The Portland daily press., 1863-01-10
MISCELLANY.
Maior-GeneraI Rosecrans.

Maj-Gen. William Stake Rosecrans, the he
70 of what now appears the most holly con-
tested engagement of the war, and which has
resulted in a complete victory to the Union
arms, was born in Kingston, Delaware county,
Ohio, Dec. 5. 1919, and is consequently forty
three years OF age. His father, Crondall Rose
Grams, was of German decent, and emigrated
from Holland His mother, Jemima Hopkins,
was the daughter of a revolutionary soldier
and native of Pennsylvania.
In 1888 and at the age of Is, young Rose
Grams was appointed cadet at West Point
Military Academy, and graduated with honors
in 1912. In July 1912, he entered the corps of
engineers as brevet second lieutenant, and
served that year at Fortress Monroe as first
assistant, under command of Lieut. Col. X. +.
DeRussey. In 1S43 he was ordered to West
Point as assistant professor of engineering.
About this time he was married to Miss. Heg-
emap. daughter of Adrian Hegeman of this
city. and well known to the public. This is
no doubt the reason of the often repeated re-
port that Gen. X. was native of this city,
In 1874 he was detailed as Assistant Professor
of Natural and Experimental Philosophy. In
1S47 he was ordered to Newport to take charge
of the Notifications and the reconstruction of
large military wharf which had previously
been destroyed. He remained there until
1852, when he was charged with the survey of
New Bedford and Providence harbors and
Taunton river In April 1854 he was ordered
to report for duty to the Secretary of the Ma
wv, In the Bureau of Docks and Yards, and
was assigned as constructing engineer, at
Washington Navy Yard, in November, 1858,
when, on account of i'll health, he rendered
his resignation to the Secretary of War. JEFF
ferson Davis. The resignation was, however,
not excepted, but leave OF absence was
granted. with the understanding that, at its
terminus, il his resignation was insisted upon,
it would be accepted, which was subsequently
done in April, 1854. From that time to June,
1856, General Rosecraus occupied an office in
Cincinnati as consulting engineer and archi-
tect. In 1855 he was appointed superinten-
dent of works and president of the Can
nal Coal Company, which with other parties,
were engaged in building locks, dams. &c, In
Western Virginia. He relinquished his posi-
ton to assume control of the Cincinnati Coal
Oil Company, then making preparations for
nm extensive business, in which he was deeply
concerned.
He was thus engaged in private pursuits I'M
ill the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861,
when he was selected by General Mcclellan as
aid and acting chief engineer, with the rank of
major. The Legislature Of Ohio, then pur-
posely created the office of Chief Engineer of
the State for General Rosecrans, which was ac-
cepted by him. In June, 1861, he was APP
pointed by Governor Dennison colonel in the
Twenty third regiment Ohio Volunteers, and
was sent upon a mission to Washington city
to arrange for the maintenance and payment
of the Ohio contingent forces. On the 26th of
June he was nominated by the President
brigadier-general in the regular army, pro-
motion universally acknowledged to be as rap
Id as il was deserved. When Gen. Mcclellan
made the advance into Western Virginia, Gen.
Rosecrans was intrusted with brigade, COM
posed OF the Eighth and Tenth Indiana Seven
teenth and Nineteenth Ohio Regiments, and
proceeded to Clarksburg, thence to Buckhan-
non. and on the 10th July fought the MEM
orable battle of Rich Mountain achieving a
disastrous defeat for the rebels. In this battle
he cut a passage nine miles through the woods,
and coming upon the enemys rear, after
desperate fight completely routed them, cap
turing all they had, and taking many prison
ers.k The rebels numbered about two thousand,
under Gen. Pegram, who was soon after
obliged to surrender himself prisonerof war.
Subsequently Gen. Rosecrans drove the rebel
Gems Wise and Floyd out of Western Vir-
GINA, and captured their effects.
When in july Mcclellan was called to the
command OF the Army of the Potomac, Gen.
Rosecrans succeeded to the command of the
Army of Western Virginia.
August 1st-General Rosecrans telegrapbed
to the War Department that as the result of
the operations in Western Virginia, the valley
of the Kanawha was freed from rebels, and
that his forces had captured one thousand mus
kets, a quantity ofammunition, etc.
September l0th-He routed Floyd, who had
sixteen pieces OF artillery and five or six thous-
and men at Carnifax Ferry, and again rid his
department of rebels.
November 29th-He issued his farewell adj
dress to the army, assigning the command to
General Fremont. LII that address he says:
Companions in arms In this vast depart
e. Al.
summer, the colds and storms of winter for
nine months Ihave witnessed your uncomplain-
ing zeal and activity, your watchings, your
marchings, and your combats. Under God, to
your bravery and good conduct it is due that
that not single reverse has attended our arms
in all these vast regions"
He was made major general in March. 1862,
and placed in command of the Army of the Mis-
sissippi. September 10 and 20 he fought and
won the battle OF Iuka; October and that,
of Cornth, completely routing the enemy, and
taken large number ofprisoners, colors stands
Of arms, &c.
After the battle OF Perryvile he was ordered
to snpersede Gen. Buell., and issued his fare
well address at Corinfh on the 26th of October
1862. On the Both of October he assumed
command of his new department of the Cum
berland at Louisville. He &C once began or
ganizing and moving his army southwark and
vi I"e oe'i " N"NeinDer, at bowling trreen, ne
announced its complete organization into three
grand divisions under Generals Thomas, Nc
Cook and Criltenden. He issued peremptory
orders correcting abuses and summarize num-
ished officers when sucn occurred On the
25th of December, 1852, he took the field and
moved his army rapidly upon Mnrfreesboro'
the present result of which movement we now
record and which has crowned him with glory.
Major-General Rosecrans is about five feet
eight inches high, firmly built, his shape dis
playing his Geeman origin; his motions are
quick, his mind almost intutive. His face is
weather-worn. but bears warm, cordial style
which never leaves it. When conversing he
looks you square in the face. There is no air
of superiority in his manner he approaches
you as a friend, takes to you as a friend, and
bids uou onnd day rs q friend IN Y N..II