cause by the information you sent me
by the colored man few days before the
Opequan, on September, 10, 1864. 1t was upon
that information that the battle was fought
and probably won. The colored man gave the
note rolled up in tinfoil to the scout who
awaited him at Wildwood. The colored man
had carried it in his mouth to that point and
delivered it to the scout, who brought it to me.
By this note | became aware of the true con-
dition of affairs inside the enemy's lines, and
gave directions for the attack.
| will always remember this courageous and
patriotic action of yours with gratitude, and
beg you to accept the watch and chain which l
send you by General l. W. Forsyth. as a me-
mento of September 10, 1864.
Very respectfully yours,
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major General.
The watch is attached to long gold
chain, fastened at the neck with horse
shoe clasp, military gauntlet, and stirrups.
Hanging from the short end of the chain are
a sword, seal, and key. Inside the case
of the watch are inscribed the words:
Presented to Rebecca L. Wright. Septem-
Der 10, 1867, by Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan. A
Memento of September 10, 1864.
At Winchester the few people who had
been loyal were shown the watch and the
letter. They crowded about the little
Quaker heroine with words of praise; but
the majority of the people were intensely
angry and resentful. They had known
nothing of what she had done for the cause
of tho IT,io,, P,t ,uI,ar, her SeryiceS he