Produced by David Widger
By Philip Henry Sheridan
While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referredto in the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of anefficient body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy,for the defective intelligence-establishment with which I started outfrom Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. Itherefore began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped wouldgive better results than bad the method hitherto pursued in thedepartment, which was to employ on this service doubtful citizens andConfederate deserters. If these should turn out untrustworthy, themischief they might do us gave me grave apprehension, and I finallyconcluded that those of our own soldiers who should volunteer for thedelicate and hazardous duty would be the most valuable material, anddecided that they should have a battalion organization and becommanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the First Rhode IslandInfantry. These men were disguised in Confederate uniforms whenevernecessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in proportion tothe value of the intelligence they furnished, which often stood us ingood stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and otherirregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other waystoo, and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put mein the way of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They hadlearned that just outside of my lines, near Millwood, there wasliving an old colored man, who had a permit from the Confederatecommander to go into Winchester and return three times a week, forthe purpose of selling vegetables to the inhabitants. The scouts hadsounded this man, and, finding him both loyal and shrewd, suggestedthat he might be made useful to us within the enemy's lines; and theproposal struck me as feasible, provided there could be found inWinchester some reliable person who would be willing to co-operateand correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was acquaintedwith many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such aperson, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whomhe had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was amember of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small privateschool. He knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, andthought she might be willing to render us assistance, but he couldnot be certain of this, for on account of her well known loyalty shewas under constant surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finallydeciding to try it, despatched the two scouts to the old negro'scabin, and they brought him to my headquarters late that night. Iwas soon convinced of the negro's fidelity, and asking him if he wasacquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of Winchester, he replied thathe knew her well. There upon I told him what I wished to do, andafter a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to her on hisnext marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on tissuepaper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protectedby wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in theman's mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came tothe Confederate picketline was not remote, and in such e