At the conclusion of the Civil War the U.S. Government undertook an effort to compile all the messages, correspondence & reports from the Union and Confederate armed forces that participated in this conflict. This massive work is titled, "The War of the Rebellion; A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union & Confederate Armies," however it is more commonly referred to as "The Official Records" and can be found in most large libraries and at some online sites.
The following accounts were taken from those records that relate to the action seen by the 16th Missouri Volunteers while the Wright boys were members.
Volume 48, Part 1, Page 116
February 16-20, 1865---Scout in Ozark County, MO., and Marion County , Ark.
Report of Capt. James H. Sallee, Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry. Hdqrs,
Company B, Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry.
Lebanon , Mo. , February 22, 1865 .
Captain: I beg leave to submit to you the following facts connected with a scout made by me with a detachment of Company B, Sixteenth Missouri Volunteers, in obedience to the order of Lieut. Col. John F. McMahan:
I left this place on the morning of the 16th instant, with fifteen days rations and proceeded to Little North Fork, in Ozark County , Mo. Here I met with four citizens of Douglas County, Mo., viz, Isham Lamar, Johnson Lamar, William Lamar and George Lamar, who reported to me that they had been to White River, near the Widow Magness', and had found some rebels in a cave and wanted assistance to catch them. I immediately started in search of the cave, the Lamars accompanying me as guides. On arriving at the cave I found three bushwhackers, viz, Williams and Riddle, one unknown, who on our approach started to run but Williams was killed and the others wounded, who made their escape in the bluffs and brush. After this affair I prepared to move on down the river and did so, but the Lamars would not go any farther, and on the day following they were seen driving twelve head of cattle up the Little North Fork through a Union settlement. I mention this, as I am reliably informed that these men are in the habit of driving off stock from that county and converting it to their own use. After leaving the cave I went down the river; crossed at the mouth of the Little North Folk at Mr. Yochan's. I learned that there were four rebels up the river four miles, and also three miles down the river there were four others. On agreement with Captain Piland, Forty-sixth Missouri Infantry, I took a few men and went up the river, and he took some and went down the river. On arriving at the house where they were reported to be I found two rebels, whom we killed. Captain Piland found two and killed them. I then heard there were eight rebels on the head of Musick's Creek, in Marion County, Ark., near Pine Mountain . I proceeded to the place, but found no one there except women and children. I found six rifled guns. The rebels have lately built a grist-mill here, and I think it is a good place to catch a bushwhacker almost any time. This was the 18th instant. I then started back, came to White River, at the mouth of Big Creek, but could not cross, and had to go down to the mouth of the Little North Fork, where I crossed, and proceeded to this place, arriving on the 20th instant.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
James H. Sallee, Captain
Co. B., 16th Missouri Cavalry Volunteers.
General Orders}
No. 26 }
Headquarters District of Rolla
Rolla , Mo. , April 15, 1865 .
The colonel commanding has the mournful duty to announce that he has received official intelligence of the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward on the night of the 14th instant at Washington, D.C., and directs that all business be suspended until the 17th instant; that on the 16th instant one gun shall be fired at each post in the district every half hour from sunrise to sunset; that all flags shall be raised at half-mast; all regimental and camp colors be draped in mourning, and that all officers on duty within the district shall wear the usual badge of mourning for the period of sixty days. While the above barbarous act of the abettors of this cursed and non-crushed rebellion arouses the deepest feeling of indignation and resentment, the colonel commanding would especially caution all officers and soldiers against any display of feeling which would be an infraction of the strictest military discipline.
By order of Col. John Morrill, Commanding:
H.W. Werth, Lieutenant and acting assistant Adjutant-General
Volume 48, Part 1, Page 197
Report of Maj. John Small, Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry.
Headquarters, Lebanon , Mo. , April 25, 1865
To Capt. W.T. Kittredge, Springfield , Mo.
CAPTAIN: I started from this place on the 20th instant after a band of rebels reported to be in eight miles of this place. They were reported to number 100, robbing houses and taking horses. I started with detachments of Company H, B, I and L, numbering in all about twenty-five men, with two commissioned officers, Captain Sallee, of Company B and R.D. Mayes, of Company L, all of the Sixteenth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers. I started at 9 p.m. We traveled about eight miles before we struck their trail, and followed their trail all that night over very rough ground. They traveled in most all directions. The waters being up, made it very difficult to gain much on them. We had to swim the Wet Glass. Near the mouth, it was about fifty yards wide, and the banks being steep, we were some time in getting across. We were in hearing when Captain Bollinger, from Linn Creek, attacked them, and we could not get to him for the high waters. The rebels held the ground, killing Captain Jeffery and three soldiers, one discharged from Wood's Battalion, Sixth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers, and the other two of Captain Bollinger's company. Captain Bollinger was wounded in the shoulder. Captain Bollinger had twenty-four men; Captain Jeffery had six or eight citizens with him. The rebels did not tarry long after the fight. We traveled until about 10 o'clock that night, when it got so dark and the hills so rough I was compelled to stop for the night.
