Showing posts with label Leonard F Ross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leonard F Ross. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 25, 1862

LUMPKINS MILLS, MISS.

Passed the day in camp as Ross's division were passing on their way to Holly Springs. Weather beautiful. It made the day pleasant for our men. I had a pole greased and tied some tobacco and a dollar bill on top and the man who climbed it was to have it. It afforded a great deal of amusement and helped to make the day pass away agreeably to all.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Monday, June 12, 2017

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: February 14, 1862

Cape Girardeau, Mo., February 14, 1862.

Sam arrived here to-night and brought me everything I could wish for except my watch. Jem Harper from Company K is home on furlough and we expect him now shortly, also Benton Spencer. If you could manage to send the watch by one of them I would be much obliged. I cannot well get along without one now. You seem to be very happy about my getting away from the Point. Rather more so than I am myself. If I had stayed there I would have been with a fair chance to fight — to fight soldiers. Here there are no forces to fight but a few hundred bushwhackers that will lie by the roadside in the swamp, and I believe they would murder Jesus Christ if they thought he was a Union man. We failed in doing what we wanted to the last trip, but I believe we'll get even with them yet. I'd hate mightily to get killed by such a pack of murderers, but that isn't my business. If U. B. and father have experienced such trips as we have, I'll bet I beat them in one thing — enjoying them. I always feel better out that way than in camp. The 11th Missouri is still with us and the 17th has gone to Tennessee. The colonel, Ross, picked out 50 or 60 of his most worthless men and put them on the gunboats. There are some hopes that our regiment will be ordered to Kentucky soon or to Wheaton, Mo., for there is a regiment of Missourians here forming that will be sufficient to guard this vicinity. This place if not entirely secession is very strongly southernly righteous. I am getting acquainted with the female population slowly, not very, and one family of three girls tell me they are positively the only unconditional Union women in town. But the others show nothing of the cold shoulder to us. They are all very friendly and sociable. Quite a number of beautiful girls here. The aristocracy here are all Catholic. Funny, isn't it? Frenchy.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 61-2

Thursday, May 11, 2017

3rd Sergeant Charles Wright Wills: November 20, 1861

Bird's Point, November 20, 1861

Part of Pitt's (Col. W. Pitt Kellogg's) cavalry are here. We are glad to see them as it will relieve us of considerable picket duty. But otherwise cavalry are of not much service in this brushy, swampy country. That fox of a Jeff Thompson that we chased down to New Madrid last week, had the impudence to follow us right back and we had hardly got our tents pitched here at the Point before he passed within 12 miles of us to the river above, and captured a steamboat. Report says that there were nearly a dozen officers on the boat, and a paymaster, with money to pay off the Cape Girardeau troops. Jeff is a shrewd one, and the man that captures him will do a big thing. Back in the country where we were, he made the natives believe that he whipped Ross and company at Fredericktown, and killed 400 federals with a loss of only ten of his men. Don't it almost make you sick the way that 17th brag and blow about themselves? That affair at Fredericktown didn't amount to a thing. From the best information I can get, there was not to exceed 50 Rebels killed, and I'm sure not that many. Thompson is stronger to-day than ever. This thing of sending infantry after him is all bosh, although we tried it again yesterday. It failed of course. The boys came back through the rain last night about 10, tired and mad as the deuce. A thousand cavalry may possibly get him some day, but they will be sharp ones, sure. In this fight at Belmont 1,200 of our men at first completely whipped 2,400 of theirs, four regiments, then the whole of ours, 2,600 ran like the devil before and through 5,600 of theirs. These are the true figures.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 43-4

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Diary of Private Charles Wright Wills: August 11, 1861

Cairo.  Our Canton boys came down on time, and right glad I am to have them here. Colonel Ross's 17th Regiment got here the same day by the river. The boys were sworn into our company the day after they arrived, and the day following a lieutenant in the Fulton Blues came over to get them to join his company. I am glad he was too late. We have all been over to the Point to visit the Canton boys of the 17th, and found them looking very well. Will Trites, alone, looks unwell. A few weeks at home is what he really needs, for he will not give up work and go on the sick list as he ought to, as long as he can stand. Billy Stockdale, Chancey Black, George Shine, Billy Resor and Jesse Beeson are in No. 1 condition. Their tents are pitched in old Bird's cornfield from which the corn has just been cut and you can imagine that the stubble is not equal to feathers to lie upon. They call us boys that live in barracks in Cairo, Sunday soldiers and Fourth of July braves; the same names we applied to them when they were in Camp Mather. The Canton boys in our company get along finely. They are in the best of spirits and already appear quite soldierly. They are well satisfied with the company which now numbers 90 men and will be full this week. We all room together except John Wallace and Milo Farewell. We are now drilling about six hours a day, but the greenhorns act as though they think it fun. We don't suffer from the heat as much as one would think, and can you believe it the health of the camp is better now than ever before. We have not in our company a man on the sick list. Major Smith (our old friend Marion), says that the 17th have been healthier at Bird's Point than they ever were before; and so every regiment says that comes here. If there are any very old people in Canton that want to live 50 or 60 years longer, advise them to come to Cairo. Mosquitoes and fleas are around these times. The whole family are here.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 24-5

