The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-01-14
PRIVATE DAN WRIGHT.
A Modest Hero at the Battle Of
Cedar Mountain.
He Received Promotion But Didn't Want
to Accept It Until After the Fight
IA Soldiers Romance That
Was Never Completed.

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 a sort of family treasure, and
are told ut the fresidc 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 n mighty volunteer army could be
marshaled. We are apt, however, to
look at 1t as an entirety, as 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
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 n
quiet, retiring boy. In the summer OF
1858 he came into my Office and wanted
to learn the trade of printer. We
talked together q 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 TRANSFERRED 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. / said: "Why,
Dan. arc You gong? 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"
lie 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. 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 u
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
lovghs in the regiment. We heard of
it through the papers occasionally.
The only report that came IS 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 in Ravenna and took dinner ut my
house. After dinner we went ont
walking. l inquired of him rs to his
experience in the service. From him /
heard that he had been in excellent
health; that soldiers life ngreed 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-
trovcrsy 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 n 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 filed 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 arc 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
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 left
witho,. notice.
Our conversation was long and pleas
ant. He told me not only of the war.