On the morning of the 22d, we came on the rebels a little before sunrise--they were crossing the Osage River--just as the skiff left the shore. The most of them had crossed. Then the firing commenced, which lasted some thirty minutes. They returned the fire for some time, but soon found out that they had different men to fight to what they had been fighting the day before. They had all the advantage of me. They took shelter under the banks of the river, and we charged them. A part of my men dismounted and went down the banks to rake up their old acquaintance. I saw twelve or fifteen afoot, and we had them hemmed so that they had no chance but to take the water or be killed, and that quick; there were two of them stripped off their clothes and one of them made it across the river. He was the only man that made it across that I saw. The river was very full and the current swift and cold. The number killed was 6 on the bank and 4 in the skiff. The skiff had six in it when it started; two of them got out of it on the shore and made their escape, and it floated off with four dead rebels and a load of saddles and blankets. I captured fifteen horses and some revolvers, though the most of them I think threw them in the river. In looking along the bank of the river Captain Chitwood found two rebels hidden under the water by the side of a log. One of the men who was with him fired and killed one. The other was Captain Martin. He stated if the whole command had him on the same side that they would have sold out to us in a different way. He stated there would be two more squads along in a few days, and also that Price's army was breaking up into small bands of from 50 to 100, and that when we ran across them, they would sell out to us very dear. They were crossing the Osage at Mining Post, about eight miles below Linn Creek.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
John Small, Major
Commanding,
Volume 48, Part 2, Page 809
Headquarters District of Southwest Missouri
Springfield , Mo. , June 7, 1865
Col. J.F. McMahan, Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, Commanding Post:
Colonel: I am directed to call your attention to the fact that complaints are constantly being made by citizens of this county of lawless and disorderly conduct on the part of soldiers presumed to belong to the garrison at this post. A system of petty plundering and pilfering is carried on throughout the town and the adjoining county, and citizens are threatened and even fired at if they attempt to protect their property. Within the limits of this town it is represented that citizens are insulted and the safety of every one endangered by the promiscuous firing so constantly indulged in, in the face of repeated orders to the contrary. In view of all these complaints, which are doubtless well founded, and for the purpose of terminating a condition of affairs so disgraceful to the command, the general commanding directs: First, that you renew the orders heretofore issued relative to the absence of soldiers from their camps without proper passes, limited the number of passes and allowing none after dark except in urgent cases. Second, that you direct commanding officers at this post to allow no man to leave his camp with his horse, except when on duty requiring him to be mounted. You will cause camp-guards to be established and maintained at every camp of sufficient strength to enforce the above provisions, and will hold the officer in command of each camp responsible for their strict and impartial enforcement. When men are sent off on any duty the officer in charge will be furnished with a written detail, which will protect him and his men. All men of your command found riding U.S. horses or mules, who have not written orders allowing them to do so, will, after this order has been duly published, be arrested and sent to their commands in arrest and their names, company, &c., reported to your headquarters. In all such cases you will at once ascertain what officers or men are responsible for such violation of orders, and will cause them to be promptly punished, if commissioned officers, by arrest; if enlisted men, by confinement. A system of roll-calls, inspections, &c., at unexpected hours will also be adopted to assist in promoting these measures. Small patrols of reliable men will also be sent out around the outskirts of the town, who will take up and bring in all U.S. horses or mules found hitched near houses, refugee camps, and other similar places. You will take charge of the animals so brought in and ascertain the persons responsible for such violation of orders, and punish them as above. Running horses in and through the town will also be stopped at once.
Very respectfully,
Wm T. Kittredge,
Assistant Adjutant-General
Volume 48, Part 2, Page 937
Headquarters District of Southwest Missouri
Springfield , Mo. , June 19, 1865
Maj. J.W. Barnes,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Missouri :
The Fifteenth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers reports 510 serviceable horses and the Sixteenth Cavalry Missouri Volunteers reports 529 serviceable horses. In addition to this there are about 100 unserviceable horses in each regiment. These regiments are scattered through the district at twenty-one different posts. There being no troops except some militia here to relieve them or any part of them, and having no information as to when the Second Ohio Cavalry will be here, or of its strength, nor how many posts are to be maintained, I am at a loss how to proceed in order to comply with orders received this day to mount a battalion of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, not knowing the strength of it. The Second Battalion, Fourteenth Cavalry, requires 140 horses to equip them so as to proceed to Fort Riley as ordered. Please inform of these points; inform me also as to whether the Fifteenth and Sixteenth will be mustered out June 30 or not, and whether they will be mustered out here.
Early information is desired, as it will take at least twenty days to concentrate these two regiments at this post.
John D. Allen, Colonel
Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers
Volume 48, Part 2, Page 938
Headquarters Department of the Missouri
June 19, 1865--5:15 PM
Col. John D. Allen, Springfield :
The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Cavalry will be mustered out at Springfield . You will hold after this the posts of Lebanon , Springfield , Granby and Cassville only. The two regiments will be concentrated at Springfield as soon as possible and dismounted. Horses will be turned over to mount the Fourteenth Missouri, so it can move at once as ordered. The Second Ohio will be sufficient to hold the posts named.
J.W. Barnes
Assistant Adjutant-General