Wright, Sandusky

Unknown Grave Marker

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company D, 35th Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Vermilion County, Illinois

Date of Birth:

1837

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1864

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Sandusky Wright was born in 1837 in Caitlin, Vermilion County, Illinois to Thomas and Mary B Wright. He grew up and worked as a farmer before the war began. On July 3rd, 1861, at the age of 24, he enlisted into the Union army as a private. On Augst 28th, 1861, he was mustered into Company D of the 35th Illinois Infantry when he had a rank change to Corporal.

The 35th Illinois spent time in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee throughout the beginning of its service. They arrived in the Nashville, Tennessee area in October of 1862 and remaind in the area until December 26th. During this time Corporal Wright had a second rank change to Sergeant. On December 26th, the regiment moved on from Nashville to travel the 45 miles to Murfreesboro in pursuit of General Bragg. The 35th Illinois was part of General Woodruff's brigade, General Davis' division, and General McCook's corps. At the battle of Stones River, the 35th Illinois was positioned in the right center of the Union's line in front of Gresham Lane. They were hit head on by Confederate forces around 7am on the 31st of December, and began to be pushed back into a J-shaped position along the Wilkinson Pike. Eventually, they were pushed further north along Asbury Lane and after experiencing increasing amounts of pressure, high numbers of loss, and with supplies dwindling, the fragmented remains retreated with hopes to regroup at a later point.

After the three days of fighting, the 35th Illinois went into action with 20 commissioned officers and 419 men. Of those, they had 4 commissioned officer casualties and 171 losses of men in the ranks. Sergeant Wright was among those that lost his life due to a gunshot wound during the battle of Stones River on the first, perilous day of fighting, December 31st, 1862.

Sandusky Wright is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in an unknown grave.