Readers Theatre Presents: Rebecca and Thomas: A Civil War Spy Tale

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.