CSA Bios: Rust, Ruggles, Rosser, Ross

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Albert Rust, CSA (b. 1818, d. 1870) The military career of Albert Rust mirrored his early life, as he moved from east to west. Rust was born in Fauquier County, Va., in 1818, but emigrated to Arkansas in 1837, settling in Union County. There, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Rust was a state legislator from 1842-48 and served in the U.S. Congress from 1854-56. He lost his next election, but won the seat in 1860. Rust resigned from Congress May 3, 1861, and returned to Arkansas. He recruited the Third Arkansas Infantry and was commissioned as that unit’s colonel. The regiment fought under Gen. Robert E. Lee in the Cheat Mountain Campaign in Western Virginia during the autumn of 1861. The regiment was under the command of Gen. Stonewall Jackson during the winter. Promoted to brigadier general March 4, 1862, Rust began his trip west. His first action as a general came at Corinth, Miss. In October of 1862. He again was sent west in April 1863, being assigned to the command of Gen. Sterling Price in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Rust commanded units under Gen. Hindman in Arkansas and under Gen. Pemberton and Gen. Taylor in Louisiana. Following the war, Rust was financially devastated and moved from El Dorado, Ark., to just north of Little Rock. He died on his farm, April 4, 1870.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles, CSA (b. 1810, d. 1897) Love turned Massachusetts-born Daniel Ruggles from a Yankee into a Confederate. Born in Barre, Mass., Jan. 31, 1810, Ruggles became a southerner by marriage. His wife was from Virginia. Making a career in the military, Ruggles graduated with the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1833, seeing action in the Seminole War in 1839-40. During the Mexican War, Ruggles earned brevets to major and lieutenant colonel for bravery at Churubusco and Chapultepec. Going with his wife’s home state, he resigned his U.S. Army commission May 7, 1861, and commanded Virginia state forces on the Rappahannock River line at the start of the Civil War. He was commissioned a Confederate brigadier general Aug. 9, 1861, and sent west. He was in command at Corinth, Miss., and helped to pass along troops for Gen. A.S. Johnston’s force that attacked at Shiloh. He led the first division in Bragg’s Corps at the Battle of Shiloh. The enemy had a low opinion of Ruggles’ abilities. “If Ruggles is in command at Corinth, now is the time to attack,” Gen. U.S. Grant was quoted. Despite that, Ruggles turned in a capable performance at Shiloh, helping in the attack that forced Federal Gen. Prentiss to surrender. From there, Ruggles was left to the administrative front. He was in charge of various districts and departments before being named commissary general of prisoners March 30, 1865. Following the war, he resided in Fredericksburg, Va., except for a four-year stint managing a ranch in Texas. He served on the West Point Board of Visitors in 1884. He died in Fredericksburg, Va., June 1, 1897.

Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Rosser, CSA (b. 1836, d. 1910) Thomas Lafayette Rosser fought for two armies in two different wars, just not the usual two as his contemporaries. Rosser ascended to major general in Confederate service during the Civil War. Later in life, he was a brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish-American War. Rosser was one of Gen. JEB Stuart’s key cavalry officers, usually receiving high praise for his conduct. Rosser was born in Campbell County, Va., Oct. 15, 1836. His family moved to the Sabine River country of Texas. Rosser would have been a member of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1861 had he not resigned two weeks prior to graduation, April 22, 1861. At West Point, one of his closest friends was George Custer. The Confederates were happy to commission Rosser and he became a first lieutenant in the Regular Confederate Army assigned as an instructor to the Washington Artillery of New Orleans and entered the war with this unit. After fighting at First Manassas, Rosser was wounded at Mechanicsville. Returning, he was moved to the Fifth Virginia Cavalry as that unit’s colonel at the insistence of JEB Stuart. He was wounded at Kelly’s Ford, but maintained his place with the unit. He received his promotion to brigadier general Sept. 28, 1863. Rosser was given command of the Laurel Brigade after the transfer of Gen. Beverly Robertson. He held this post through the Overland Campaign before being given promoted to major general Nov. 1, 1864, and given command of Early’s cavalry in the Shenandoah. His friend Custer got the better of his troopers at Woodstock and Cedar Creek, but Rosser ran two successful raids into West Virginia, returning to the Petersburg lines in the spring of 1865. Rosser broke out from Appomattox with two regiments of cavalry, avoiding surrender until May 2, 1865. Following the war, he became chief engineer for the Northern Pacific Railroad and the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He settled near Charlottesville, Va., to live the life of a gentleman farmer. On June 10, 1898, he was recalled to military life by Pres. William McKinley to serve during the Spanish-American War. He was mustered out Oct. 31, 1898. Rosser died March 29, 1910, in Charlottesville, Va.

