The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-17


took charge of the surTeys of harbors at those
ports and the Taunton River. The following
Year. IN response TO a request from the Secre-
farT Of the Navy for competent engineer,
Lieutenant Roseerans was selected by the Sec
yetar-v OF War and assigned 10 duty at Wash
ingtoa Navy Yard, where he planned the
immense shops now in use At that place Tor
forging heavy work.
At the age Of thirtv-four, when at the head
OF his profession. Lieutenant Rosecrans decided
to resign from The army, where he had served
eleven wears without having reached the dig
nifty Of a captains commission, and seek en-
ploynenf IN his profession IN civil life. Jeiier-
son DaVis. then Secretary of War. expressed
great reluctance to accept his resignation, be-
Ing unwilling 80 lose so valuable an officer from
the service offering him. instead, six months
1eare Of absence in which TO determine whether
he preferred civil 10 military engineering In
APRIL 1854 his determination remaining ul-
changed, his resignation was accepted. greatly
TO the regret OF General Totten, chief of en-
gineers. who exprsse6 in his Endorsement upon
the resignation, his regret that the country
was about to lose the services OF so able and
valuable au officer"
The seven vears that followed, closing with
1s6l, were spent ny Lieutenant Rosecrans in Wig
Orous employment He was pioneer in the
manufacture OF coal oil, in which his scientific
education proved OF great value.
7RuE TO HIS COUNTRY.
At the outbreak of the rebellion he owned
a prussiate Of potash works and coal
oil refinery on Second street in Cincin-
naii. which under his skillfai manage
ment. was beginning To show grand financial
results when the call of the Government
for troops with which to crush rebellion
IN the cotton States brought him 70 the front
as . soldier folly equipped. by edncailen enc
generals III III ao Bru1a .Az -lom
war Wa ,eTel iaesit BE Rosocraus
lhaaghf lo ans hat t..at IF LIS caa Isfs
private rnt ls4r5s6 ras cisslases - ier &
pIfse contingent ntaE turned
8at q Tire on5 lo .agf the
asagat r1sc-as ldtgs
stia - ihEnseiyes
u - - Aiss Be was c1-- aed
r0l0nel of the 23d Ohio volunteers. and f0ar
days later his commission as brigadieT-gcneral
reached him while actively engaged in assist
ing Governor Dennison IA securing clothing
and equipment for the troops then being mus
tered into service.
The first brigade. commanded by General
R0secrans. was composed Of the Y7th and 18th
Chic and the Slh and Ieth Indiana infantry.
A soldier 0f one 0f these regiments writes from
the field Of operations in West Virginia: our
general is an incessant worker. He is in the
saddle almost constantly. He has not had a full
nights sleep since he has been IN Virginia, and
he takes his meals as often on horseback as Al
tle table. HIS somiality and affability endeaE
him 70 al s-ao come IN contact with hiua."
A BIG LITTLE RATTLE.
Within two weeks after he assumed command
Of Iacse troops tscy had fought the battle Of
Rich G0nasain aHder bis leadership, which
decided tie FIRST campaign Of the war.
This engagement Like that ot Mill Springs
fought by Henerai Thomas IL Keniucky,
Though slaail IS regard the numbers engaged
as compared ulfh those which this commander
WAS destined later To plan and execute was fsr-
reaching II lis results. Astrong and confident
Zoe held position IL the mountains Of Western
Virginia They were within their own terri
tory, where cry road and mountain foot path
was familiar to tAaln
Giie ml.i.ssTy operations OF General Rosecrans
n Western Virginia are 50 well described by
Carleton IL his valuable contributions 10
this paper. entitled Saving the Nation" as 10
render their Fepsfiiisn unnecessary.
onfAe Isl Of august President JEFF Davis
wrote 70 General Joseph +. Johnston: Gea-
eTal Lee bas gone 70 Western Virginia and
hope may b able 70 strike a decisive blow al
the enemy in that quarter: or. falling in that
viii be able TO organize and post our troops q
as to check Tie enemy aitel which he viii
retnrn 10 this place.
