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(title page) Diary of Brigadier-General Marcus J. Wright, C.S.A. April 23, 1861 - February 26, 1863
Wright, Marcus J.
S. l.
s.n.
193?
The electronic edition is a part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill digital library, Documenting the American South.
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Truly yours,
Marcus J Wright
[Frontispiece Image]
[Title Page Image]
On the 23 April 1861 being in command of the 154 Senior Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers as lieutenant-colonel, 1 Colonel Preston Smith being absent on official business at Montgomery, Ala. I received an order by telegraph from Governor Isham G. Harris to proceed with a portion of my command and the Steuben Artillery to some point above Memphis on the Miss. River. I laid this order before the Military Board at Memphis and being furnished by them with means of transportation, subsistence stores, etc. I left Memphis at 12 o'clock at night with two companies of Infantry, Light Guards, Capt. Genette and Southern Guards, Capt. ----- (illegible) and the Steuben Artillery and landed at Randolph 60 miles above Memphis about 10 o'clock next morning. The troops were at once encamped and a temporary organization made for the Battalion 2 July 28, 1861. The Army under Brig. Gen. Pillow left Randolph by Steam Boat and arrived at New Madrid, Mo. the 29. 3 Remained encamped at this point (having been
* Marcus Joseph
Wright was born in Purdy, McNair county, Tenn., in 1831. He was the son of
Capt. Benjamin Wright of the 39 Regular Infantry who served in the War of
1812 and the Mexican
War, and grandson of Capt. John Wright of the Georgia Line,
Continental Army. He practiced law
and entered the Confederate Army in May, 1861, as lieutenant-colonel of the 154
Senior Regiment of
Tennessee Infantry; Promoted brigadier-general Dec. 20th, 1862.
He was present at many battles of
the Army of Tennessee and was wounded at Shiloh. He was a member of the Southern Historical
Assn. Southern Historical Society, Washington, D. C., Historical Society,
and Alabama Historical
Society. He was author of Life of General Winfield Scott
in the Great Commander Series, Life of
Governor William Blount; co-author with Gen. A. L. Long of Life
of Robert E. Lee. He wrote many
other works of an historical character and contributed extensively to various
encyclopedias and
magazines. On July 1, 1878 be was appointed Agent for the Collection of Confederate
Records for
the War Department and served in this capacity until the Civil War Records
were published by the
Government. In the General Index volume of these records Secretary of War.
Elihu Root, says:
1. The 154
Regiment of Tenn. Volunteers is always referred to in the various reports found in the
Records of the Civil War as Senior Regiment.
It was the senior regiment of Tenn. infantry which
distinction always appears as a part of its designation. When it
entered the Confederate service it
retained its old militia number. 2. These
troops were simply a detachment and so it was necessary to organize them into a
battalion for command and administration. 3. While
Colonel Wright was encamped at Randolph his command built a large bastioned fort
on the east bank of the Miss. river about 10 miles north of Randolph
on a high bluff about opposite Osceola, Kas. This fort was named
Fort Wright. (See Atlas of the Civil War
Records, plate CLXXI.)
transferred to the Provisional Army of the Confederate States on 13, Aug.),
4 until the
15, Aug. Then we marched (the 154 Tenn. 4 Tenn. 13 Tenn. regiments under
Col. McCown 16 miles to Sikestown 5
16 August. Moved to Watkins farm 18
miles. Remained here until 2 Sept., when we marched to New Madrid and took
Steam Boat which landed us at Island No. 10 on the 3rd. Remained at Island No.
10 until the 8th when we landed at Columbus, Ky. Remained in camp here until 15
September when we marched to Mayfield, Ky. and returned to Columbus on the
22d of Sept. Camped and in a few days commenced erecting Winter Quarters. November 7, 1861. This day was fought the Battle of Belmont opposite
Columbus. My regiment lost one man killed and 13 wounded, My Brother John V.
