The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-03-06
By RUDoLPh DE zAPp.

Today IN the birthday anniversary or
Gen. Horatio Gouverneur Wright, the
| Union general who saved Washington
from capture in the civil war Cen
Wright was born IN Clinton. Conn,
March. 6. 1920. and died in the nations
Capital, July p. 1899.
When the Confederate general. Jubal A.
Early, invaded Maryland IN the mid
summer Of 1864 and threatened Washing
ton, the agitation in the Capital was so
great that Gen. Grant, then before Pc
tersburg had a consultation with Presi-
dent Lincoln as to whether the presence
OF the general commanding was not need
ed in Washington Grant al first offered
TO leave Petersburg, and Lincoln ap-
proved of this suggestion; but Grant
after reflection. concluded that TO leave
| Petersburg and hasten TO Washington
might produce a very bad impression.
Accordingly, with some regiments OF
the Nineteenth Corps, just arrived from
/ the Gulf, and few other hastily gath
cred troops. Gen Horatio G. Wright was
dispatched to Washington defend the
Capital against the threatened attack OF
Early. There was some reason for the
CONSERVATION that for a short time, at
least. reigned in certain official quarters
in Washington. President Lincoln himself
was not moved from his usual calm Sc
renity, but nearly all the higher officials
were plainly alarmed. Washington had
an excellent system of fortifications, but
they were very poorly manned, and many
other necessary precautions had been
neglected Grant did not share the anx-
iety OF the military officials. and to a
prominent member of the War Depart
ment said: "Boldness is all that is need
ed to drive the enemy out of Maryland.
and Wright is the man to assume that.
Wright. however, had no time to lose
TO reach Washington in season for the
invader. the dauntIess Early, was himself
one OF the boldest of commanders. and,
as matter of fact, was on the road lead
ing into the city before Wright arrived
within sight of the Capitols dome. But
Early, waiting 10 make an extended re-
connaissance. was still in the suburbs Of
Washington on the north when Wrlght's
troops we're landing at the wharves on
the south.
President LINCOLN received Wright in
person, and the high military officials did
not conceal their JOY at his coming.
Wright was thoroughly familiar with the
| defenses OF Washington, for he had con
strueted several OF them earlier in the
war He was a fine engineer, having
| CIRCULATED second in his class at West
Point. and served thereafter in the Engi-
! neer Corps and as professor of engineer
/ ing at the Academy. He was assistant to
the chief engineer al Washington for a
number of years before the civil war.
was chief engineer in Heintzelmann's di-
vision at the battle Of Bull Run. and as
chief engineer organized the Port Royal
expedition.
Early was forced TO abandon his at
tempt on Washington very soon after the
arrival of Wright. After a career OF
great activity in the Army OF the Poto-
mae, Wright succeeded to the command
OF the Sixth Army Corps on the death of
the gallant Gen. John SedgWick. Wright
was one Of the most dashing and adven-
turous officers in the army. He did much
20 retrieve the fortunes OF the early sur
prise 81 Cedar Greek, in 1854, and il was
his. corps that broke the strong lines al
Petersburg. IN April. 1850. Wright Teceiv-
ing the principal mention In Grants re-
port.
He was made major general for the
capture of Petersburg, and WAS breveted
a number of times for gallant and eff
cient service Before his retirement, after
the war. he served for some years as
chief of engineers.
The birthday anniversary of another
| great civil war hero occurs to-day. II is
that Of Philip Henry Sheridan, who was
born March 6, 1881. at Albany, n. Y, and
who graduated at West Point in 1853, and
in May, 1861, was made captain. In De-
cember OF that year he was appointed
chief commissary of the Army of the
Southwest, and was on the staff Of Gen.
Halleek at Corinth.
The history OF Gen. Sheridan is largely
a history of the civil war. as he was
prominent figure from the beginning TO
the ending of the great conflict In May,
1862, Sheridan was appointed colonel OF
the Second Michigan Cavalry, and partici-
pated with success In the operations IN
Northern Mississippi. In July he was
made brigadier general of volunteers, put
in command Of a division OF the Army OF
the Ohio, and on October s, played a dis
tingiushed part In the battle of Perry
vile. At the battle of Stone River he
commanded a division. and by his stub
born resistance was instrumental in saw
ting the Federal army from being routed.
Early in 1853 be was appointed major
general of volunteers. took part in the
pursuit OF Van Dorm, aided in the capture
of Winchester, Tenn, distinguished HIM
self at Chickamaugs. and was eonspieu-
Gus in the battels around Chattanooga.
where he came under the personal obser-
walton of Gen. Grant
In April, 1854. Sheridan was transferred
by Grant to Virginia. and placed in COM
mand of the cavalry of the Army of the
Potomac. During May. June, and July
he was engaged in eighteen different ac-
tons, including the battles of the Wilder
ness. SpottsyIvania Court House, and Cold
Harbor. one of his famous achievements
was a raid, lasting from the sth TO the
18th OF May. in which he destroyed rail-
road communications of the Confederates,
captured Beaver Dam, and at the battle
of Yellow Tavern. defeated Gen. ]. F. B.
Stuart. who was killed in the action
In August 1854, Sheridan was placed in
command Of the Army of the Shenandoah,
and defeated Gen. Early at Opequan
Greek. Fishers Hill, and Cedar Greek,
capturing 5000 of his men and several
guns. His ride Of twenty miles from Win
chester TO Cedar Creek, to save his army
from defeat. was one of the most brilliant
exploits of his career