Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. The son of Union Brigadier General George Wright, Thomas Wright was commissioned a First Lieutenant in Company M of the 2nd California Cavalry with the outbreak of the Civil War. In early 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major and re-assigned to the 6th California Infantry where he would serve until October 1864. One month later, Major Wright was assigned to command of the 2nd California Infantry and was quickly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel by 1865. For his service during the war, he was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers in March 1865. At war's end, Wright reverted to the rank of First Lieutenant and remained in the army for service in the Indian Campaigns. With the outbreak of the Modoc War in 1872, Lieutenant Wright was serving as an officer with the 12th United States Infantry. On April 26, 1873, he and some of his men accompanied Captain Evan Thomas of the 4th United States Artillery on a reconnaissance mission when they were ambushed by a small group of Modoc Indians. Both Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Wright, as well as 16 of their men, were killed in what is now known as the Thomas-Wright Massacre.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. The son of Union Brigadier General George Wright, Thomas Wright was commissioned a First Lieutenant in Company M of the 2nd California Cavalry with the outbreak of the Civil War. In early 1863, he was promoted to the rank of Major and re-assigned to the 6th California Infantry where he would serve until October 1864. One month later, Major Wright was assigned to command of the 2nd California Infantry and was quickly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel by 1865. For his service during the war, he was brevetted Brigadier General of Volunteers in March 1865. At war's end, Wright reverted to the rank of First Lieutenant and remained in the army for service in the Indian Campaigns. With the outbreak of the Modoc War in 1872, Lieutenant Wright was serving as an officer with the 12th United States Infantry. On April 26, 1873, he and some of his men accompanied Captain Evan Thomas of the 4th United States Artillery on a reconnaissance mission when they were ambushed by a small group of Modoc Indians. Both Captain Thomas and Lieutenant Wright, as well as 16 of their men, were killed in what is now known as the Thomas-Wright Massacre.
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