Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 8.djvu/380

346 Grenada, Miss. General Wright was warmly commended for his services at Belmont and Shiloh. At Murfreesboro he commanded the Eighth, Sixteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-eighth, Fifty-first and Fifty-second Tennessee regiments, Murray's battalion and Carnes' battery, a command which was distinguished in the fighting and suffered heavy losses. After the surrender he returned to his home at Memphis, and resumed the practice of law. Since 1878 he has been the agent of the United States war department for the collection of Confederate records for publication by the government, with his office at Washington, D. C. He has been twice married, and has five children living—Marcus J., Jr., of the United States weather bureau; Benjamin, of the United States navy; John Womack, and two daughters.

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer, of Tennessee, fell in battle before the war had lasted a year; but at that time there had been no death which inspired more genuine regret. He was born in Maury county, Tenn., May 19, 1812, of Swiss descent. His grandfather was a captain in the war of American independence. His early education was limited, being only such as could be obtained in the common schools of that day, and with but little preparation for the battle of life he was thrown upon his own resources. While yet a boy he was employed in a printing-office, and soon became very proficient. In 1835 he became editor of the Columbia Observer. Afterward he edited the Nashville Banner, with great ability, conducting it in the interest of the Whig party, earning for himself considerable fame as a political leader. In 1841 he was appointed attorney-general of Tennessee, and in the same year was elected by the legislature as comptroller. In 1849 he was chosen a member of the State Senate. He was elected a member of Congress from the Nashville district in 1853. This position he held for three successive terms, and won much