Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-07-12
Death of General Wright.

Neueral uOTRtlO N- wright, one OF
the heroes of the Civil War on the
Union side, died in Washington on
July End, and was buried in Airing
ton Cemetery on July 9Th with full
military honors. The President,
Secretary Alger and Adjutant- Gene
raj COrbin were present. All the
available troops near Washington
took part In the ceremony. General
Wilson, the Chief Of Engineers, Sc
lected beautiful site for the grave
on the mound just north of the flag
staff, at the east front of the man
sion, near the grave of Admiral Por-
ter. The pallhearers were Senators
Hawley and Plat, of Connecticut:
Senator McComas, of Maryland: Gen
erals McFeeley, Drum, Ruggles, Vim
cent and CraighIll, retired: Generals
Wilson, Hams and Ernst. and Colo
mel Mackenzie and Allen.
General Wright was brother-in-
law of the late DR.. ". 4. Bradford
of this county. and he was known to
many about here and in the Valley.
His record in the United States Army
WAS long and honorable aud in the
Civil War it was brilliant, taking
full part IN some of the hercest
fighting of that great struggle. \
native Of Connecticut, he graduated
from West Point in 1S4l and was
successfully Professor Of French and
Engineering at the Military Acade-
my. During the Mexican War he
was the engineer IN charge of the
construction of Fort Jefferson at Dry
Tortugas, the most massive mason
work fortress in the United States.
Ills first service on the outbreak of
the Civil War Was when with Cap
tain, later Admiral. Rodgers, he at
tempted to destroy the Norfolk Navy
\ ard. Both We're captured. but ex-
changed shortly afterward. At the
first battle Of Bull Run Gen. Wright
was chief engineer on Heintzelmau's
staff. subsequently. as commander
of "A brigade in the Port ROYAL expe-
ditiOu, he saw hard fighting in the
South. He was four times brevetted
during the war for gallant conduct
IN battle and was twice severely
wounded-at Spottsylvania and at
Cedar Greek. At pottsvlvania. i'm
the Wilderness lighting aud at Pet
ersburg he led bis division in as
saults and was promoted for gallan-
try at Cold HarbOr and again for his
conduct at Rsppahannock Station.
On the TALL of Sedgwick Gen. Wright
succeeded to the command of the
Sixth Corps and took part in the bat
tie of Gettysburg. and in subsequent
fighting in the Shenandoah Valley
and below Richmond. He was in
command of the defences of Wash
lngton when that city was threaten
ed by Early. Though Early fell
upon his troops and scattered them
at Cedar Creek General Wright's
friends always maintained that be
had reformed his lines and was press
ing back on the enemy when Sheri-
] dan made his spectacular ride and
got the undeserved credit for what
Wright had already done. General
Wright was made a Major-General
for the capture Of Petersburg. At
the close of the war General Wright
was sent to Texas in command of the
Third Army Corps. with Instructions
to enter Mexico if the French forces
We're not withdrawn. The French
Army was withdrawn. and General
WTght's force did not cross the Rio
Grande. During the period of re-
construction he was chief Of the De
partment of Texas. He received the
thanks of his native State. Connect
cut. in 1865 for his army service.
After the war he rose to be Chief of
Engineers IN the United States Army
and as such had supervision of the
construction of the ietties at the
mouth Of the Mississippi and of the
/ Brooklyn Bridge. He was 50 Years