Wright Comdg. 13 Tenn. Regt. had his horse shot under him and received a severe
injury of the hip. I commanded the 154 in this. Col. Smith commanded the
brigade. We pursued the enemy to their gunboats. I had a sharp fight. We captured
some wagons, guns and clothing and some of Gen. Grant's Hdq. papers. Col. Smith
being assigned to the command of a Brigade, I assumed command of the
Regiment. 6 January. I was appointed Military Governor of Columbus by Gen. Polk and
continued in this position until March 1, 1862. 7 When Columbus was evacuated
we moved by way of Clinton to camp 13 miles from Columbus. Sunday March 2d. Marched by way of Casey's Station to Union City. Tuesday March 4th. Went by railroad to Humboldt. Was appointed Military
Governor of Humboldt by Gen. Polk. Heard of the death of Capt. W. J. Whitsitt
of Co. A who was Provost Marshall under me at Columbus. 8 Friday March 14. My wife and children came up from Memphis. Received
orders and went by rail to Jackson where I left my family with Mr. Welch.
Arrived at Bethel Station on the night of the 14 and ordered to Purdy my old
home and Birthplace where the remains of my Father and Mother and many dear
relatives lie buried. 9 On constant heavy Picket duty here, the enemy in large force being 8 miles
in our front near Crump's Landing, Tenn. River. The enemy's
4. Previously these troops were a part of the Provisional Army of Tennessee. 5. Col. John P. McCown, later major-general. 6. John V. Wright, brother of Marcus J., was a lawyer and had served in the lower house of the
U. S. Congress. While suffering from the effect of his wound received at Belmont he was elected to
the Confederate Congress where he remained until the close of the war. An interesting incident
occurred at Belmont. As the regiment of Col. M. J. Wright advanced against the Federals it came in
sight of a Federal log hospital in front of which were two mounted Federal officers. At this moment
two other Federal officers ran from the hospital to a corn field, jumped the fence and disappeared in the woods. They were well within range of Wright's men, a number of whom cocked their muskets
and prepared to fire; but Col. Wright stopped them as at this early stage of the war individuals were
not as a rule fired upon by troops in formation. On the day after the battle Gen. Cheatham met Col.
Hatch of Gen. Grant's staff under a flag of truce and Col. Hatch said that the fleeing officers were
Gen. Grant and himself. A few days later Gen. Cheatham met Gen. Grant on a flag-of-truce boat and
Grant confirmed the statement made by Hatch; (A. L. Conger, The Rise of U. S. Grant, N. Y., 1931,
109: cf. Southern Historical Society Papers No. 16, 82). While the Federals were driven aboard
their gun-boats at Belmont, the Confederate attack was led by Lt. Col. Marcus J. Wright (cf. report of Col. Preston Smith in Civil War Records, Series 1. vol. III. 346). 7. The order appointing Col. Wright Military Governor of Columbus. Ky., is dated Feby. 3,
1862; cf. Civil War Records Series 1, vol. VII 857. 8. The order appointing Col. Wright Military Governor of Columbus, Ky., also designated
Capt. Whitsitt as Provost Marshal. 9. Gen. Wright's mother, Martha Ann Wright (Hicks) was born in Dinwiddie county, Va. She
first married Herbert Harwell, by whom she had five children. By her marriage with Capt. Wright she
had three children, John V. and Marcus J. Wright and Mrs. Elizabeth Crump. Gen. Wright married
first Martha Spencer Elcan of Memphis, Tenn. His second wife was Pauline Womack, daughter of
Judge John W. Womack of Eutaw, Ala. Some interesting notes on the Wright-Harwell-Elcan-Crump
families may be found in Marcus J. Wright, Reminiscence of the Early Settlement and Early
Settlers of McNairy County, Tenn., Washington, 1882.
cavalry dashed in on our picket beyond Perdy which was under command of Lieut.
