The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-11
GEN. ROSECRANS
PASSES AWAY.
After Lingering Illness the Noted Soldier and Statesman
Dies at His California Home This MOrning-A
Sketch of His Career.
tack that decided the first campaign of

tack that decided the hrst campaign or
the war.
Shortly after the victory at Rich Noun
tain Mcclellan was called TO Washington
TO organize the Grand Army, and Rose
Grams succeeded him at the head Of the
department Of West Virginia. The Con-
federates hailed the change as a good
omen and nicknamed their new oppo-
nent the Dutch general" Robert f. Lee
was the Confederate commander, and the
Washington authorities, holding Lees
abilities in high respect, frequently ad-
monished Rosecrans that there was cause
to fear that he might be outgeneraled.
To one caution of the kind Rosecrans re-
Piled: mot at all. know all about
Lee. He'll make splendid plan of a
campaign, but I'll fight the campaign
| before he gets through with planning it."
and compelled to abandon West Vir-
ginia. Finished drawings of Lees plans
were filed in the wal department at
| Richmond, and the Confederate historian
| Pollard characterized them as 1.-The best
| laid plans that ever illustrated the con-
summation of the rules of strategy or
ever went awry on account of practical
| failures in their execution.
AS result OF RosecranS association
] with Mcclellan in West Virginia the
| former criticised the new general in
| chief officially, and his action was the
beginning Of frequent breaches of eti-
| quette that earned him disfavor at court.
He was finally succeeded in command by
General Fremont.
The turning point of Rosecrans up
ward career was the Iuka-Corinth cam
| paign of September and October 1862.
| He was then an army commander and
| won two substantial victories. First,
commander of wing OF the Army of the
Mississippi under Pope, he naturally sue
ceeded TO the head of the army. When
| Pope was transferred TO Virginia, Grant
| was commander of the weeSern depart
ment. The Confederate invasion of Ken
| tucky under Braggs leadership called
| for detachments from Grants force to
meet the crisis, and the Confederates
thought they had an opportunity to in
| crease the panic by making dash from
! Mississippi for west Tennessee. The
|
Price. simultaneously force of Con-
! federates lying on the lower Mississippi
| was marshaled under Earl Van Dorm to
| strike for the recapture of Corinth, where
| Rosecrans was intrenched. Grant had
| decided To throw 5000 men under Rose
Grams eastward from Corinth and 5000
under General Ord from Memphis to in
tercept Price before he crossed the Ten
nessee river. Price had IL 900 men.
AS usual the combination failed. Rose
Grams was up to time with his part in
| the programme. met Price at Iuka Sept.
| 10 and beat him in brilliant battle,
with Ord's army lying idle within four
| miles of the field. Ord was under in
| structions to march at the sound of Rose
Grams guns. Owing to an unfavorable
wind he did not hear them. thus leaving
to Rosecrans the sole honor of visiting a
| stunning blow upon Price and Fastening
| his retreat back to Mississippi Van
Dorm and Price then united to attack
| Corinth. They mustered 10000 men.
! Rosecrans had about $4,000. Corinth,
owing to Rosecrans habitual restlessness
| and foresight. was in fair state Of de-
fense, although the scheme of fortifca-
tions was not complete when Van Dorm
drew up his columns before the town on
Oct. 3. After developing the enemys
strength and plans by vigorous oppo-
sition to the advance outside of the
works Rosecrans withdrew his army to
the fortified lines and batteries and
awaited attack. To novices those tactics
! looked like u retreat Word was brought
to Rosecrans that the enemy was plant
ing a batterywithin 600 yards of his
main redoubt, Fort Robinett. LET
them plant it," said he in malicious
glee. Other weak hearts he encouraged
by quoting Barkis. Things is workin,'
he would exclaim. In good time he or
dered several 30-pounder PARROTS to
open on the sly Confederate battery. Ii
was knocked ont in three minutes.
From first to last he maintained q mas
terly grip on his confidence that every
thing was working all right.
The battle opened at 8 o'clock on the
morning of the 9TH. The Confederates.
under accomplished and dashing leaders.
moved forward in three and four lines.
undismayed by the pitiless fire that re-
ceived them. One Union brigade lying
in an unfortunate position fell back be-
fore the enemy and was followed through
the intrerchments into the streets of the
town by the reckless assailants. BY
quickly ordering mp reserves Rosecrans
expelled the intruders, and for the rest the
fight was all one way. RosecIans was
everywhere when needed. and hismen for
the first time learned that they were
commanded by a fighting man. His saber
strap was cut 10y "a bullet and his hands
Redeemed by the blood Of a staff officer