Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-14
rnIYATT DAN WRIGHN
A Modest Hero at the Battle of
 Cedar Mountain.
He Received a Promotion But Didn't Want to Accept 1t Until After the Fight A Soldiers Romance That
 Was Never Completed.

to Accept 1t Until After the F1Ehe
 A Soldiers Romance That
 Was Never Completed.
 The history of the great civil war is full of incidents of startling and heroic character. But few, comparatively, of the brave deeds performed or suffer ings endured are ever recorded. They remain sort of family treasure, and are told at the fireside on winter even- ings. When we remember that over two million soldiers were mustered in- to the union army between 1861 and 1865 we are struck with wonder that such mighty volunteer army could be marshaled. We are apt, however, to look at it as an entirety, as a whole, or, at most, we individualize only so far as to note the character and con- duct of it's great leaders. The names of Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan and few more are on our lips, while the hundreds of thousands who per formed the duties of private soldiers. and are now at thelr homes perform ing the duties of private citizens, or are sleeping in the quiet graves where they fell in battle, are hardly thought of.
 My theme is the private soldier, and ''Dan Wright" is my nero. He was Q | quiet. retiring boy. In the summer of 1858 he came into my office and wanted to learn the trade of a printer. We talked together few minutes, and was satisfied that he would answer my purpose. I needed a "deviL" The boy who had filled that important place had been promoted, and so it was Io e11 ,+0 %1.m office as an apprentice and remain three years. He began work. Nothing of special interest transpired during his apprenticeship. He was quiet, in- dustrious, thoughtful, and that was all
 His term of service expired on Satur- day, April IS, 1861, the day after the
 fall of Sumter. On the evening of
 Monday following public meeting
 was held at Citizens hall Speeches were made. The excitement was in- tense.
 At the close of the meeting there was
 a call for volunteers. Among others,
 Dan Wright came forward. I watched
 him as he came up. There was quiet
 look and manner about him quite in
 contrast with most of those who signed
 their names to the enlistment roll. He
 did 1t just as he would perform any
 duty about the office. said: "Why,
 Dan, are you gong? I thought that,
 as you are just through with your ap'
 prenticeship, you would like to remain with me awhile. You would make . } good foreman and, what is more, you
 could begin to lay by little moneJ now"
 He replied. "Mr. H., you have
 been very kind to me, and I had in
 tended to remain with you, if you were willing. But think ought to go tc
 the war. 1 may be back after awhile but if I should not come back, perhap:
 it is as we'll One ought to be willing to do a little for his country"
 , He was mustered into Company G
 Seventh regiment. The Seventh was good regiment, filled up with excellen men, and, during the progress of th'
 war, did some splendid fighting. Ther, was very little opportunity for fur r loUghs in the regiment We heard o l it through the papers occasionally l The only report that came as to Dal Wright was that he was a good soldier f In the summer of 1862 he came home f He stopped few days with his moth
 CT and sisters. On the 4th of July h was in Ravenna and took dinner at m house. After dinner we went ou '- walking I inquired of him as to hi @ experience in the service. From him e heard that he had been in exce1len e health; that soldiers life agreed wit f him; that he had obtained valuabl l. experience; had had a good opportun
 ty to study, not only the art of war an
 the questions connected with the COT
 troversy between the two sections, bu
 also to study the geography of tn | country and the conditions of the pee T pie. He had proven to be a close ol t server of men and things. and he gay O me a great deal of information nc h found in the newspapers. He had q diary in which he had jotted down tn d result of his observations. He ha ,- already filled two or three books, an
 it was wonder to me how he foun time to do so much writing. He sai l. it was source of pleasure, and if | h lived long might be of some service. n There are great many newspape r. made men in the country. Men who's l, fame depends not so much upon wht d they do as upon their ability to get tE n eye of the newspaper press and hay
 their performances heralded to tt
 world. This was especially so in u
 army. The successful general W; < oftentlmes the one who kept on tl right side of the newspaper correspont - cuts. Some men were written up, an others of equal merit were write down, and other brave, conscieutiol y and capable commanders were le of without notice.
 t. Our conversation was long and plea C. ant. He told me not only of the wa " but also of his personal experienc s+ and of acquaintances that he h; s formed. Among other things he e hibited to me the photograph of bea y tiful girl Her home was Wincheste D. Va., and she belonged to good famil
 I don't know what chance had broug
 them together, but it was very evide Id from his conversation that an attac d, ment had grown up between them. m l 6onfara1 litt1a l1r