Creighton. They captured one man and lost a horse. They were led by Fielding
Hurst. 10 April 5th. Left Purdy at daylight, marched 23 miles and bivouaced in line of
battle. April 6th and 7th. The Battle of Shiloh was fought. I was in command of my
regiment from 12 o'clock the 6th during the remainder of the two days
engagement. I received a slight wound on my right knee. A ball passed through my
saddle and into my horse. Killed, wounded and missing in my regiment 198: Killed,
26, wounded 163, missing 9. 11 Late in the evening of the 7th the army withdrew from the field and marched
to Michie's Cross Road and on the 9th marched to Corinth. Retreat from Corinth. Corinth Thursday 29, May, 1862. The army under
Gen. Beauregard moved out from its position at Corinth at night, the rear of the
army getting out at daylight. March 12 miles and bivouaced about 3 pm. the 30th.
Moved forward at 5 o'clock a.m. the 31st and marched 20 miles to Baldwin. Left
Baldwin the 7th June and marched 8 miles to Guntown and from there to Tupelo. The army left Tupelo 22d July, the artillery and wagon train going through
the country, the Infantry via Mobile, Montgomery, to Chattanooga. Gen. Bragg
commands the army. Aug. 21. The army left Chattanooga and crossed the Tennessee River at
Harrison 14 miles on the 22. Camped on the 22d at the Union Baptist Church 10
miles from Harrison. Remained at this Camp (for the balance of the Army to cross
the River) until 28 Aug, when we moved forward at 4 o'clock a.m. Marched 9
miles to Sale Creek Camp Ground where we remained until the morning of the 30,
41/2 o'clock when we ascended Walden's Ridge, marching 8 miles. Aug, 31. Descended Walden's Ridge distance 8 miles to Sequatchie Valley
and encamped on Sequatchie River (the word Sequatchie in English is
"hog.") Sept. 1st. Moved up the Valley today to Pikesville, distance 8 miles, and
within two miles of the Cumberland Mountains. Sept. 2. Made the ascent of the Cumberland Mountains, travelling all day and
night and encamped at Caney Fork, having travelled 21 miles. Sept. 3. Moved forward 13 miles arriving at Sparta and encamped on the
River Calf-Killer one and one quarter miles from Town. Sept. 4. Remained in camp at Sparta. Sent out Battle Flags for the 1st Division
Right Wing Army of the Mississippi. Sept. 6. Marched 17 miles and encamped on Gainsboro road. Sept. 7. Moved forward passing through Gainsboro and encamped on the
Cumberland River, distance 23 miles. Met Col. Jaques 1st La. Inf. Sept. 8. Moved forward across the river wading it up to the crotch. Camped at
a fine spring 7 miles distance from starting point. 10. Fielding Hurst was born in McNairy Co., Tenn., and was here operating against his own
people. After Shiloh he was commissioned by Andrew Johnson, Governor of Tennessee, to raise the 6th (Federal) Tennessee Cavalry. In Oct., 1862, he commanded the 1st West Tennessee Cavalry. In Nov., 1862, his regiment served under Gen. Grant in the Columbus, Ky., district. 11. In the report on this battle made by Major-General B. F. Cheatham, commanding Col.
Wright's division, he refers to Col. Wright as "an efficient and gallant officer" and says " . . . Lt. Col. Marcus J. Wright are all highly commended for gallantry and efficiency." (Civil War Records, Series I, vol. X, 437, 443.) Col. Preston Smith Col. Wright's brigade commander said in his report: "I beg leave to speak particularly of the gallant bearing of . . . and Lieut. Col. Marcus J. Wright (Ibid., 448).
He also said: "I cannot close this report without expressing my profound thanks to Lieut. Col.
Wright who, though struck on the leg Sunday by a ball which gave him much pain, continued with
the command giving me most valuable aid." (Ibid., 449.)