Friday, July 15, 2016

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday, April 24, 1863

Rained from daylight to 11 A. M. Serjeant of guard at Gen Rosses head quarters

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 488

Friday, July 8, 2016

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday, April 10, 1863

Mustered for pay in the afternoon. Many troops, comeing down from above bound for below Gen Ross takes command of this post, and probability we will stay here some time.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 487

Friday, October 12, 2012

Brigadier General Leonard F. Ross


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

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Headquarters of Col. Leonard F. Ross: Duncan Field, Shiloh National Military Park


U. S.

* * *

HEADQUARTERS, 3D BRIGADE,
1ST DIVISION,
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE;
COL. L. F. ROSS, 17TH ILLINOIS.

ESTABLISHED MARCH 21ST,
1862

* * * * *

COL. JULIUS RAITH,
COMMANDING,
APRIL 6TH, 1862.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

From Washington

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

WASHINGTON, March 13.

Leonard F. Ross, Col. of the 17th Illinois, and Capt. Ricketts, of the 1st U. S. artillery, (the latter of whom was imprisoned some time at Richmond,) have been nominated Brigadier Generals.

A sub-committee of the conduct of the war committee visit Manassas to-day, to investigate the actual condition of that place, with a view to discover the enemy’s strength and defenses at the time when our Generals were still hesitating.

It is ascertained that a citizen of Massachusetts made the first advance on the rebel strongholds on Sunday morning.  Roving beyond our lines, he gradually neared Centerville, and seeing no enemy, he boldly marched within the entrenchments and contemplated with surprise the wooden guns with black mouths mounted there.  He pushed on to Manassas, and “occupied” both places until Monday, when he turned them over to the four corps d’armee.  His testimony has been taken by the conduct of the war committee.

Garrett Davis made almost a disunion speech in the Senate yesterday, on the bill for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, saying that Kentucky should be a “La Vendee” before she would submit to see slavery touched even in the cotton States by unconstitutional legislation or any other.  Mr. Hale, of N. H., continued the debate.

Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, from the House judiciary committee, reported a bill reorganizing the Supreme Court, as an amendment to the Senate bill.  The eighth circuit consists of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin; the ninth of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.

Negroes are flocking in from Virginia by the hundreds.  It is estimated that at least one-tenth of the servile population of this section are freed by the retreat of the rebels.  All entertain the notion that their freedom follows the advance of our armies.  One gang of twenty-five arrived this morning.

All who were at Centreville agree that there was only a shadow of an army there.  No heavy guns were ever mounted except wooden ones.  The entrenchments on their flank and rear were feeble.  The railroad to Manassas is of poor construction.  Trees are cut down so as to disclose the plains of Manassas.  Part of the huts were burned; part were standing.  Among the spoils remaining were thousands of hides.  A deserter says that a regular mail from Washington via Alexandria, came twice or thrice weekly.

The House to-day discussed the first and second sections of the tax bill, the question whether any mode of collection through State machinery was practicable.  No vote was taken, but the inclination of the House seemed to favor collection by the United States.

Senator Grimes, of Iowa, made a vigorous and eloquent speech on the resolution giving thanks to Flag Officer Foote.  He was listened to with marked attention, and enforced congratulations from Senators of all shades of opinion.  He gave the Western navy its due – showed by documentary evidence that the credit of the plan of attack on Forts Henry and Donelson belonged to Capt. Foote, and that he would have taken Nashville the week before Buell did; and thus saved valuable stores, if he had been permitted by Gen. Halleck.  Mr. Grimes, enlarged upon the value of a navy to a free people, and incidentally alluded to the Monitor and the Merrimac fight as showing the value of iron-clad vessels, whose construction he (Grimes) had urged since he took his seat in the Senate.  He had also paid a handsome tribute to Lieut. Worden and Capt. Ericson.

The bill organizing the Territory of Arizona attaches the Wilmot Proviso to that and to all other Territories hereafter organized.  Ashley’s Territorial bill was defeated yesterday by the absence of Republicans.  Wilkinson will introduce the same bill from the Senate Territorial Committee, and it will probably come down to the House.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 15, 1862, p. 1