Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Samuel Wright received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 15, 1863 in Nolensville, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry. Wright was 35 years old.
7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on September 11, 1897, 34 years after the action.
Wright was born on January 20, 1828 in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Wright died on July 7, 1918 in Tribune, Kansas, at the age of 90. He is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, Massachusetts.
Wright is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 45 credited to Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack, and saved the train.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Maple Grove Cemetery — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Minnesota →
Timeline
- January 20, 1828Born in Plympton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- February 15, 1863Act of valor — Nolensville, TennesseeAge 35. Company H, 2d Minnesota Infantry
- September 11, 1897Medal of Honor presented
- July 7, 1918Died in Tribune, KansasAge 90.
- Resting placeMaple Grove CemeteryWichita, Massachusetts
Biography
Samuel Wright (January 20, 1828 - July 7, 1918) was an American soldier who fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Nolensville defending a wagon train. Wright was born 20 January 1828 in Plympton, Massachusetts. He fought in Company H of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry during the Civil War. He died on July 7, 1918 and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas.
From the Wikipedia article “Samuel Wright (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
