Program Type:
History & GenealogyProgram Description
Event Details
Rebecca and Thomas: A Civil War Spy Tale is a play in one act, written by retired educator Sharon W. Dixon. This event is a reading of this play.
Rebecca Wright started teaching in Winchester at age 15, but when she was 16 years old, she took a year’s course of study at the Friends School in Goose Creek, Loudoun County, taught by Samuel Janney. She then returned to Winchester where she taught at the Friends School, and later at a private school.
In need of intelligence about Confederate troop movements in and around occupied Winchester, Union General Philip Sheridan learned of Miss Wright’s loyalties and asked her for information about General Jubal Early’s movements, telling her that Thomas Laws, an enslaved man, would carry her reply to Union troops. Meanwhile, Laws had been contacted by Union scouts and was asked to make contact with Miss Wright. The information provided by Miss Wright and transported by Mr. Laws was crucial to Sheridan’s decision to attack in Winchester a few days later.
Cast members are as follows:
Robin Ravenscroft as Rebecca Wright
Thomas Dixon as Thomas Laws
Judy Humbert as the Narrator
Grace Joy Reid, Pianist and Music Arranger
Disclaimer(s)
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Programs, events, and daily happenings sponsored by Handley Regional Library System may be photographed or recorded. Attendance at any sponsored program, event or general library use constitutes the consent of all attendees and the consent of the parents or legal guardians of any minor children in attendance, to the future broadcast, publication, and other use of photography or videos at the sole direction of Handley Regional Library System.