The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-11-10
PRIVATE DAN WRIGHT.
A Modest Hero at the Battle Of
Cedar Mountain.
He Received n Promotion But Didn't Want
te Accept 1t Until After the Fight
"A Soldiers Romance That
Was Never Completed.


character. But few, comparatively, of
the brave deeds performed or suffer-
ings endured are ever recorded. They
remain a sort of family treasure, and
are old at the fireside on winter even
in IS. When we remember that over
two million soldiers were mustered in
to the union army between 1861 and
1Se5 we are struck with wonder that
such a 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 its 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 their homes perform
Amor thu a.>As~- <>f ap~szw.-s -sNi~~ss.,
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
quiet, retiring boy. In the summer of
1858 he came into my Office and wanted
to learn the trade of 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
IL.
of special interest transpired during
his apprenticeship. lie was quiet, in
dustrious, thoughtful, and that was all
His term of service expired on Satur-
day, April ID, 1861, 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. ! said: "Why,
Dan. are you going? l thought that,
as you are just through with your APP
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 little money
now"
He replied: "Mr. H, you have
been very kind to me, and / had in
tended to remain with you, if you were
willing. But think ought to go to
the war. i may be back after awhile,
but if should not come back perhaps
it is as well. One ought to be willing
to do little for his country"
He was mustered into Company G,
Seventh regiment The Seventh was a
good regiment, filed up with excellent
men, and, during the progress of the
war. did some splendid fighting There
was very little opportunity for fur
loSghs in the regiment We heard of
it through the papers occasionally.
The only report that came as to Dan
Wright was that he was a good soldier.
y In the summer of 1862 he came home.
He stopped 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. / inquired of him as to his
experience in the service. From him /
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
diary in which he had jotted down the
result of his observations. He had
already filled two or three books, and
it was 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 newspaper press and have
their performances heralded to the
world. This was especially so in the
army. The successful general was
'oftentimes the one who kept on the
II yht 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 left
without notice.
Our conversation was long and pleas
ant. He told me not only of the war,
but also of his personal experiences
and of acquaintances that he had
formed. Among other things he ex-
hibited to me the photograph OF beau
tiful girl. Her home was Winchester,
Va, and she belonged to good family.
i don't know what chance had brought
them together, but it was very evident
from his conversation thdt an attach
ment had grown up between them
bantcred him little on going down
south to capture the rebels and then
being captured himself.
Tho tip,a bal ao,,,D e., !. -.