, 1863-07-07


JOSEPH G. WRIGHT, Lieut.. Colonel Of the
I'D regiment Of Illinois volunteers, is dead.
Another patriothero has gone-another vic:
tim to this wicked and sinful rebellion has
beenf eacrifced-another martyr has been
offered up on the altar Of Liberty.
It will be recollected by our readers, that
Col Wright was severely wounded, while
leading his regiment TO the assault on Vtcks-
burg, on the ed Of May, and that his left arm
was ampntated On the field of battle. AH1V'
ing in this city about two weeks after"ards,
among his family and friends, strong hopes
Fere entertained Of his complete recovery,
until about ten days ago, when his arm had to
be fe.amputated, which was followed by cry
sipelas. Gradually einklng till yesterday at
halfpast ten O'Clock a. m., he breathed his
last, peacefully and calmly.
Col Wright. was born in Rome, Oneida
county, New York, On the 7th Of January,
1s21, and he was in The forty third year Of age.
He graduated at Capt. Paztridge's military
school, in Norwich, Vt, and afterward studied
law and was admitted to the bar at Osweeo,
at the early age Of twenty years. About the
year 1853, he built the Continental elevator at
Oswego, and about that time abandoned the
profession Of the law and bec21ne merchant
since which period he has been more or less
citizen Of ofChicago-haying taken up his per-
manent residence here seyen or eight years
ago.
As lawyer he WAS successful in an eminent
degree-his natural and acquired attainments
having fitted him specially for IN adyocate-
md as such, he was engaged in some Of the
most important cases in the State Of New
York.
Asa merchant, Col. Wright's character is
worthy Of emulation. Engaged in business
which is in It's very nature extra ra-hazardous, 1t
vas not strange, nor to his discredit, that In
the crash Of 1857 he found his name On about
$4,000 worth Of paper, not his own, but for
which he was responsible1 To his honor,
however, belt recorded, that every single dol
lar Of this was paid, and TINT too out Of his
earnings since the date named. In all his op-
erat1ons he vas bold and perseyering-and If
they were not always successful, pecuniarily,
they were invariably carried through without
the loss Of honor or integrity. BE was hon
est to fault, for II doubt existed on which
side the beam turned, It was rule with him
to decide against himself There are few
men In the produce trade who have handled
rs much grain In the "a ne period as he,
and the number is still less who have had
fewer ntigations. He neyer forgot that while
he was merchant he was still man, and
that he also professed to be Christian.
Even when, In the dark commercial days Of
1857, he saw his fortune melt AWAY like snow,
he manful1y gave up to pay his debts, every
dollar he could control; and that, too, at a
time when creditors were generally eager to
compromise on the first offer, and 1t was the
custom among many, to adopt the French
motto: "Saurv qui peut."
Colonel Wright proved himself to be a truo
soldier. As member Of the Board of Trade,
he eloquently urged the formation Of those
regiments which nom bear its name, and w:ns
offered the Colonelcy Of the first that WAS
ralsed-the I'D. Being a civilian, however,
he modestly declined tho honor, and when Of.
feed the Lieutenant Colonelcy at once
showed his sincerity and patriotic zeal By ac-
cepting it, even Mt great pecuuiary loss to
himself and family. In the camp he carried
with him that high gentleman1y bearing, kind
disposition, and Christian practice, which had
been his characteristics everywhere; and
while no officer was ever more sincerely loved
and respected-nay, almost idolized-by his
men, there are fIw who ever deserved 1t more.
To those aboye him In station, and to those
below, he was the enme at al timea and
in all places; and no private can
say that he was ever received less courteous1y
and his wants attended to less promptly than
if he had been staff officer. During the
long period, from his enlistment till the re-
cent investment Of Vtcksburg, the regiment
did not meet the enemy in battle; but on the
cd Of May last, when Gen. Grant ordered the
aeenn1t on the enemy's works, owing to the
indisposition-o Col Starring, he had to as.
sumo the entire command Of the regiment,
which he did in manner which reflects ever
lasting honor on his head. Not satisfied
with the usual position Of an officer, like the
lamented Lyon, sword in hand, he led his
men clear up to the rifle pits, where he re-
ce,yed, from rebel hnnds, his death wound.
This, however, did not break his spirit.
When visited by our correspondent
"Bod,,' in his tent, Immediately after
his arm Ind been amputated.
l he cheerfn1ly said: stNerer mind Bod, / Ihave
one arm left with which can guide my horse;
the carrying Of a sword is only for effect any
how;" and even later, after he had arrived In
this city, he talked with the writer Of this on
probable future scenes and eEeuts in this san
culinary struggle Of freedom against slavery.
He had nothing to say Of grain, Of prices cur
| ~ rt~n1n
was ofour country and Its sacred cause-his
aspirations how much he could accomplish for
its good. He died true soldier. In ali his
wanderipgs during the last hours Of his illness
he was continually talking about military
movements, giving orders to his regiment,
urging his men On to charges, &C., DC.
As citizen, Col Wright was Justly ad-
| mired. Carrying with him everywhere his
| Christian character, he won hosts Of friends
among Ill parties. In the social circle few
Ind such conversational powers, which he
used in manner free from all taint and cor
ruption. But he was pre-eminently q lover of
his family hearth, and to those who knewhim
thoroughly the genulness Of his patriotism 1.
better appreciated by the fact Of the sacrifice
| It was to absent himself from his own fire.
| side.
To the public generally Col Wright WAS not
go well known as to the members Of the Board
OF Trade. Gifted with an eloquence which
ne can truly say Tas scarcely equalled west
Of the Likes, he has been for many years its
leading spokesman On all public occasions:
but never more will the rooms Of Change re.
sound with the tones Of his silye1y volce-
never more will his oratory ndorn the COM
mercia1 chambers Of the West.
In the midst Of the great bereavement to a
loved wife and son and daughter, there is
this consolation, however: Col Wright was
not only a professed Christian-a member Of
the Second Presbyterian Church OF this city
but be practiced his Christianity wherever
he went. Like Christian hero, he was pre-
pared for any changc-life or death-time 0,
eternity.
PROCEEDINGS OF TIE BOARD OF TRADE
The President, John L. Hancock, called the
| ri fn mt half ~