Brig. Gen. Lawrence S. Ross, CSA (b. 1838, d. 1898) Lawrence Sullivan Ross already had a big name before the Civil War ever started. Born in Bentonsport, Iowa, Sept. 27, 1898, Ross moved with his family to Texas as an infant. It was there that his family had their first encounter with hostile Indians. Ross later would make his name fighting Indians. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Florence, Ala., in 1859, but it was his vacation job that brought the fame. He spent time away from school in service with the Waco Company of the Texas Rangers against the Commanches and was made captain of a company of Texas Rangers after his graduation. He turned down a U.S. Army commission. Pursuing a Commanche raiding party in December 1860, Ross had rescued Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been with the Commanche for nearly 25 years after being captured in 1836. In another engagement, Ross killed her Commanche husband, the chief Peta Necona, in single combat. He gave up his fame at the start of the Civil War, enlisting as a private. He soon was promoted to colonel of the Sixth Texas Cavalry and he took that unit to Corinth, Miss. Fighting there, the Sixth Texas Cavalry distinguished itself during the retreat. He was promoted to brigadier general Dec. 21, 1863. He commanded the Texas Cavalry Brigade, which consisted of the Third Texas, Ninth Texas, 27th Texas Cavalry regiments and First Texas Legion. He led this force through the Atlanta and Tennessee Campaigns. Commanding cavalry units, he earned praise from his commanders, including Joseph E. Johnston, Earl Van Dorn, Hardee, Nathan B. Forrest, S.D. Lee and W.H. Jackson. He commanded a cavalry brigade under Gen. Wheeler during the Atlanta Campaign. Over 135 battles, Ross had five horses shot out from under him. At the end of the war, Ross was on furlough in Texas. He returned home broke, but with his reputation intact. Starting as a farmer in the Brazos River Valley, Ross was elected sheriff of McLennan County in 1873. He was credited with ending a reign of terror in the county and later helped to form the Texas Sheriff’s Association. He became a member of the state’s constitutional convention in 1875 and served as a state senator in 1881 and 1883. “Sul” Ross was elected governor of Texas in 1887 and re-elected in 1889. From 1891 until his death, he was president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (later Texas A&M) in College Station. When he died in College Station Jan. 3, 1898, he was one of the most popular private citizens in the state of Texas. Ross remains prominent in Texas long after his death. Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, was established in 1917. The school is a member school of the Texas State University system. Athletically, the school is affiliated with NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference.

[Gil R.]

Thanks!

[Gil R.]

Oops, I was wrong: this bio is #250, chosen because it was the shortest I could find, and I wanted to get to this nice, round number tonight.

No important changes at all, just some rephrasing.


Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles (b. 1810, d. 1897). Love turned Massachusetts-born Ruggles from a Yankee into a Confederate. Born in Barre, Mass., on January 31, 1810, Ruggles became a southerner by marriage to a Virginian. Making a career in the military, Ruggles graduated with the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1833, seeing action in the Seminole War in 1839-40. During the Mexican War, Ruggles earned brevets to major and lieutenant colonel for bravery at Churubusco and Chapultepec. Siding with his wife’s home state when it seceded from the Union, he resigned his U.S. Army commission on May 7, 1861, and commanded Virginia state forces on the Rappahannock River line at the start of the Civil War. Ruggles was commissioned a brigadier general on August 9, 1861, and sent west. He was in command at Corinth, Mississippi, and helped to pass along troops as Gen. Albert S. Johnston prepared his army for the attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s forces that became the Battle of Shiloh. During this battle on April 6-7, which turned out to be a major defeat for the Confederacy, Ruggles led the 1st Division in Gen. Braxton Bragg’s corps. The enemy had a low opinion of Ruggles’ abilities: “If Ruggles is in command at Corinth, now is the time to attack,” Grant was quoted as saying. However, Ruggles turned in a capable performance at Shiloh, helping in the attack at the very beginning of the battle that forced Union Gen. Benjamin Prentiss to surrender and caused his division to suffer steep casualties. Following Shiloh, Ruggles was served on the administrative front: he was in charge of various districts and departments before being named commissary general of prisoners on March 30, 1865. Following the war, he resided in Fredericksburg except for a four-year stint managing a ranch in Texas, and also served on the West Point Board of Visitors in 1884. Ruggles died in Fredericksburg on June 1, 1897. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 2
Tactics: 3
Initiative: 1
Command: 2
Cavalry:

Start date: 14

[Gil R.]

To keep up my one-a-day pace I cheated and went with a short bio. I don't know enough about his performance as a general, so these ratings are based on Cheat Mountain and a minor skirmish (Hill's Plantation) the following spring when he didn't move fast enough. by the way, Wikipedia says he fought at Shiloh, but he's not in the OOB, so I left it out.



Brig. Gen. Albert Rust (b. 1818, d. 1870). The military career of Rust mirrored his early life, as he moved from east to west. Rust was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1818, but emigrated to Arkansas in 1837, settling in Union County. There, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Rust was a state legislator from 1842-48 and served in the U.S. Congress from 1854-56. He lost his next election, but won the seat back in 1860. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, Rust resigned from Congress on May 3, 1861 and returned to Arkansas, where he recruited the 3rd Arkansas Infantry and was commissioned as the unit’s colonel. The regiment fought under Gen. Robert E. Lee, who was making an unspectacular debut as a field commander, at Cheat Mountain in western Virginia on September 12-15. During this battle, Rust was tasked with leading the assault on the enemy fort atop the mountain, but after approaching close to the fort undetected he was discovered by a reconnaissance force and withdrew, leading Lee to call off the attack. With Lee having been recalled to Richmond six weeks later, the regiment was under the command of Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson during the winter. Transferred to the western theater, Rust was promoted to brigadier general on March 4, 1862; his regiment, however, remained in the eastern theater, fighting at Gettysburg and numerous other battles. His first significant action as a general came at Corinth, Mississippi that October. He was sent further west in April of the following year, being assigned to the command of Gen. Sterling Price in the Trans-Mississippi Theater, and later commanded units under Gen. Thomas C. Hindman in Arkansas and under Gen. John C. Pemberton and Gen. Richard Taylor in Louisiana. Following the war, Rust was financially devastated and moved from El Dorado, Arkansas, to just north of Little Rock. He died on his farm on April 4, 1870. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 2
Cavalry:

Start date: 28