Sept. 9. Moved forward passing through Centerville and encamped on the
ground where Col. Morgan fought and drove the enemy, capturing the
commanding officer. At Tompkinsville, Ky. distance 21 miles. Sept. 10. Remained in camp. Sept. 11. Moved forward nine miles and encamped on Peter's Creek on the
Glasgow road. Sept. 12. Moved 18 miles to Glasgow and encamped. Some demonstrations
of enthusiasm shown by citizens. Sept. 13 and 14. - Remained in camp. Sept. 15. Two day's rations having been prepared, moved this morning at 3
o'clock and marched until 11 o'clock at night towards Munfordsville - distance 12
miles. Encamped near Bear Wallow. Sept. 16. Moved forward this morning at 5 o'clock; crossed Green River 4
miles above the Garrison and town of Munfordsville and bivouaced in line of
battle in rear of the enemy's works; Gen. Cheatham's Head Quarters being in a
grave yard. At 12 o'clock learned that the enemy 4500 strong had surrendered to
Gen, Bragg who was in their front with the Left Wing of the Army of the Miss. Sept. 17. The enemy 4300 strong drawn up in line laid down their arms. We
got here 10 pieces of artillery and a large quantity of Ordnance and other stores.
Moved forward 8 miles to Beaver Creek and encamped. Sept. 18. Ordered back in a violent rain storm to Munfordsville. Moved
three miles and the order was countermanded. Bivouaced on the road in a pelting
rain all night. Sept. 19. Returned to Munfordsville. Sept, 20. Moved forward 21 miles and camped near Nolin. Sept. 21. Marched 10 miles and camped at Hodgensville. Sept. 22. Passed Muldranghs Ridge and New Haven; distance to camp 22
miles. Sept. 23. Passed through Bardstown and encamped 4 miles from Town on
the Danville toad [road]. Sept. 24, 25, 26. Remained in camp. Called to see Miss Hardin -----
(illegible) of Mrs. Judge Dixon of Memphis. Sept. 27, 28, 29. Oct. 1, 2, 3. In camp. Marched forward 3d Oct. and encamped near Fredrick on Beech Fork of Salt
River - distance 9 miles. Oct. 4. Marched 15 miles and camped on Beech Creek passing through
Springfield. Oct. 5. Passed through Perryville and March to Camp 18 miles at Mrs.
Reeds. Oct. 6. Passed through Danville and marched 14 miles to camp at
Harrodsburg. Oct. 7. Moved out from Harrodsburg at sundown and arrived at Perryville at
midnight. Gen. Hardee with the Left Wing being in line of battle, the 1st Division
of the Right Wing being under Gen, Cheatham - bivouced on the left in line of
battle on a ridge below the town of PerryVille. 12 Oct. 8. Battle of Perryville. The two armies were formed in line of battle the
town of Perryville between them. The action with the left wing (Gen. Hardee)
opened between 12 and 1 o'clock. At 2 o'clock three brigades of the right wing, to
wit, Donelson's Stewarts and Maney's (Smith being held in reserve) under
command of Maj. Gen. Cheatham, were moved from their position on the left to
the right and moved into action engaging the enemy about 3 o'clock. The
engagement here on our right soon became one of the fiercest on record and was
continued until dark. We captured 15 pieces of artillery, killed one and wounded
two brigadier-generals. The
12. Those desiring to follow this long march of the army from Chattanooga into
Kentucky are referred to Plate 150, Atlas of the Civil War Records.
loss of the right wing in killed and wounded was 1440, the whole loss of our army
amounted to ----- (blank). Oct. 9. The army slept last night on the field of battle and moved out at
daylight this morning to Harrodsburg. Oct. 10. Arrived at camp one mile from Bryantsville - distance from
Harrodsburg 16 miles. Oct. 11 and 12. Remained in camp. Oct. 13. Moved at daylight through Bryantsville and "Camp Dick
Robertson" and Lancaster and camped - distance 19 miles. 13 Oct. 14. Crossed Dick's River and Crab Orchard and camped at Mount
Vernon - 19 miles. Oct. 15. March 8 miles to Big Rock Castle River and encamped, the enemy
skirmishing with our rear. Passed "Camp Wild Cat." 14 Oct. 16. Marched 5 miles to Little Rock Castle River and encamped.
