The title General is honorary as the highest rank he held during the war was 2nd Lieutenant. None the less he perfomred admirable service to his government, see:

Gen. Luke E. Wright

Tennessee lost a distinguished son in the death of Gen. Luke E. Wright, Secretary of War under President Roosevelt and ex-Governor General of the Philippines, which occurred at his home in Memphis, Tenn., on November 17, after an illness of several months. He had been prominent in the professional and business life of Memphis for over a half century. His wife was a daughter of Admiral Raphael Semmes, and she survives him with a son and two daughters.

General Wright was the son of Judge Archibald Wright, for many years Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and was born in this State in 1846. He graduated in law at the University of Mississippi, and had served as attorney general of Tennessee. During the War between the States he served with distinction as a Confederate soldier, first with the 54th Tennessee Infantry, then with an artillery unit known as Wright's Battery.

Although a Democrat in politics, General Wright's ability was recognized by two Republican Presidents, both McKinley and Roosevelt having appointed him to Federal offices. The former named him as a member of the Philippine Commission, and he later served as Vice Governor and as Governor General of the islands; he resigned this in 1906 to accept an appointment from President Roosevelt as ambassador to Japan, and later returned to the United States to accept the appointment as Secretary of War. Resigning from this office in 1909, he returned to Memphis and resumed his law practice.

During the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878, General Wright remained in the city to direct relief work.

Confederate Veteran: v. 30, p. 470

PS There is a magnificant U. S. Military Cemetery at Fort McKinley just outside Manila. I would often take visitors there while stationed at Cavite. Also a nice golf course!