The National tribune., 1899-07-06
DEATH OF MAJ.-GEN. WRIGHT.


make its escape.
DEATH OF MAJ.-GEN. WRIGHT.
Another one OF the great Corps Commanders
of the Army of the Potomac is gone. Maj
Gen. Horatio Gouvcrneur Wright, who com
manded the glorious old Sixth Corps through
long period of its splendid service died at
his home in Washington, July 2. His death
was not unexpected He had been in very
poor health for many years, and unable to
come out even to the meetings of the survivors
OF his command who were dearer to him than
anybody else, outside of his own immediate
family. For the last three months his con-
dition had been serious.
Gen. Wright was born at Clinton, Conn.,,
in March, 1920, and graduated from West
Point in 1841, second in class of So, of which
Maj. Gen. Jealous B. Tower was the head.
and Gems. A. W. Whipple. T. j. Rodman,
A. P. Howe, Nath'l Lyon. j. p. Garesche,
j. b. Plummer, John NJ. Brennan, Schuyler
Hamilton, Jas. Totten, John +. Reynolds,
the two Garnetts, Don Carlos Buell., Alfred
Sully, l. B. Richardson, Vim. T. II. Brooks
and Z. X. Kane, the Arctic explorer, were
members. Owing to his high rank in his
class, he was commissioned in the engineers,
and afterwards returned to West Point as an
instructor. He was an assistant TO the Chief
of Engineers at the outbreak of the rebellion,
and accompanied Gen. Heintzelman's Divis-
ion as Chief Engineer, on the Bull Run cam
paign. He then set about organizing the
Port Royal expedition, and Sept. IA, 1861,
was commissioned Brigadier General of
Volunteers, and assigned to command bri
gade in that successful movement. After the
capture Of Port Royal, he took his brigade
south, and captured Fernandina, Jackson
vile, ST Augustine, and Forts Marion and
Clinch. Returning to South Carolina, he
commanded a division in the assault of Sc
cessionville. July 49, 1862, he was promoted
to Maior-Gcneral of Volunteers, and assigned
to the command of the Department of Ohio,
with headquarters at Cincinnati. He re-
mained there till March, 1863 when he was
relieved by Ben. Burnside. In May he was
assigned TO the command Of division in the
Sixth Corps, and during the rest Of the war
he shared in the experiences of that corps.
He won decisive little victory at the crossing
OF the Rappahannock, Nov. g. 1868, and was
brevetted Lieutenant Colonel in the Regular
Army. After Mine Run he was temporarily
called to Washington to consider plans for
seaboard defenses, but returned to his divis-
ion in time for the opening OF the Wilderness
campaign. He was severely wounded at
Spottsylvania, and brevetted Colonel. Upon
the death of the lamented Scdgwick, May 8,
he succeeded to the command OF the Sixth
Corps, and retained it till the close of the war.
| He was in the lines around Petersburg when,
in July, 1864, his corps was hurried off to
| Washington to defend the National Capital
against Early. He commanded at the bril-
liant little battle at Fort Stevens, which Presi-
dent Lincoln witnessed, and where Gen.
| Wright had to exert the superior authority
of the General in the field to make the Presi-
dent OF the United States get back under
shelter He followed Early up, and defeated
him at Smokers Gap. He commanded his
corps throughout all Of Sheridan's brilliant
operations in the Shenandoah Valley, and
was in command OF the army during Sheri-
dams temporary absence at the opening of the
battle of Cedar Creek. He was wounded
there, but retained command of his corps until
the end of the battle After the rebels were
thoroughly cleaned out of the Valley Gen.
Wright led the Sixth Corps back to Peters
rebel lines, when the smash came April 2,
! 1865, and with the cavalry he crushed Lees
powers OF resistance at Sailors Creek.
He was brcyetted Brigadier- General in the
Regular Army for gallant services at Cold
Harbor, and a Major General for Petersburg.
After the mllster-out OF the Sixth Corps in
June, 1865, he was at first assigned to the
command Of Provisional Corps. and then
to the Department of Texas, until Sept 1,
1856, when he was mustered out of the volun-
teer service, resuming his rank Of Lieutenant
! Colonel of Engineers. He became Chief OF
Engineers in 1879, and was retired March
6, 1884.
June IA, 1865, the Legislature of Connect
cut unanimously rendered him the thanks of
the people Of the State for his brilliant services
beginning with the command Of the first bri-
gade to set foot on South Carolina.
This reduces the number Of surviving Corps
Commanders Of the Army Of the Potomac to
four-John G. Parke, Carl Schurz and Franz
Sigcl.