--A Federal surgeon, who arrived at
City Point Saturday on the flag of truce boat, brought the announcement of the execution of
Dr. David Minton Wright, by order of
Abraham Lincoln, at
Norfolk, on Friday last.
It will be recollected that
Dr. Wright killed a Federal
Lieutenant of a negro company who had ordered three of his negroes to arrest him for expressing his indignation at the company being marched through the streets of
Norfolk.
The Petersburg
Express says:
‘
The Federal surgeon says he witnessed the execution, and that the
Doctor died with heroic firmness.
The execution was public, the scaffold having been erected near the
Fair Grounds, on the suburbs of the city.
’
But a few days previous to his execution there was occasion to remove him from the jail to the
Custom-House, where the mock trial which unrighteously condemned him to death was held.
He was carried through the streets in irons, but this ignominious treatment did not subdue his spirit, nor did it lower him in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
He moved with a firm tread and noble bearing, and every man that he met lifted his hat in token of respect.
Dr. Wright was about 55 years of age, over six feet in height, well proportioned, and of most commanding presence.
He leaves an interesting family, who have no pang of regret, save the severance of that tie which had so closely linked them to husband and father in life.
He died a martyr to the noble cause of Southern independence; for, in slaying his insulter, he did only what the noble
Jackson did at
Alexandria, and what many others have done in other portions of the
South overrun by the cruel and insolent oppressor.
He was a native of
Eastern North Carolina, but had resided in
Norfolk for twelve years--perhaps longer.
We had no personal acquaintance with
Dr. W., but those who knew him long and intimately speak of him as a high- toned, honorable gentleman, courteous in his bearing, honest in all his dealings, benevolent to the highest degree, and universally respected and beloved.
