Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Dangerous Liaison
Risky Hometown Espionage Leads to Union Victory
Photographed By Mike McKeown
1. Dangerous Liaison Marker
Inscription.
Dangerous Liaison. Risky Hometown Espionage Leads to Union Victory. You are standing at the site of 24-year-old Quaker schoolteacher Rebecca Wright's home, the location of Civil War intrigue. On September 16, 1864, Thomas Laws, an enslaved man from neighboring Clarke County, arrived at the Wright house carrying a message on tissue paper wrapped in tin foil and carefully tucked in his moth. Union Gen. Phil Sheridan told by a fellow officer that Wright was loyal to the United States, had sent the message asking of she could give him information on the Confederate Army. She informed Sheridan that a Confederate division and an artillery battalion were leaving the Shenandoah Valley. Both Wright and Laws faced harsh punishment if caught, perhaps even death, but there days later their espionage helped lead to Union victory at the Third Battle of Winchester., Sheridan visited Wright after the battle to thank her and ask how he could repay her. She requested he keep her role as spy a secret. Sheridan kept his promise but Wright's anonymity eroded in February 1867 when Rebecca's sister, Hannah, leaked information to a Baltimore Sun journalist, who boarded at the Wright home, that Sheridan had given Rebecca a note of Thanks and gifts as token of gratitude for "the great service" she "rendered the Union cause.", Valley residents harbored anger about the conflict, and the revelation forced Wright to leave Winchester. Sheridan and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant secured Wright an appointment as an U.S. Treasure Department clerk. She lived in Washington D.C., and held that post until her May 1914 death., Thomas Laws largely maintained secrecy about his intelligence gathering for Sheridan. He died in April 16, 1896, and is buried at Milton Valley Cemetery in Berryville, about 12 miles east of Winchester.
You are standing at the site of 24-year-old Quaker schoolteacher Rebecca Wright's home, the location of Civil War intrigue. On September 16, 1864, Thomas Laws, an enslaved man from neighboring Clarke County, arrived at the Wright house carrying a message on tissue paper wrapped in tin foil and carefully tucked in his moth. Union Gen. Phil Sheridan told by a fellow officer that Wright was loyal to the United States, had sent the message asking of she could give him information on the Confederate Army. She informed Sheridan that a Confederate division and an artillery battalion were leaving the Shenandoah Valley. Both Wright and Laws faced harsh punishment if caught, perhaps even death, but there days later their espionage helped lead to Union victory at the Third Battle of Winchester.
Sheridan visited Wright after the battle to thank her and ask how he could repay her. She requested he keep her role as spy a secret. Sheridan kept his promise but Wright's anonymity eroded in February 1867 when Rebecca's sister, Hannah, leaked information to a Baltimore Sun journalist, who boarded at the Wright home, that Sheridan had given Rebecca a note of Thanks and gifts as token of gratitude for "the great service" she "rendered the Union cause."
Valley residents harbored anger about the conflict, and the revelation forced
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Wright to leave Winchester. Sheridan and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant secured Wright an appointment as an U.S. Treasure Department clerk. She lived in Washington D.C., and held that post until her May 1914 death.
Thomas Laws largely maintained secrecy about his intelligence gathering for Sheridan. He died in April 16, 1896, and is buried at Milton Valley Cemetery in Berryville, about 12 miles east of Winchester.
Erected by Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • War, US Civil • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 16, 1864.
Location. 39° 11.229′ N, 78° 9.863′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of North Loudoun Street and East Fairfax Lane, on the right when traveling north on North Loudoun Street. Located at the corner of the Loudoun Autopark garage. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 E Fairfax Ln, Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old CWT Marker At This Location titled “Loyal Quaker and Brave Slave"
Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2023, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 33 times this year. Photo1. submitted on June 19, 2023, by Mike McKeown of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.