The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-13
John ROSE.

Tinted States are becoming more friendly
and cordial in their character, brief account
of a Russian-the only one, 1t IS believed
Who served on the side of the Americans in
their struggles 1or lhdepeh'ieice' nntay pe NV
without interest. Is ste = 4 :
In the spring of 1878, at Valley Forge, the
attention of General William Irvine-at that
time Quartermaster General Of Pennsylvania
was attracted by a young Russian OF eX-
ceeedingly genteel appearance and courteous
department., who WAS acting as surgeons
mate in the hospital at that place. General
Irvine no had himself served as surgeon
in the British navy before the war, noticed
his lack of surgical skill, and thinking that
he would be more efficient if transferred to
other duties, procured a situation for him in
the staff of his brigade, afterward heuten-
antcy in the PENNSYLVANIA line; and finally,
in 1881, was 80 pleased with the man as to
appoint him one of his own aids, with the
rank of major In this latter capacity he
served in the general family until after the
close of the Revolution, retaining to the last
the esteem of his commander and his broth
er officers.
The name by which this Russian officer
went was John Rose. His story, upon be-
coming acquainted with General Irvine, was,
that he was native of Livonia. in Russia
that, having desire to serve the American
cause, he had, in opposition to the wishes of
his friends, made his way to England, and
thence to Baltimore, where he found himself
without money or friends that, disappoint
ed in getting a commission i'll an army, as he
had expected, he had formed the acquaint-
ance of German physician in Baltimore,
whose language he spoke, and after a brief
study of surgery under him, had succeeded
in obtaining the situation as surgeons mate,
as above mentioned. Major Rose was very
efficient aid to General Irvine during the
whole war, and was of particular service
while the former con handed the western de-
partment of Pittsburg-a command render
ed the more embarrassing on account of the
disputes arising out of the conflicting claims
of Pennsylvania and Virginia to that region.
Major Rose made himself very popular
with the country people. and at their request
he accompanied the militia, in 1882, on their
expedition to the Sandusky plains, and was
very efficient in securing the retreat of the
defeated Americans on that occasion. DR..
w. A. Irvine, a grandson of the general.
speaking of the conduct of Rose on this oc-
casion, says: ~ remember to have heard
an officer relate that having made his own
way into tree-top, he witnessed the pur-
suit of Major Rose by party Of mounted In
dians, who were at all times close to him
to throw their tomahawks. They were, |
however, finally batfled by the superior
Workmanship and the GOODNESS of Rose |
Besides his soldierly qualities, however Rose !
was noted for his strict integrity and high /
principles of honor, carrying them indeed so !
Tar as at times to be amusing. An instance |
of this occ,lrrs in one Of his accounts render !
ed to the government for his expenses while !
on a military journey. Among the items he
charged /" one half pint of whiskey Cd adj /
ding in q note IN. B. The half pint of
whiskey was used to wash the back of nv !
portmantcau horse which was much hurt - |
Judging from the experiences ofthe late war. !
our officers and quarrermasters have learned /
to do better than that
At the close of the war, in 1874, Major |
Rose returned to Russia. While on board |
the vessel in New York just before it weigh
ed anchor, he wrote letter to General Irvine. |
expressing his warm gratitude for the atten-
ton he had ever received from himself and |
famlly-eXpressing however, one only regret !
that he had remained so long without his !
true history having been made known. He |
then stated that his name was not John Rose.
but Gustavus de Rosenthal, of LivOnia, in |
Russia-that he was baron of the Empire:
that in an encounter with nobleman of the
court at St. Petersburg he had killed his
antagonist in a duel, brought on by q blow
which the othe, had inflicted upon an aged
uncle of his in his presence. In consequence
OF this he had fled to England, and thence to
The intercessions of his family
had at last procured him permission to re-
turn, but he intended to come back again
and make America his home. The fact, how
ever, that he was made Grand Marshall of
Livonia, soon after his return to his native
country, and other circumstances, which need
not here be mentioned, prevented his fulfill
ing his intention, though he often required
to it in the warm correspondence which he
kept up with the Irvine family until his
death, ia 1880. The Republicanism, how
ever which he learned in America. he seems
not to have forgotten in Russia and it is
rather an interesting incident that Alexander
should have expressed the wish Gas he did
that he, Rosenthal should wear the insignia
of the Republican Society of the Cincinnati.
1t has been said that the Emperor himself
was suspected of democratic leanings at la
ter period, the sincerity of which was doubt
ed, out the reality of which this incident
seems in measure to corrohorate The chill
dren of Baron Rosenthal all died before him.
though two granddaughter still survive in
Russia. The memories of Lafayette. the
F'renchman, Steuben and De Kalb the Ger
mans, Kosclusko and Pulaski the Poles, are
ever fresh in the hearts of Americas sons.
There should also be niche in our Temple
IT Liberty for the statue of Rnsenthal the
York Journal Commerce..