Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-11-04

onQ cay with ali tlar miRAf. Ou AlI54A.
night an order was issued for the whels arms
to move upon Chattanooga at 6 O'Clock the mex
morning, Wednesday, 23d September
/ The army moved up to and over Missionary
! ridge, where it was hated and where is remain
/ halted to this day, the 23d Of October.
! That the campaign 50 far is e failure. and tb'
| battle of ChickamaugE. though a victory, is not
q saecesgs are propositions too plain for denial
We have not recovered Chattanooga as yet
much less Tennessee, and it may be we'll for "a,
country TO inquire whether the fault lies witt
the subordinate Cfiesr, or is to be traced to the
! inefieisacy and i1cOmpeteney Of Ons higher il
rank, one who is presumed intellectually 20 di
rect the operations of the army Of Tennessee.
HIsToRICUS
The ExseulIou sE DR.. WrIEhl, Of TsrfoIk
II was but few days ago that We announced
that respite bad been granted IN the case Oi
Dr. Wright, of Norfolk. Brief as it Wss--foT
only one wssk--is excited hope that the case
OF the unfortunate man had touched the heart Of
the desBOt at Washington, snd that be would be
spared the terrible fate that had been pronounced
upon him. Bat such hope was an illusion, and
the cry Of mercy was in vain. The news Of the
respits hardly reached Us before It is followed
By the sad ii3ings Of his death. A gentleman
WAe left Norfolk on last Friday night tells as
that the Yankees, in their vengeance, were as
Tayenous for blood as tigers, and that nothing
save the coffin and galioWs could appea3e their
wrath. The cruel monster st Washington,
hesTtlsss 10 every appeal, and refusing to inter
fare ia the execution Of his sentence, Dr. Wright
was hanged on last Friday, the day on which
lis respite expired.
The execution took place about 10 O'Clock ia
the morning, and was witnessed by an immense
concoUrse, Of which, as was painfully remarked,
that great majority were negroes.
The seaffold was erected near the fair grounds,
and the Yankee officials seemed to take a de-
light in parading the poor gentleman aud max
ing the scene as public IS possible Yet with
all this be met his fate with the most rsmarka-
bic hrmness and eOmposUre, such as was never
known on sil0ilar occasion There wss no
tTepidati0n--no emotion of fasr-but stsadfsst
gaze and firm step that struck ave to the hearts
of his muTderers. Oa arriving st the seaffold
every eye was riveltsd on him, bat still he be-
trayed no sign of fesT. Casting glance at the
crowd that was gathered about be turned his
eyes and looked, apparently in deep thought,
ever the city, as if taking a last and farewell
view Of bis home Then turning bo nodded as
II to signify his readiness, when the Episcopal
clergyman, who WAS IN attendance offered uD
most touching snd beautiful prayer. At its
conclusion the scene here was most seismn and
impressive Dr. Wright still kneeling, repeated.
in an sudible and earnest tone, the Lords prayer
In an instant more the rope was adjusted and
the lie of the brave man given to Abraham
Lincoln. What disposition was made of the
body we are not able to learn, but If is to be
hoped that the Yankees had the humanity, at
least to hand it over 70 the friends Of the de-
ceased.
The ofFsnss for which ths life Of Dr.. Wright
was taken, viii cAass his name to be ever re-
s9eetsd and Vensrsted By the people Of the
Souta.s de gave his life rather than suffer per
sonal indignities and insult st the ruthless hand
of some Yankee wretch, and showed degree OF
courage that forms bis BEST epitaPh. About the
time that the citizens Of Norfolk were worked
up to the highest pitch Of excitement by the ex-
ercise OF Yankee tyranny, negro regiment hap
pened to be marching, in great parade and show,
by the place where DR. Wright wss standing.
This display was more than the proud spirit Of
the man could stand, aEd he made use Of some
derisiYe remark. No sooner were the words out
of bis mouth than a Lieut.. Sanborn rushed upon
him and ordered bis arrest. Dr.. Wright protest
ed, bat TO 10 avail, and sooner than be b0rne of
IN triumph by g ses Of negroes, he pulled out his
pistol and shot the YANKEE officer dead. For
this hs was arrested, thrown into a cell and
made 70 die under The gslOHs.
DR.. Wright lssves an interesting family-fYe
daughters and ons son. One Of his daughters
was married a few days before his execution,
the ceremony taking place in bis cell he was
native Of North Csrolina, bat removed to Nor
folk great many years ago. He was highly
esteemed, and bis death, we are told, enshrcud-
ed the city in gloom. As he passed through the
streets, on his way 70 the place Of execution,
every person On the street testified their respect
By uncovering their heads, and many persons
were moved 70 tears. They feared to express
openly any sympathy, but the silence Of the
scene made the mark of respect even more i'm
pressiVe.
DR.. Wright was ever fifty years old. In per-
s0nal appearance he was quite commanding,
well formed, and over six feet in hight. He was
oi a social disposition, kind-bezried and popular
but had his eccentIicties. On this point We in
sroduce q paragraph from q lsiier 10 the Philz-
delphia IaguiTer, which is interesting as show
iUg the remarkable eomposurs with which he
looked forward to bis fate The letter, speaking
OF his then approaching execution, says:
ia view OF bis fate be has been ar angling
affairs sppsrtaiuing to his family. For some time
past one Of bis daughters has been engaged to
30 married to 3 resident Of this city named
Henry Talbot, and, according % the ceremony,
teoI place on Saturday evening, ia the Jail il
which be is confined All the members Of his
family were present, consisting Of his wife. four
other daughters and son. With the invited
guests, The whole number was twenty eight
''Rsv. Mr. Chevers, tho chaplain Of Fortress
Monroe, performed the marriage rite, D1ctor
Wright himself participating 10 the ceremony,
bestoWing bis daughter upon If. Talbot. The
latter is aged thirty.ye or forty, and is at least
ten years tie senior Of the bride.
"Since tie incarceration Doctor Wright has
eyineed many eccentricitie5 Of chaTsetsr Upon
learning bis fate, be ordered & cofia TO be made
after a plan designed by himself. Il is con
stTuc.od Of Plsin cypress wood, ana i5 extremely
rough IN its exterior appearance sud Of q very
odd shape. iustesd of being Ike ordinary cot
FMS, widest across the breast, the broadest part
is at the head, from which it tapers off 10 the
foot, having somewhat the appearance OF AZ i'm
menss wedge.
" Directly over the head, extending about
swo feet, there is Al abrupt rise above the level
Of the top of the cOfin, which is about eight or
ten inc4es higher than the lower portion OF it
Il looks as though a small box had bean fastened
to the top after it had been finished. The doc
tors idea 10 having it constructed IN this peeu-
liar manner was that small photographic ike
nesses of aH tha members Of his family might
he placed inside, sfier ths manner ia which thsy
are hung on the walls; With him they ars to Be
buried.
"On Thursdsyinight last, when be was expecs
ing 10 he executed the next day, ne arranged
these pictures ai0pg tho raised sides Of the eof.
fin, aud then got ins0 it himself He expressed
considerable satisfaction with his burial-csse, Il
being just az be desired it. He siterwsTd.
wrote his name on the I'D, with lead pencil, ii
good, bold hand
Though petition was gotten out in this city
on Saturday, importUning the clemeney Of the
President IN his behalf, thsre is no probability
/ that he will escape the execution which Is or
/ deEed to take plaee on Friday next.' Richmond
/ Examiner, 27h
Letter frem EsEehuzsad.
! Correspondence OF the Msreuryl
RICHMOND, October %, 1868.
Sl.irnaishina arnantad the amy Of Nnrtha..