Skirmishing still kept up with the enemy steadily following us up. Oct. 17. Passed London and camped at Laurel Creek - 16 miles. Prisoners
brought in report that Crittenden's army corps of 4 divisions is in our rear. Oct. 18. Marched 18 miles, passing through Barboursville and camped on the
Cumberland. Oct. 19. Left Barboursville and moved through Flat Lick along the margin of
the Cumberland River to Cumberland Ford - distance 16 miles. I here discharged
the most unpleasant duty of my military career. Sixteen Bushwhackers
(unauthorized and unenlisted men) including the notorious Capt. King and two
of his sons were hung here last night by Chalmer's brigade, having been taken by
our cavalry firing on our troops. Under orders from Gen. Cheatham, I took a
detachment of 20 mounted men and with Lieut. Mann had them decently buried
under the cherry tree on which they were hung near the river. Oct. 20. Moved forward passing various fortifications and crossing
Cumberland Gap to camp - 14 miles. Here we again passed into the State of
Tennessee, having left Chattanooga for the campaign on the 22 of August. Oct. 21. Marched 5 miles and encamped on Powells River a most beautiful
stream of water. Oct. 22. Passed through Tazewell (the scene of Col. Vaughn's fight with the
enemy) crossing Clinch river, and camped - distance 18 miles. Clinch River a
beautiful stream, very wide at the ford. Oct. 23. Marched 12 miles passing through Maynardsville, Union Co. Oct. 24. Crossed Copper Ridge and camped on creek 4 miles from
Knoxville, having marched today 18 miles. Oct. 25. Remained in camp. Oct. 26. Snow falling all day it being 4 inches deep at night. The leaves on
the trees are still green. Oct. 27. In camp. Heavy frost. Oct. 28. In camp sharp frost, clear and cold. Oct. 29. Left camp and moved to Knoxville. While getting our horses ready
for transportation on the Rail Road, Maj. F. H. McNairy was shot through the
right knee, the ball passing upward under the knee-cap. The
13. Camp Dick Robertson is an historical place. While the state of Kentucky was yet
undecided as to what action it would take, the War Department on July 1, 1861, ordered Lieut.
Nelson of the U. S. Navy to establish a camp and open recruiting for the Union army. He
established Camp Dick Robertson which became an important recruiting center for the North. (See
Civil War Records, Series I, vol. IV, 251, 257. 14. Camp Wild Cat (known also as Rock Castle) was a naturally strong elevated position. A
contemporary report describes it as "a natural fortification." It had been strongly fortified by the
Federals and unsuccessfully attacked on Oct. 21, 1861, by Gen. Zollicoffer. A cavalry engagement
took place here on Oct. 19 and 20, 1862. During the Battle of Perryville, Col. Wright was
Assistant Adjutant General for Major-General Cheatham.
shooting was accidental, occasioned by the falling of one of his pistols out of the
holster. Capt. Brooks, volunteer Aid to Gen. Cheatham joined us here. Left
Knoxville and arrived at Chattanooga - 110 miles. Oct. 30. Left Chattanooga and arrived at Bridgeport or at the bridge this
side - 38 miles. The two bridges across the Tennessee River at this point were burned by
Gen. Ledbetter last spring. We are delayed here in getting troops and baggage
across. Oct. 31. Engaged all day in crossing troops. Received telegraphic orders from
Gen. Polk to proceed to McMinville and take charge of Conscript Camp. Took
the train for Chattanooga. Nov. 1. Left Chattanooga for Bridgeport. Nov. 2. Arrived at Tullahoma. Nov. 3. Arrived at Manchester. Nov. 4. Arrived at McMinville and assumed command of the Post and Camp
of Instruction. Dr. J. M. Towler (?) is appointed Post Surgeon. Major Hunter
Nichalson (?) and Capt. Laurence L. Butler assigned to duty as Asst. Inspds.
Conscription. Capt. R. W. Pitman appointed Provost Marshal and Lieut. Martin,
Post Adjutant. Sidney Womack of Ala. reports to me and is assigned to duty. 15 Dec. 1. Col. Young 9th Texas Regt. relieved by Col. Garrett (?) of the 20th
Ala. Dec. 3. Went to Murfreesboro. Dec. 6. Returned, W. A. Thompson assigned to duty with me as Post
Commissary. Henry L. Elcan assigned to duty as Post Quarter Master. Marcus
Crump joins me. 16 Dec. 14. Received telegraphic dispatch from Governor Harris announcing
my appointment by the President (who is at Murfreesboro) as Brigadier-General
with orders to report there for duty. Will be ready to go Sunday next. 17 Sunday Dec. 29. Left McMinville for Murfreesboro Monday 30. Later sick
with pneumonia. Tuesday 31 Dec. The ever-memorable battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River
fought Jany. 1, 2, 3, Heavy skirmishing and cannonading all day.
