The National tribune., 1889-01-31

GEN. H q. WRIGHT west bank of the Con-
necticut River, and
entered as a Cadet at West Point in 1887, gradu-
ating in 1871 IS a Lieutenant of the Corps Of
Engineers and standing second in a class Of %.
Until 1912 he was on duty as Assistant to
the Board OF Engineers, and was then ordered
10 West Point, where lac served two years as
instructor In engineering aud the French Ian
gBage. Then he was selected TO accompany
the then Secretary of War on an extended
military tour of inspection, and then, until the
rebellion broke out, WAS engaged in routine
work on various Notifications aud other engi-
neering works and Engineer Boards He was
then Captain, having been promoted TO First
Lieutenant ia February, 1S46, and Captain
july I, 1850
lis first duty during the rebellion was as
CHIEF Engineer Of the successful expedition
sent from Washington to destroy the Navy
: Yard at Norfolk in April 1851 aud next vol
unteered as an Aid to Gen Heintzelman when
that officer crossed the Potomac to take posses
sion OF Arlington flights, and there be super
vised the construction Of Fort Ellsworth and
other forts along that line Of the defenses of
Washington.
In the first Bull Run campaign he was the
chiefengineer officer OF heiutzelman's Division,
but three days later was detailed as Chief En-
gineeT of the expedition that took part in the
capture Of Port Royal, 5. c., Nov. z, 1861.
When the Regular Army was increased, Just
after the war broke out, he was offered the ap-
pointment Of Major, 18th Inf, May IA, 1861
but declining it, was promoted to Major of En-
gIneeTs aug. ., 1861. aud on Sept IA, Just be-
fore the expedition sailed for Port Royal, was
made BrigadieT-General Of Volunteers, and as
signed the next day 10 command one of the
brigades of that expedition.
In February. 1862, the expedition for cam
paign In Florida was organized with Gen.
Wright In command of the land forces and he
Fer md
g1stine ia a series Of brilliant operations. In
June, 1862, he commanded q division in the
attack on Secessi0nviile, on James Island, off
Charleston.
July Is, 1862. be was promoted to Maior-Gen-
eral of Volunteers, and ordered to Cincinnati
20 command the Department of the Ohio which
embraced the State Of Kentucky in addition 20
Ohio Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wiscon-
sin. While holding that command he did val
liable service IN organizing troops within his
territory aud pushing them to the field. The
Senate during the Winter or 1862, 3, failed TO
confirm number Of President Lincolas pro-
motions, and Gen. Wright being one of the un-
f0rtunates, he reverted, March u, 1868, 20 his
former rank Of Brigadier-General, and was
ordered TO command the District of Louisville.
In the following May he was ordered to sue
coed Gen. William 7. III. Brooks Ia classmate)
Il command Of the First Division, Sixth Corps,
and thence forward al Of his active service
He Joined his new division while it was in
action, June D. 1868, at Franklin's Crossing,
Just below Fredericksburg, and waited until
the first brilliant dash Of that day was finished,
and assumed command that day. He speedily,
an the rapid movements Of the Gettysburg
campaign. won first the respect and then the
deep affection Of his men, and when that sad
day came at Spottsylvania in May, 1864. when
the gallant and well-lOyed Gen. John Sedgwiek
was killed, the good Sixth Corps felt safe enough,
with all its sorrow, with Gen. Wright to lead
them as the corps commander.
Meantime before Sedgwick's death, Gen.
Wright participated calamity in the race TO Get
tysbarg aud Lees defeat-the whole Sixth
Corps making 8 forced march Of 30 miles to
reach Gettysburg for the last days fighting;
then the pursuit Of Lee to Warrenton; next
the Rapidan campaign, during which, in the
Temporary absence of Gen. Sedgwick. he COM
manded the corps at RapPahannock Station,
Mine Run and Locust Grove.
After . brief detail on q Beard Of Engineers,
be rejoined in April, when the great advance
OF Grant began, and from april 30 at SpOttsyl-
wanna Courthouse, until the surrender at Ap-
pomattoX, his military history is part Of the
daily history Of ms corps. 1t would require
considerable searching OF old records to write
exactly bow often he was engaged in that year
IN July, 1864, when the rebel Gen Early had
driven lack Emory and Wallace from the Mo-
nOcacy. and stood knocking at the very door
OF the Capital, Gen. Wright and his corps ar
rived here from the Petersburg front, and
Washington was saved.
Then came the Valley campaign with Sheri-
dan, and my subject and his troops made their
mark Il 0pequan, Fishers Hill and Cedar
Greek. IL was Of the wonderful story OF how
Wright checked Early's onslaught at Cedar
Creek that TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE tells
to-day fof the 1rst time. At the last fight
Gen Wright was badly wounded in the chin,
but dlG not leave the field. as was also the case
when he vas badly wounded Ia the thigh in
one OF TIC conflicts about SpottsylVauia.
Ii was Wright and his corps that on March
., 1866, assaulted and broke the rebel line at
Petersburg carrying his intFenched line and
% inauggrated the movement that led to Sail
Or's Creek, Five Forks aud Appomattox. For
that, as well as many other Of his gallant
achievements. the Legislature Of his native
State passed joint resolution in June, 1865
thanking Gen. Wright il the name of Connec.
ticut for has services in command of the first
brigade 10 land on South Carolina soil and tc
the day Of the surrender
In JnBe, 1865, the Sixth Corps was mustered
out at Washington, and Gen. Wright who had
been promoted to Major General Nav II. 1864
was sent TO Galveston to command the Depart
ment OF Texas in anticipation of op4ations
against Maximillian's forces beyond the BIC
Grande where he remained until August. lsG6
and was mustered out Of the volunteer service
sept. j. 4c80.
Al this latter date he was still only Maio,
Of Engineers IN the Regular Army, but he had
been brevetted up to Major General for Rappa.
hammock Station, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbol
and the capture Of Petersburg.
Then came again the usual routine duties q.
an engineer officer, serving on various impor
tant boards and as Assistant TO the Chief of En-.
Eineers until, in 1873, he reached the rank q
Colonel, ana WAS then appointed Brigadier
6eneral and Chief Of Engineers, TO succeed the
late Gen. Andrew a. Humphreys.
Under the compulsory retirement law of 1886
lie was placed on the retired list ia 1894 or
reaching 81 years Of age, and lie has settled
here il Washington in a very handsome resi-
dence, at No. 1903 \ St., 70 enjoy upon com
Portable fortune the rest his splendid seryic,
has earned him. No house that the Writel
KNOWS here is SO pleasant place to call thar
al Gen. Mright's, and when he feels wei
enough acquainted with a caller 10 talk. il i
~ Charming TO listen TO him as / have hearC
that II was TO Gen. Grants talk
UNION EX-PKTsoEERs OF WAR ASSOCIATION.
There viii be meeting Of the Union Fx
PRISONERS Of War Association Of the District q
Columbia held at Grand ARMY Hall 1910 penn
syivania avenue, Feb A. 1859. All the Nom
beTs are expected TO be present, and All soIdier,
VINO were ri any time prisoners of war ar,
cordially lnTlted 70 attend. The ASSOCIATION
ls contemplating an excursion for ex- nrieoDer,