History of Clinton, (Middlesex County) Connecticut United States of America

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Horatio Governeur Wright, soldier, was born in Clinton, Conn., March 6, 1820. He was graduated second in his class from the U.S. Military academy in 1841; was commissioned 2d lieutenant, corps of engineers, July 1, 1841; taught at the military academy, 1842-44; was promoted 1st lieutenant, Feb. 28, 1848; and was superintending engineer at the building of Fort Jefferson, at Tortugas, Fla., 1846-56. He was promoted captain, July 1, 1855; participated in the expedition to destroy the Norfolk navy yard in April, 1861; declined a commission as major of infantry, May 14, 1861, and accompanied Heintzelman in occupying the heights opposite Washington. He was employed on the fortifications about Washington; fought at Bull Run as chief engineer of Heintzelman's division, and assisted in the organization of T. W. Sherman's Port Royal expedition. He was promoted major, Aug. 6, 1861, and on Sept. 14 was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, commanding the 3d brigade under T. W. Sherman at Port Royal. He led an expedition into Florida, capturing Fernandina, Jacksonville and St. Augustine; was temporarily promoted major-general of volunteers, July 18, 1862, and commanded the Department of the Ohio during Bragg's raid. He was relieved by Burnside in March, 1863; was again a brigadier-general, and assumed command of the 1st division, 6th corps, under Sedgwick. He reached Gettysburg after a long forced march, July 2, and joined in the pursuit of the enemy to Warrenton, Va. At Rappahannock station, and at Mine Run, Wright commanded the 6th corps; was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. Nov. 8, 1863, for Rappahannock, Va., and served on a board of engineers during the winter of 1863-64. In April, 1864, he returned to the front, commanded his division at the Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864, and after the death of General Sedgwick, was appointed by Meade to command the 6th corps. He was wounded at Spottsylvania, his corps losing heavily, especially at the "bloody angle." He was brevetted colonel, U.S.A., for Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, and the same day promoted major-general of volunteers. He fought at North Anna, Tolopotamy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and when Washington was threatened by Early, Wright dispatched Ricketts's division to the aid of the capital and followed immediately with the rest of the 6th corps, arriving at Washington just as Early was driving the Union troops back upon the city. He defeated Early in front of Fort Stevens, pursuing him through Snicker's Gap into the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester; commanded the 6th corps under Sheridan in the Army of the Shenandoah; fought at Opequan, Sept. 19, at Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, and was in supreme command at Cedar Creek from the time of the attack until the arrival of Sheridan. He was before Petersburg in December, 1864; was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general, U.S.A., March 13, 1865, and on April 2 made the assault that forced the evacuation of Petersburg. He joined in the pursuit to Appomattox, marched to North Carolina after the surrender of Lee, and after Johnston's surrender, led the 6th corps to Washington, where it was mustered out. He organized the provisional army corps; commanded the Department of Texas; was promoted lieutenant-colonel, corps of engineers, Nov. 23, 1865; mustered out of the volunteer service. Sept. 1, 1866; promoted colonel, corps of engineers, March 4, 1879; brigadier-general, June 30, 1879, and was retired, March 6, 1884. He died in Washington, D.C., July 2, 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Clinton, (Middlesex County) Connecticut

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