Elias Wright (June 22, 1830 – January 2, 1901) was a

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

officer during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Elias Wright was born at

Durham, New York Durham is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 2,627 at the 2020 census.US Census Bureau, 2020 Census, Durham town, Greene County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=D ...

on June 22, 1830.Eicher, John H., and

David J. Eicher David John Eicher (born August 7, 1961) is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of ''Astronomy'' magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and American ...

, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 582. He was a surveyor and civil engineer before the Civil War. Wright's service started as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 19, 1861. He was promoted to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...

on January 31, 1862. He was captured at the

Battle of Gaines's Mill A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

on June 27, 1862 and exchanged. He was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on December 29, 1862. Wright was appointed

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

of the

1st United States Colored Infantry The 1st United States Colored Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the ...

, June 25, 1863, and

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, April 29, 1864. He was appointed

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the

10th United States Colored Infantry The 10th United States Colored Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau o ...

on August 15, 1864. He was in brigade command of Brigade 2, Division 3,

XVIII Corps (Union Army) XVIII Corps was a North Carolina corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. Origins and makeup The XVIII Corps was created on December 24, 1862. It was initially composed of five divisions stationed in North Carolina, making it one ...

Army of the James The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River (Virginia), James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia. Histor ...

, August 15, 1864 to August 22, 1864 and October 29, 1864 to November 6, 1864. He was in command of Brigade 1, Division 3, XVIII Corp, Army of the James, November 26, 1864 to December 3, 1864, Brigade 3, Division 1,

XXV Corps (Union Army) XXV Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was unique in that it was made up almost entirely of African-American troops. These soldiers had previously belonged to the X Corps and XVIII Corps. As the XXV, they cap ...

, Army of the James, December 3, 1864 to December 31, 1864, and Brigade 3, Division 3, XXV Corps, Army of the James from December 31, 1864 to January 6, 1865. He was in command of Brigade 3, Division 3,

X Corps (Union Army) X Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served during operations in South Carolina in the Department of the South, and later in Benjamin Butler (politician), Benjamin Butler's Army of the James, during the Bermuda H ...

(Terry's Provisional Corps),

Department of North Carolina The Department of Virginia and North Carolina was a United States Military department encompassing Union-occupied territory in the Confederate States during the Civil War. In 1863 it was formed by the merging of two previously existing departme ...

, January 6, 1865 to February 20, 1865. On February 15, 1865,

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

nominated Wright for appointment to the grade of

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

, to rank from January 15, 1865, and the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

confirmed the appointment on March 3, 1865.Eicher, 2001, p. 762. Wright resigned his commission on June 17, 1865. After the war, he was a civil engineer and land agent at

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

. Elias Wright died at Atlantic City on January 2, 1901.

References

Union Army colonels People from Atlantic City, New Jersey 1830 births 1901 deaths Military personnel from New Jersey {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub

See also

References