After the start of the war, Wright took part in the evacuation and destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard (later named the Norfolk Navy Yard) on April 20, 1861, to prevent its exploitation by Confederate forces.
I starten af krigen tog Wright del i evakueringen og ødelæggelsen af Gosport Navy Yard (senere omdøbt til Norfolk Navy Yard) den 20. april 1861 for at undgå at den blev udnyttet af styrker fra Amerikas Konfødererede Stater.