Pitted for SIX ,aenths against the future
commander Of tsse Confederate army, Genera
RosecEans Dot oBiy held MS position against :
decisive blow 5Ht within three months hac
placed i bssend the power Of General lee q
adopt the remaining alternative Of " ;xlssint
his troops 80 as u check The enemy
Disasters have come and disasters arc com
ing, frrvte Henry A. Wise 70 General Lex
after araiiez Ferry, which you alone, fear
car repair and prevent
Nheil, "a January. 1852, General Lee wa'
recalled 10 the Army Of Northern Virginia th.
coafeccra-es retired, le2xing West Virginia Il
se Incorporated inso ilie Union as a sovereign
State
Ahopt tlis tine General Rosecrans. with tras
military sagacitF- proposed z union Of al tht
troops ~ she departments lying north and
Eest oi Eashtlgtgn in movement up the
hheI-aadlah haiics-. where they would be il
position to move Bpea Richmond in coniunc,
tica wiki the Aray OF tie Potomac: but The
time had net arEEscd - tske RichInond, and
the ysune Napoleon al The head Of ths
bsiatea et1tes arlag. feeling aggrieyed ~ Lux
cr7tifzSnls iiaae ~ 2esecrans ufoIl his tafsis
movements at Esra Mountain, opposed ths
Ia0yt-seai. 6e1irr4i Rosactzns having Ti5
Nls Virginia of hostile forces was succeeael
bg Frement- AM I. MaE 1862 ordered to re
port 70 sH2D. raj s4s iccI-~l,el l0He tOrislth. BE
ing asst enea 20 iae s5asy of tie lississiBp:
.senefai Pops gave liin commend Of one bali D
his army, where be reaaafned until that Officer
WAS transferred II his headquarters II hi
Fsacsile," "a Virginia. wAea he assumed com
lAtss4 81 me NE-2f. tEclffTa4 1ial.eck haEsl,
been elifd 10 Nssa ngfosi, the con4iasJ.d CT thl
AIss,lez - the teaae-eg and he Mississippi
low incorporated iuf9 one-icll 70 Genera
Grant
The greater raTt of the Confederate arm,
1norel aEgas f.si.zi s FROST and concentrated Il
thattaDoasa. iag i. movement under Bragg il
conjunction Ssh Geaeral T. Kirby Sniifls. int
EeHtsck- Hatitg sEceeeded iD reaching Ia
centeg ot thai ie ay Ranking Bnells army
cenef.l Bragg - eGca ordered cooperation
iron iienegals Pre-. and Van Dora, ihau ia oe
cuiafion 81 GgaiFai Mississippi.
TEIE rAurIE or rrasA.
GeEtrrA Bragg WAS % far luisinforlned as 1
the movements of Grants forces as to beiicy1
tl@i Geiccraas whs lad. IL cbedicnce to Hal
ierk order, 2eias.ltd wo divisions 70 DaelI'
sas's.aiic., Eas himseif at Nashville with hi
eaiire i9rc.. leaFlDg the way open for Price Z
1iagch fhrs Dea 8tslEle Tennessee assd Join hiH
81 hcpt1skg. General Price. though bette
snsoIec1. resolved iaaftenpi the movement B,
1a2s9k'fg RasccEs.rs at lotinfh, and bs a rspi
h2alfsiE. crossing tAe river aorth Of Lux
Isacr several d1ss' march between hiTasel
ard fngsEit Fte movement nas regardo
as esiirty .ca-ihr by both Price an
saa DcrB. IS. in case Resecrans fo
lowec Prize. b. ~ Hia i,aye the eoyete
prize & torintb Hsssef piea. a8d shouid Graz
aitehipt 20 intercept hsa. lle could move b
way 81 1hssttaf.0 ~. simultaneously with !.
1o.nafiYn of Ia cr's movement cane z gnmo
that Van 8.'rn sa- sdgancing upon Corintl