CHARLES MELVIN WRIGHT -- 16th and 121st INFANTRYBURIED IN THE FIELD AT THE WILDERNESS - In 1850, 5-year-old Charles Melvin Wright was living in Saranac with his extended family including, his mother, Henrietta, and his father, Henry, who was a bloomer. Twelve years later, on September 15, 1862, he enlisted and was mustered in to the 16th Infantry in Plattsburgh with over 60 new recruits in the second recruitment of 1862. Charles was only 16 years of age, but the record says he was 18. The men who enlisted in 1861 when the regiment formed, signed up for 2 years. By late 1863, the men who enlisted with Charles were asked to enlist for 3 years.Recruits were needed because the regiment had received over 300 casualties in 1862 with most of them coming from the Battle of Gaines' Mill and at Crampton's Pass on the way to Antietam.The 16th last battle of the year was at Fredericksburg in December where they set up their tents in the woods across the river in the sleet and rain. They weren't engaged in the action, however, because they were posted on picket duty. The 16th went into winter quarters near Falmouth, VA, a couple of miles upstream on the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg. On January 20, 1863, they commenced the ill-fated Mud March to cross the river under General Burnside who was later relieved of his command because of this campaign. In May, on the western outskirts of Fredericksburg, the regiment was in the Battles of Marye's Heights and Salem Church. They received 134 casualties just a couple of weeks before the regiment was to be mustered out.Charles, who was a 3-year man, was transferred to the 121st Infantry who had been fighting shoulder to shoulder with them since September of 1862. During the remainder of 1863, the regiment was in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia and ended their year in the Mine Run Campaign in November and December. During the 121st's first engagement of the year at The Wilderness, Charles was killed in action on May 5, 1864, where he was buried in the field. Four of the men with whom had been transferred were injured during the battle and two of them died. They were only 5 of the 17,500+ Union casualties accrued, and Charles was one of 2,200+ men who were killed in action.
