Twenty-two year-old Lewis Wright (1841-1864) was a battle-tested veteran of Co. H, 10th Iowa Infantry when he and others of his regiment stormed up Mission Ridge in November 1863. Earlier that year, on 16 May, he was wounded in the chest during a battle at Champion Hill, Mississippi. In the assault on Mission Ridge, however, his wound was much more severe. His left arm was dangled by his side as he was taken from the battlefield and transported to a field hospital where it was removed later that day.

The following note attesting to Wright’s battle wound while “in the line of duty” was written by 23 year-old John H. Clark of Rippey, Iowa, who served early in the war as 1st Sergeant of Co. H. Like Wright, he was wounded in the fighting at Champion Hill but recovered and was promoted to captain of the company on 11 August 1863, skipping right over the rank of lieutenant. Also signing the note, approving its accuracy, was Paris P. Henderson, formerly the captain of Co. G, and recently appointed to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment.

The reason for the note isn’t clear unless Lewis deemed it prudent to obtain as proof of service for a pension that would be due his family should he die from his wound. Though Lewis mustered out after three years service in September 1864, he died two months later at home and was buried in the Fair Oaks Cemetery next to his parents, Silas Wright (1816-1872) and Mariah Hurley (1816-1883) of Scranton, Greene county, Iowa.

Transcription

I certify on honor that the bearer, Lewis Wright, a private of Co. H, 10th Regiment Iowa Infantry Vols., was on the 25th day of November 1863 at the Battle of Mission Ridge, Tennessee, wounded in the left arm and that his arm was amputated in Field Hospital at that place on 25th day of November 1863 and that said wound was received in line of his duty.

— John H. Clark, Capt, 10th Iowa Infantry, Commanding Co. H

Approved, P. P. Henderson, Lieut. Colonel, Commanding 10th Iowa