Bright, Henry

BRIGHT, HARMON

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 04:35:46

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 686-87:

"HENRY BRIGHT, of Leon, is a son of Jacob and Maria Bright, early settlers of Decatur County. The father emigrated with his family from Gallia County, Ohio, in 1853. He first settled in Wapello County. Two or three years later, the family, consisting of parents and five children, came to Decatur County and settled in Morgan Township, section 15, where they resided many years. The mother died in 1884, and the father is still living. Henry Bright was born near Gallipolis, Ohio, October 15, 1842. He married Lorena Harmon, a daughter of David Harmon, an early settler of Eden Township, and later of Morgan Township. He died several years ago. In 1862 Mr. Bright enlisted in Company K, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, down to the battle of Allatoona Pass, Georgia, where he was severely wounded. He was engaged at Parker's Cross-Roads, Tennessee, Bear Creek, Alabama, Rome, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Snake Gap and Allatoona. The latter was one of the most desperate and hotly-contested battles of the war. General Corse with about 1,500 men was stationed at Allatoona Pass, guarding the depot of supplies for General Sherman's army. The fort and depot of supplies were attacked by a superior force of Confederates, who were repulsed only after a desperate struggle, involving a most severe loss to both forces. It was on this occasion that General Sherman, from the heights of Kenesaw Mountain, signaled, "Hold the fort, for I am coming." Company K, of the Thirty-ninth, were in the ditches in front of the fort when the attack was made. The Confederates in large numbers swarmed up and over the ditches when a bloody hand-to-hand fight ensued. It was at this time that Mr. Bright received a gun-shot wound through the left breast and left arm. After overcoming the comparative small force of men in the ditches the Confederates made a gallant attack upon the fort, but were repulsed with fearful slaughter. In their retreat they took with them the small number of men who fought in the ditches that were not killed or severely wounded. After the battle Mr. Bright was cared for by his comrades, and for a long time his recovery was considered doubtful, but after a long siege at the hospital he was discharged, at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. This famous battle was fought at the beginning of "Sherman's march to the sea," and communication with the North was for some time necessarily suspended, and Mr. Bright was reported dead by comrades who saw him fall and were afterward taken prisoners, and his sudden appearance at home in the presence of his family was indeed like one rising from the dead. It was two years before his wounds healed, and he will always carry the honorable scars received in the heroic defense of Allatoona Pass. After the war Mr. Bright continued to reside in Morgan Township, until 1876, when he removed with his family to Leon where he now resides. He was engaged in the mercantile business at Leon for six years, and afterward served two years as city marshal. Mr. and Mrs. Bright have two children - Ida and Eltie. Both are graduates of the high school at Leon, and are engaged in teaching. Politically Mr. Bright is a Republican."