Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1892-11-10
PRIVATE DAN WRIGHT.
A Modest Hero at the Battle of
Cedar Mountain.
He Received Promotion But Didn't Want
to Accept 1t Until After the Fight
"A Soldiers Romance That
Was Never Completed.

Tbs history of the great civil war is
full @f incidents of startling and heroic
char acter But few, mparatively, of
the brave deeds performed or suffer-
ings endured are ever recorded. They
remain sort of family treasure, and
are told at the tireslde on winter even
inge. When we remem Der that over
TIVE million soldiers were mustered in
to :he union army between 1861 and
1861 we are struck with wonder that
sur h mighty volunteer army could be
ms Sshaled. We are apt. however, to
lot,is at it as an entirety, as whole,
or. at most, we individualize only so
faF as to note the character and con-
d1:st of it's great leaders. The names
OF Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan
as:l a few more are on our lips, while
tie hundreds of thousands who per-
f-rmed the duties of private soldiers,
and are now at their 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 a
quiet, retiring boy. In the summer OF
1853 he came into my office and wanted
to learn the trade of a printer. We
talked together a few minutes. and /
was satisfied that he would answer my
purpose. l needed a devil" The boy
who had filed that important place
had been promoted, and so it was
agreed that he should come into the
office as an apprentice and remain
three years. He began work. Nothing
of special interest transpired during
his appre nticeship. He was quiet, in
dustrious. thoughtful, and that was ALL.
His term of service expired on Satur-
day, April Is, 1851, the day after the
fall of Sumter. On the evening of
Monday following a 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. l 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 it just as he would perform any
duty about the office. l said: "Why,
Dan, are you gong? l thought that,
as you are just through with your ap-
premiership, you would like to remain
with me awhile. You would make a
good foreman and, what is more, you
could begin to lay by a little money
now"
He replied: mir. H, you have
been very kind to me, and l had in
tended to remain with you, if you were
willing. But think ought to go to
the war. | may be back after awhile.
but if | should not come back perhaps
it is as we'll One ought to be willing
to do little for his country"
He was mustered into Company G,
Seventh regiment. The Seventh was q
good regiment, filled up with excellent
men, and, during the progress Of the
war, did some splendid fighting. There
was very little opportunity for fur
loughs in the regiment We heard of
it through the papers occasionally.
The only report that came as to Dan
Wright was that he was good soldier
In the summer of 1862 he came home
He stopped a few days with his moth
er and sisters. On the 4th of July he
was in Ravenna and took dinner at my
house. After dinner we went out
walking. 1 inquired of him as to his
experience in the service. From him l
heard that he had been in excellent
health; that a soldiers life agreed with
him; that he had obtained valuable
experience; had had good opportuni-
ty to study, not only the art Of war and
the questions connected with the con-
troversy between the two sections, but
also to study the geography of the
country and the conditions of the peo-
pie. He had proven to be close OBJ
server of men and things, and he gave
me a great deal Of information not
found in the newspapers. He had a
diary in which he had jotted down the
result of his observations. He had
already filled two or three books, and
1t was a wonder to me how he found
time to do so much writing. He said
it was source of pleasure, and if he
lived long might be of some service
There are a great many newspaper
made men in the country. Men whose
fame depends not SO much upon what
they do as upon their ability to get the
eye OF the ne wspaper press and have
their performances heralded to the
world. This was especially SO in the
army. The successful general was
oftentlmes the one who kept on the
right side of the newspaper correspond
euts. Some men were written up, and
others of equal merit were written
down, and other brave, conscientious
and capable commanders were lef,
without notice.
According to Dan Wright's observa-
ton the real heroes of the war were
not always the men who received credit
for military achievements.
Our conversation was long and pleas
ant. He told me not only of the war,
but also Of his personal experiences
and of acquaintance that he had
formed. Among other things he ex-
hibited to me the photograph of a beau
tiful girl. Her home was Winchester,
Va, and she belonged to good family.
don't know what chance had brought
them together, but it was very evident
from his conversation that. an attach
ment had grown up between them. I
bantered him little on going down
south to capture the rebels and then
being captured himself.
The time had come for him to go back
to his regiment, and the train was
nearly due upon which he was to take
his departure. AS he turned to 90 he
said: "Good-by, Mr.. H, want TO
thank you for the kind things you have
done for me. My time has come to GU.
l shall never see you again.
Struck by this remark, as well as his
impressive manner, ! replied: Cheer
up, Dan. No doubt we shall meet
often again. When the war is over,
you will come back here to live, and
perhaps YOU will bring that pretty