Jan. 4; Breckenridge's assault on the enemy's strong point on our right made a terrible fight. Heavy loss on each side. Jan. 15. I am assigned to the command of Hanson's Brigade consisting of the
2d, 4th, 6th and 19 Ky. regiments and 41 Ala regiment and Cobbs Battery in
Breckinridge's division, Hardee's corps. 18 Jan. 31. I am relieved from command of Hanson's Brigade and ordered to
report to Lieut. Genl. Polk at Shelbyville for assignment to Donelson's Brigade,
Cheatham's Division. 19 Feby. 7. Assumed command of Donelson's Brigade consisting of the 8th,
16th, 15th 38th 51st, and 84th, Tennessee regiments and Carnes Battery. Feby. 9. Army reviewed by General Joseph E. Johnston. Feby, 26. Ordered to Tullahoma Feby, 29. Arrive at Tullahoma and
commence work on the Fortifications. 15. Sidney Womack had been a student at Chapel Hill, N. C., but left to join the army. He was a
brother of Pauline Womack whom Col. Wright married afterwards. 16. Marcus Crump was a son of Dr. Chas. C. Crump of Purdy, Tenn., who had married Elizabeth
Wright, the deceased sister of Col. Wright. 17. Col. Wright was appointed brig. genl. Dec. 20, 1862, to rank from Dec. 13, 1862;
appointment confirmed Apl. 22, 1863 (Marcus J, Wright, General Officers of the Confederate Army.
N. Y., 1917, 99). 18. Special Orders, No. 26, Hardee's corps, Jan. 15, 1863 assigned Brig.-Gen. Marcus J.
Wright to Breckinridge's division. On the same date Breckinridge's division issued an order
assigning Gen. Wright "to command the brigade commanded by Col. R. P. Trabue" (Civil War
Records, Series 1, Vol. XX, pt. 2. Page 497.) 19. This order-Special Orders No. 25, Hq. Army of Tennessee, Jan. 31, 1863 - is found in the
Civil War Records, Series I, vol. XIII, pt. 2, 621.
Return to Menu Page for Diary.... by Marcus Joseph Wright
Return to First-Person Narratives of the American South Home Page
"In view of the distrust with which the Southern people for a while naturally regarded
the movements made by the government with a view to the procurement of the records of the
Confederacy, it is not surprising that the efforts of the Department to complete its
Confederate files met at first with slight success or assistance. However, Marcus J. Wright.
formerly a brigadier-general in the Confederate army, was appointed July 1, 1878, Agent for
the Collection of Confederate Records and in this capacity he continued employed until the
completion of the work. Through his efforts and tact the attitude of the Southern people
towards the compilation became more cordial and as their confidence increased records were
brought out from their places of concealment and forwarded to the Department as gifts or
deposited as loans." Mr. Root quotes Secretary of War Proctor: "Gen.
Marcus J. Wright,
formerly of the Confederate army, has been continued as Agent for the Collection of
Confederate Records and his position in the work is next in importance to a position upon
the Board itself." In The American Civil War,
James K. Hosmer, N. Y., 1913, II. 315, the
author says: "The collection (referring to Civil War records) thus
preserved was greatly
increased by the efforts of Gen. Marcus J. Wright, C. S. A., who, now in the
service of the
United States, spent years in an indefatigable search among the survivors of
the "lost cause"
for papers that might be of value,"
Gen. Wright died in Washington, D. C., on Dec, 27, 1922.
Page 4
Page 5The March from Chattanooga into Kentucky
Page 6
Page 7The Line of Retreat from Kentucky
Page 8