The New York herald., 1869-01-09
Q BIT VA r ".
Brevct Major General Loveli Hilnire Rous-
seau, United States Army.

OF Brevet Major General Loven IL. Rousseau. OF the
United States Army. This sad event took place at
New Orleans at eleven O'Clock Thursday night, the
disease which proved go fatal being congestion OF
the bowels. On Thursday night our dispatches
announced the Illness OF the General, but as he pos.
sessed very powerful constitution we INDUCED in
the hope that he would eventually recover. This,
however, was not fated to be realized. AT the age
OF fifty years and four months Lowell II. Rousseau
departed this world.
Looking back upon the past life OF the deceased,
there is much to praise and little to censure.
native OF Kentucky (being born in Lincoln county OF
that state ON August 4, 1885, OF Huguenot descent,
and reared ana educated in the midst OF what was
and stin Is peculiarly ordered society, he grew up
TO manhood sharing all the preudces Characteristic
Of the sou.herner The death Of his father while he
was yet youth straitened the circumstances OF
his family and compelled hm to labor in aid OF those
who had been left dependent. His educational ad-
vantages were limited to a common school, but with
rare energy he Taught himself the French language
mathematics and other OF the higher branches. He
engaged In the study OF law, abandoned 1t for a
while, by reason Of III health, and eventually re
sumed it, being admitted to the bar OF Greene county,
Indiana, to which State he had moved his residence.
The young lawyer entered into political life
a member OF the whg organization, taking an active
part in public questions and being elected to the
State Legislature OF Indiana during the summer Of
1s43 His political did not last long. Possess
Ing considerable military ardor the outbreak of the
war with Mexico found him captain OF volunteers,
and at the battle OF Buena VISTA fought February 23
1S47 he so greatly distinguished himself that he was
natteringly complimented in the official reports.
While absent in the service OF his country he was
elected 10 the Indiana State Senate, serving for four
years, although by removing to Louisville in 1S49,
he had virtually quilted the State before his term
pred. In Kentucky he had a large and lucrative
practice his legal abilities being Of high order In
the spring OF 1860 The deceased elected without
opposition to the Senate OF Kentucky. The great
crisis in the history Of the United States was ap
preaching, and he took his stand by the side OF the
Union without moments hesitation. Strongly
Southern as ne was In sentiment, deploring, as he
publicly avowed, the election OF sectional President
and willing he declared, to do all that he could to
prevent the republican party from interfering with
the affairs OF the South, he could not be induced to
give his consent to- much less unite with, effort to
dissolve the Union. Notwithstanding the opposition
met with from the secession members, he boldly
spoke out in 1avor OF the national government and
finding the majority to be against HIM, he resigned
his seat for the purpose Of raising troops
for the defence Of the Union from among
the loyal citizens OF his native State. With
a commission from the War Department,
he soon succeeded In establishing camp on the
northern side Of the Ohio river ana thither the loyal
men Of Kentucky nocked to the standard OF the
United States. He was commissioned colonel OF
volunteers in June, 1861: and, although rich friends
turned against him, the poor eagerly joined the
which their defender had espoused BY the 1st OF
Of ne % IN ss c Inn ana
vading the State of Kentucky during that month
with the intent OF capturing Louisville he crossed
hta nnnA AUAro anil In nv1S~ ht ~
September II, and took possession of Muldraugh's
Hill by series OF rapid marches, thus defeating by
his forethought the object OF the insurgents For
this sklful movement ne was promoted TO the rank
Of brigadier general OF volunteers, to date from
October ], 1851, and was assigned to the command
Of q Brigade composed Of both regular and volun-
General neral Rousseau remained in Kentucky at the
head OF his forces until the fall OF Fort DonelsOn and
Nashville, when he marched into Tennessee. He ar
rived at pittsburg Landing in time for the second
DAYS battle Of shiloh when he greatly distinguished
gard, Was placed in command Of the Third division
Kentucky compelled the federal army to abandon q
large part OF Tennessee and hasten to Louisville the
SSe Of Peye sn Gener
bore the brunt Of the attack losing onethird Of its
numbers but nnicting such heavy losses upon the
but retired before daybreak. Thus, for the second
time, the deceased saved Kentucky from Confederate
had our forces been defeated st Perryve IS very
diflcut TO decide what the result OF the war would
~ have been: For his services on this occasion the
general Of volunteers Subsequent TO the retreat Of
Bragg the General was placed in command OF o
Cumberland under General George II. Thomas. In
the bloody three days battle at Murfreesboro, on
ing gallant charge Of the regulars under his com.
mand Sickness in the summer OF 1858 compelled
him to temporarily retire from the field, but upon
again distinguished himself by brilliant cavalry
raid through Alabama and part Of Georgia. In
this raid he inflicted some damage upon the enemy,
and although near Lovejoy's station his force was
surrounded and suffered heavily In cutting its way
through to Marietta, where It reoined General sher
mans army, the general result stamped General
Rousseau as o dashing and able cavalry officer.
During the aggressive operations Of General Hood,
Tennessee during December, 1894 General Ruos-
seau held command Of the fortified post at Mur-
freesoSro and and rspSlsed every attack made BY the
sangunary contest took place In front of Murfrees-
boro, the assault being fierce and determined; but
victorious. The entire military career OF General
Rousseau was distinguished for ability galantry and
that never faihng test of merit-success We cannot
In newspaper article, review all the minor points
In his career all tae engagements he participated in,
oil the gallant deeds he performed. Throuahout the
long and weary years OF bloodshed his faith in the
final success OF the Union arms was never once
shaken. With the majority OF hts kindred either
actively engaged In the cause of the South or
ardently sympathizing with the rebels, 1t speaks
volumes In hs favor that he never once fatered In
ms uuty 10 the country. And, nObler than all else,
when the war had ended, he was one OF the first to
stretch forth his hands to the defeated Souherners
and welcome them back to the Union as friends
The history OF General Rousseau's life since 1895 IL
OF Importance, although 1t can be briefly told. Re-
signing his commission he returned to louisville
and in August, 1885, was elected Representative TO
Congress Whatever influence he possessed was
used In favor OF the constitutional amendment abol
ishng slavery, and when that had been finally
adopted he urged the complete restoration OF the
Union by the prompt admission OF the Southern
States TO representation. The quarrel between Con-
gress and the President found him an ally OF the
latter and 1t was for defending Mr. Johnson that he
was grossly insulted by Mr. Grinnel, OF Iowa. who
used language In debate rejecting upon his military
career. The General awaited apology for several
days, but, finding none forthcoming met MIS- nsuter
on the Capitol grounds and inflicted severe caning
For this he was censured by the House, when he in-
nedately resigned his seat, but unanimously
reelected. Az the expiration OF his term he de-
clined reelection, although urgently requested to
accept nomination. During the latter part OF 1867
he :. was commissioned q brigadier general
IN the regular army Of the United States
and was soon after sent to take pos
session OF our new Territory OF Alaska. Here
rpula lima vbaf,h