LEONARD FULTON ROSS, one of the youngest Brigadier Generals
whom Illinois has the distinction of having furnished during the war, is, with
the exception of Generals Cook and Logan, the only native Illinoisan of the
entire number. His father moved to Illinois from New York in 1821, and settled
in Fulton co., upon the site of Lewistown, the present county seat, at a period
when there were but two other white families within what are now the limits of
the county. Here he was born, July 18th, 1823. Passing his childhood upon the
frontier, where the principal portion of the population consisted of roving
bands of Indians, and in a village which derived its only importance from the
fact of its being an Indian trading post, his early opportunities for acquiring
the education of the schools were of course limited, but it may well be doubted
if the habits of activity, enterprise and observation engendered by these
circumstances were not ample compensation for any such deficiencies. At the age
of seventeen he was sent to Jacksonville, where he passed some years in study,
and having completed the prescribed course, entered a law office as student,
and was admitted to the bar in 1845. In November of the same year, he married
Catharine M., daughter of R. C. Simms, Esq. The Mexican war breaking out the
following year, upon the first call for volunteers he enlisted as a private in
Company K, 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, commanded by the gallant Baker,
for whom he entertained an enthusiastic admiration, and between whom and himself
at a subsequent period there sprung up a warm personal friendship. After serving
in the ranks for two months, he so gained the confidence and esteem of his comrades,
that, by a vote of the company, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, to fill a
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Lieut. G. W. Stipp. During his term of
service he was in command of the company about five months, including the time
of the investment and capture of Vera Cruz, and the battle of Cerro Gordo,
where he exhibited such distinguished gallantry as to elicit especial
commendation from Col. Baker. Previous to the battle he commanded the
body-guard of Gen. Shields, while making a difficult and dangerous reconnoissance
of the ground preparatory to the anticipated engagement. In January, 1847, Gen.
Scott desiring to send important dispatches from Metamora to Gens. Taylor and Patterson
at Victoria, Lieut. Ross cheerfully undertook the perilous duty, and
accomplished his mission successfully, making his way safely through a populous
and hostile country a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, accompanied only
by a guide, an interpreter, and an escort of nineteen men.
On returning to his home at the close of the war, he, somewhat
to his surprise, found himself the most popular man in his county, and a
candidate for Probate Judge. For six years he filled this and other important
county offices, and then declining further political honors, he turned his attention
to business, dealing in real estate, merchandising, etc., and meeting with the
most gratifying success. One of the most public-spirited citizens of the community
in which he resided, he always contributed liberally, both of money and personal
efforts, to advance its business and educational interests.
On the breaking out of the rebellion, notwithstanding all his
political affiliations had been with the Democratic party, he at once became an
advocate of the most active and vigorous measures for maintaining the integrity
of the Government, and while many of his old political associates were
hesitating between their wish to preserve the Government and their reluctance
to aid an Administration to which they were politically opposed, he promptly
raised a company and tendered it to the Governor. It was accepted, and ordered
to rendezvous at Peoria; and when a regimental organization was effected, May 20th,
1861, Capt. Ross was unanimously chosen Colonel of what has since been known as
the 17th Regiment Ill. Volunteers. His services in the field since that time
are too recent and too well known to require particular mention. His regiment, while
he commanded it, was almost constantly in active service, marching very many
hundreds of miles through Missouri and Kentucky, most of the time in unsuccessful
pursuit of a retreating enemy. At the battle of Fredericktown, fought by a
brigade commanded by Col. Plummer, the rebel force having been unexpectedly
encountered in ambush while Col. Plummer was some distance in the rear, Col.
Ross was in command of the forces, and had made his disposition of the troops
with such skill and rapidity, and attacked the rebels with such vigor, that the
battle was virtually over before Col. Plummer appeared upon the field. During
this engagement, Col. Ross had his horse shot under him. The troops engaged in
this affair moved from Cape Girardeau on the 18th of October, and returned on
the 25th, marching over 160 miles, and winning the first of the brilliant
series of victories that crowned our arms in that fall campaign. During a
portion of the winter, Col. Ross commanded the post at Cape Girardeau. His regiment
was ordered up the Tennessee river in February, while he was called home by
heavy domestic afflictions, and he joined it only in time to participate in the
last day’s fighting at Fort Donelson.
In April, 1862, Col. Ross was promoted to Brigadier General,
having been in command of a brigade since the capture of Fort Donelson. After
the evacuation of Corinth, he was assigned to the command of a division, and stationed
at Bolivar, Tenn., which he has surrounded with a cordon of fortifications,
erected by negro labor, that renders it impregnable; while the firm and
vigorous policy he has pursued has secured the entire loyalty, “voluntarily or
otherwise,” of the population for many miles around.
SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Biographical Sketches of Illinois Officers Engaged In the War Against the
Rebellion of 1861, p. 108-10
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