The Sunday globe., 1901-06-02


the House from Tennessee, was the
youngest Member of the 34th Congress.
He served in the 34th, 35th and 36th
Congresses, and until the election Of
the late Gen. John A. Logan, was the
youngest member
Judge Wright, in speaking Of the
BLACK Eagle Of Illinois, to an attache
of The Globe, said:
81 knew Logan we'll We were fast
friends. Both being Democrats, we
were together very often. Logan was
handsome, brave as a lion, and as true
as steel He was amiable, but always
ready to resent an injury. lie was an
ardent admirer of Stephen A. Douglass.
| was also an admirer of Mr.. Doug
lass. On the day of the Inauguration
of President Lincoln, John A. Logan,
Phillip b. Fouke, of Illinois; VIM. L.
Avery, Of Tennessee, and myself left
the capitol together. Congress had
adjourned, and we were preparing to
90 to our homes. We walked down
Pennsylvania Avenue until we reached
the corner Of 9th street, where we
stopped and took a parting libation.
AS we came from the. capitol we dis
cussed the situation, each giving a
frank opinion Logan remarked, as
we were about to shake hands and
part: Well, boys, expect that the
next time we meet it may be on the
battlefield Avery replied. If we
should meet thus let us agree to treat
each other WE'LL This was heartily
assented to by all True enough, the
next time met,Logan and Fouke was
on the battlefield Of Belmont, Mis-
souri,. each of them commanding a
regiment under General Grant. | was
commanding a regiment of Confed-
crates under General Polk. Although
the numbers engaged in that battle
were small compared with subsequent
ones, yet il was hard contested battle.
MY position was on the extreme left
of the Confederate line. My orders
were to hold my position at all haz-
ards. This I endeavored to do and
did until ! was ordered to fall back
toward the Mississippi River. | had
hardly left my position when it was
occupied by the Union troops under
my friend Logan. In the morning
just before the engagement reached
my end of the line, | rode out some
distance to the front with the surgeon
of my regiment. We saw no troops,
and were about to return, when the
surgeon produced some brandy and
asked me to take a drink. We sat on
our horses and drank It, On the next
day Colonel Logan sent me word by
one Of our men, whom he met under
flag of truce, that he saw me plainly
when the brandy was taken, and that
his men wanted to fire on me, but he
would not allow it. He knew me and
did not want to lnjure me. He also
jocularly said that he wished that he
could have had some of the brandy.
When | retreated from the field
was on foot, my horse having been
fatally wounded and myself injured
by the fall. Logan sent me word that
he was much surprised to see me run
so we'll
My regiment moved up the river
and took part in the second fight. In
this part of the fight the Union troops
retreated toward their transports and
gunboats.
Another singular coincidence took
place. My brother, Marcus J. Wright,
who was also in command of a Con-
federate regiment, saw a Federal Of
ficer on horseback in full retreat The
men levelled their guns and were
about to shoot, when they were or
dered not to fire, because Colonel
Wright did not wish to have his DO
sition discovered, as he would he di-
rectly under the fire Of the gunboats,
This officer was Colonel Fouke. He
safely landed on the boat, and inquired
what troops were Immediately on the
l.. I..U +.
was told that it was the regiment Of
Colonel Wright, of Tennessee. He took
it. to be myself and attributed it to
personal regard for him. If it had
been me | would have acted in a sim
liar way. Col Fouke died with the
belief that it was | who saved his life,
Though | met him after the war / did
not tell him that it was my brother in
stead of myself who ordered the men
not to fire
The personal relations existing be-
tween Gen. Logan and myself were
such as to cause me to watch his ca.
reer with much interest. Taking his
life as a whole, it was one of unequal
led success. He rose rapidly as a sol
der until he was a central figure in
all military circles. He was, before
the war, an ardent Democrat, but not
more ardent than he was a Republi-
can at its close. In the heat and pas
sion existing between political par
ties, Just preceding the war, | remem-
ber to have seen him involved in ex-
citing controversies almost amounting
to personal conflicts.
"Do you remember any Of these con-
flicts, Judge?"
Eyes. | remember some Of them
| saw the affair on the floor of the
House which took place between Ga
lusha A. Grow and Lawrence M.
Keith. ! knew both of these gentle
men, and | have always believed that
neither of them expected or desired
personal conflict. | do not think that
Mr.. Keith intended to insult Mr..
Grow but think Mr.. Grow under
stood that Keith did so intend and,
both being excited, the fight was the
result. This produced great excite
ment on the floor of the House, and
resulted In several fights. Indeed, at
one time il seemed that the fight
might become general. Barksdale, of
Mississippi, and WashbuTne, Of Illi-
nois, both men of great physical
strength and courage, encountered
each other. The former WIS killed at
Gettysburgh, and the latter died few
years ago. This Washburne family is
very remarkable one In anr country's
history, in some respects. At one time
during my service in Congress there
were three brothers, ell representing
districts at the same time; Elihu, from
Illinois Israel, from Maine, and Cad
walader, from Missouri. Another eX-