The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-11-11
DAN WRIGHT.
a Modest Hero at the Battle of
Cedar Mountain.
He Received n Promotion But Didn't Want
TO Accept 1t Until After the Fight
"A Soldiers Romance That
Was Never Completed.

The history of the great civil war is
Iull of incidents of startling and heroic
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 told at the fireside on winter even
ings. When we remember that over
two million soldiers were mustered in
to tho 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 their homes perform
Ing the duties of private citizens, or are
sleeping in the quiet graves where
they fell in battle, are hardly thought
0f.
My theme is the private soldier, and
dan Wright is my nero. He was a
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 a few minutes, and /
was satisfied that he would answer my
purpose. needed 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 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 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. / 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 rs he would perform any
duty about the Office. l said: s'Why,
Dan, are you going? i 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 little money
now"
He replied: "Mr. H, you have
been very kind 10 me, and / 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 wei. One ought to be willing
to do little for his country"
He was mustered into Company G,
Seventh regiment. The Seventh was
good regiment, filed up with excellent
men, and. during the progress of the
war, did some splendid lighting 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 few days with his moth
er and sisters On the 4th of July he
was i'm 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 soldiers life agreed with
him. that he had obtained valuable