regarding the Confederate soldiers and armies, for use in the "Records of the Rebellion," which was designed to be a complete record of both the armies engaged in the Civil war, and is said to be "the most voluminous and extraordinary historical undertaking ever attempted by any government." When this work was commenced, public feeling at the South toward the Federal government was anything but pleasant and great difficulty was experienced in obtaining access to the Confederate documents. But the appointment of General Wright as its agent was reassuring, and by his tact, skill and untiring industry he has succeeded in making the records of the armies of the Confederacy nearly as complete as are those of the Union forces. For his services in this great work he was highly complimented by Secretary of War Root, in the preface to the general index, which forms the one-hundred-and-thirtieth volume of the Records, and he also received the thanks of the United Confederate Veterans at their meeting in Dallas, Texas, in 1902, the resolution of thanks being unanimously adopted by that body.
When he was in command of a district with headquarters at Columbus, Kentucky, he was bearer of flags of truce, and in this capacity became acquainted with General Grant. When the latter was writing his Memoirs he consulted General Wright upon many points, and a strong friendship grew up between the two officers who had formerly been opposed in war. During his work upon the "Records" he became acquainted with nearly all the prominent living generals of both armies, many of whom desired information upon various points; and he has been consulted by the authors of most of the important works regarding the Civil war that have appeared during the past twenty-five years. By his careful sifting of evidence, as well as by the collection and arrangement in an available form of an enormous amount of material, he has rendered invaluable service to writers and readers of the history of the great conflict between the North and the South. In 1889 he visited England.
General Wright has been twice married: First, to Martha Spencer Elcan, and second, to Pauline Womack. Of his seven children, four, three sons and a daughter, are now living. Two of the sons served with credit in the war with Spain. General Wright is a member of the Washington Camp Confederate Veterans; of the District of Columbia Society of Sons of the American Revolution, of which he was first vice-president; and of various historical societies including
