The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-02

MODEST CHARLES ROSS.
Stories of the Man Who Was Adjutant
OF the Thirteenth Indiana.
Washington Letter in Chicago Times

Washington Letter in Chicago Times
Maj. Charles H. Ross. the Baltimore &
the Thirteenth Indiana. Within a year he
was an aid on the brigade commanders
stan, and later was with the division COM
mander, Gen. Charles Griffin. GAINESVILLE,
o.. was his native town. His friends there
petitioned the Governor to promote him.
While the Army OF the Potomac was on the
way to assist General Pope In the disas-
trous campaign ending with second Bull
Run. Adjutant Ross received q commission
as colonel. He applied for permission to
Secretary Stanton refused the request, In
timating that he might go later. When the
later day came MIR. Ross had changed his
mind; he declined the promotion; thought
he was too young. His friends at home
and in the army. and the Governor. sought
in vain to induce him to accept. 1 guess
that was the only blunder Ross made dur
ing his military service. The colonel OF the
regiment he was to command became a
brigadier-gener and think was breveted
a major general That Is the rank modest
Charlie Ross would have had without doubt
AS II was, he returned a major.
The Thirteenth Indiana passed through
GAINESVILLE, Major Ross old home, on the
way to West Virginia, the first week In
greet their former fellow-citizen. A beau
tiful black stallion, saddled and bridled
trained as a riding horse, was at the station
and a prominent citizen made speech
presenting the animal TO AdJutant Ross az
a slight token of the regard his former
neighbors had for him. Ross was more
modest then than he Is now. and hes as
modest as a maiden now. He started to
say something and stopped; then he tried
again-tried hard. II will thank you when
I come back" He Kept the promise. The
beautiful horse was shot under the adjutant.
was another.
Several years after the war. while Major
in company with his father. the latter said:
Charlie, lock at that fine horse over
there He's a beauty; that's certain"
hadn't a' bIun nd red what" Il mean il.
When the Governor made you colonel the
people of GAINESVILLE bought that horse,
equipped him in gorgeous style, and put
him in the stable until you returned, in.
tending to present him to the colonel OF
the new regiment. If you hadn't been silly
and declined that promotion you would
son would have worn two silver stars at
the end of the war, instead or TWO gold
leaves. But never mind; that Is notnine.
1t was everything to your mother ana my my.
care for the leaves nor the stars tnen; we
do not care now. You are as much to us
as major as you would have been as major
general. but | have always been sorry you
failed to get that beauty of horse
The Thirteenth Indiana was TO make
nine days ride In West Virginia. IL was
Rosecrans. The drummers and hfers were
not 10 go. One drummer, Alexander j.
Dougherty. of Company |. insisted on going
with a musket. The regiment had been out
three days when it got into q. skirm:sh.
and one of the first men to be hit was
Dougherty AS he fell he cried out: "Oh.
boys. I am gone up Adjutant Ross was
close to him, heard his exclamation and
assisted in preparing a litter upon which
he was to be carried during the balance OF
the raid. as there was no opportunity to
send him back The litter was made by
cutting two sapl.ngs and fastening them 70
the sides of two mules. and SO arranging
blankets and oilcloths that the WOUNDED
man rested between the tandem team more
easily than he would have done In an am
bulance The wound was a dangerous one.
The surgeon did not expect that the drum
mer boy would pull through. and said as
much to Adjutant Ross and others. That
raid was in October. 1861. thirty-four years
ago Major Ross never saw or heard from
Dougherty after the regiment got back
to camp: had believed him dead. Imagine
his surprise. last week. upon receiving a
letter from Dougherty, now of Philadelphia,
asking about some of the men of the regi-
ment and facts that had been written
about it, Dougherty had learned the ad-
dress of the adjutant while attending the
National Encampment at Louisville. En-
campments have seen the grave give back
many a man long mourned as dead.