George Wright
George Wright
Born: Oct 21 1801/3, Norwich VT
Died: 30 Jul 1865, California coast
Buried: City cemetery, Sacramento CA
Pre-War: West Point Class of 1822, Norwich University Class of 1826, garrison and recruiting duty, Seminole war, Mexican war, Col. of 9th Infantry, commanded the Department of Oregon.
War Service: Sep 1861 appointed BG Vols to command the Department of the Pacific which he commanded throughout the Civil War, Died in shipwreck of the steamer Brother Jonathan off the California coast.
Notes: Remembered as the General who had almost nothing to do with the Civil War.
Further Reading
Goddard, M. E. and Henry V. Partridge, A History of Norwich Vermont, Hanover, NH: The Dartmouth Press, 1905, pp. 250.
Schlicke, Carl Paul. General George Wright, guardian of the Pacific Coast, Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 1988.
U.S. Military Academy, 1822; 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry, U.S.A., 1822; served in Florida and Mexican wars, and was three times brevetted for gallant and meritorious conduct in battle; Major and Brevet Colonel, 9th Infantry, 1847; colonel, 9th Infantry, 3 Mar 1855; in command of Northern Department of the Pacific, 1856-60; Brigadier-General, U.S. Volunteers, 28 Sep 61; in command of Department of the Pacific, with headquarters at San Francisco, 61-65; drowned 30 Jul 65, in the wreck of the steamer "Brother Jonathan," on the coast of Oregon, while on his way to take command of the Department of Columbia; Brevet Brigadier-General, U.S.A., 19 Dec 64, for long, faithful and meritorious services.
Sources: Revised Roster, pp 682, 738.
