The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-08
OBITUARY..
Major General Lowell III. Rousseau.


AS will be seen by our special telegram from
Washington, General Rousseau is dead. The
personal history of Major General Rousseau,
Of Kentucky, Is familiar to almost every
American the prominent part played by him
In the war having made his name familiar
throughout the country. He was born in Lin
coin county, KY, in 1918, OF poor parents, and,
being forced to depend on his own exer.
tions, not only for food, but for education
also, may be said to be entirely o sef-made
man. His youth was spent in supporting
the younger members OF his fathers family, lefp
orphans by the early death of his parents, by
hard labor in the narrow fields left him by his
father and the broader ones OF his rich neigh.
bors, and in studying for the bar. His labors and
studies were prosecuted un der grave disadvan-
tages, and in early manhood adverse circum-
stances forced him to sell the family farm and
emigTate to Indiana. He settled in Greene
county, and having obtained license to prac-
poiiticai arena. He was taken up I,yo by the
Wings of Greene county, at that time q
small minority OF the voters, as leader.
people succeeded in defeating the regular
Democratic nominee for the State Legisla-
ture. He made himself by HIS talents and
popularity the leader of this party, which had
never attained success before his advent and
turned to Kentucky In lS49 before the conclu-
sion of a session OF the Indiana Legislature, of
which he was member, and he used fire.
quently TO be called the "member from Ken.
lucky" The Democrats In the Legislature at
one lime, after his removal to Kentucky. in
sisted on his resignations but he threatened. II
they took any action in the matter of requiring
his resignation, to return to Greene county and
run for the Legislature on every occasion. He
was allowed TO hold his seat until the end OF the
While still In Indiana he enlisted for the
ment, and served through the war as captain.
Mexican war in the I'd Indiana (Joe Lane's)Re
This was the regiment which JEFF Davis de-
clared ran at the battle of Buena Vista. Rous-
seau has long since proved ne was not OF the
In iS49 Rousseau was an emancipstionist OF
the Clay pattern, but had no party TO back him.,
and consequently took no active part in poll.
tics. His practice at the bar Kept him con-
stantly occupied, and gained for him splen-
was strong opponent of the then powerful
know. Nothing" party. and on one occasion,
and shot through the abdomen. The wound
nearly proved mortal, and he was several
about again, he found the Know Nothing party
was no longer In existence.
In 1861 his bold opposition to Kentucky neu-
trality brought Rousseau prominently before
the country. His speech In the Kentucky
Rebels and an UNIV orthy subterfuge of the Union
men was received at the time as one of the
most hopeful signs Of those uncertain times.
he early began the enlistment of troops, and
long before the other Unionists thought it poll
tic TO have United States troops quartered in
of soldiers, With these he eventually went to
Inc rescue OF Louisville when Buekner ad-
the military career In which he has won SO
much honor.
That career is doubtless familiar to all Ha
was engaged In the campaign and battle of
Shiloh; was commandant of the District of Nor
thern Alabama, succeeding General Ormsby o.
Mitchell in command of the Third division OF
BuelPs army, and pursued Bragg through Ken
tuGky END fought him single-handed at Perry.
Vile. He was engaged in Stone river and in the
campaign of Tulahoma, Chickamauga and
Chattanooga. Du,ing 1864 he commanded the
District OF Tennessee; made his famous raid
into Alabama, destroying the Montgomery and
Atlanta lines OF railroad, and In Dece her
NfL
Rosecrans against the siege of Bragg.
In politics he agreed with President Johnson
and was one OF the most ardent supporters OF
his reconstruotion policy. He had all along
favored the adoption of the constitutiona7
amendment aoolishing slavery, and headed the
only party In Kentucky which is ayoWedIv
abolition. As q criminal lawyer he had no
rival In his State since 1855. He was naturaily
leader; and In every aspect OF his career and
under all circumstances. civil and military, he
always led his people and soldiers.
The statement of his recent removal to tha
command of the Fifth Military District, with
his headquarters at New Orleans and his
operations while in that command needs no
repetition here, being familiar TO all readers,