Lawman General: USA Maj. Gen. Elias S. Dennis

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Elias S. Dennis (b. 1812, d. 1894) Leading the 30th Illinois through early campaigning with Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant’s command, Elias Smith Dennis eventually rose to the rank of major general by the end of the Civil War. Dennis was born Dec. 4, 1812, in Newburgh, New York. He moved to Illinois in 1838, settling in Carlyle. There, he married the widow (Mary) of Congressman Charles Slade. By that, he became involved with a gristmill. His stepson, “Jack” or “Cap” Slade later became a infamous desperado in the west. Dennis became involved in politics and served in both houses of the Illinois legislature from 1842-46. In the 1850s, he served as a U.S. marshal in Kansas Territory. At the outbreak of the war, Dennis returned home where he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the 30th Illinois (Philip B. Fouke was the regiment’s colonel). The regiment saw first action at Belmont, Missouri, Nov. 7, 1861. There, the regiment captured Watson’s New Orleans Battery, but the Confederate counterattack from Columbus, Kentucky, forced them to leave the guns on the field. The survivors of the fight would use lessons learned there in the taking of Forts Henry, Heiman and Donelson in Tennessee in February. Dennis’ command bore the brunt of the Confederate counterattack out of Fort Donelson Feb. 15, 1862, and was beat up badly enough that it was left at the fort following the surrender. Garrison duty kept the 30th Illinois out of the Battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862. In the aftermath of that slaughter, Dennis’ men were called to Pittsburg Landing April 25. Days later, Dennis was promoted to colonel (May 1, 1862). As part of Brig. Gen. John A. Logan’s brigade, the 30th Illinois took part in the capture of Corinth, Mississippi, May 30, 1862. The 30th then went back into garrison duty around Jackson, Tennessee. Early in the Vicksburg Campaign, Dennis was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers (Nov. 29, 1862. He led elements of Logan’s division in the campaign at Port Gibson May 1, 1863 and at Raymond, May 12, 1863. After that, he was put in charge of the District of Northeast Louisiana, in an attempt to reduce partisan activity. Part of his command fought in the victory at Miliken’s Bend June 7, 1863. He spent much of the rest of the war in Louisiana and participated in the taking of Mobile, Alabama, near the end of the war. He received a brevet promotion to major general for his role in the taking of Mobile. He briefly served as military governor of Shreveport, Louisiana before mustering out of service in August of 1865. He stayed in Louisiana. A widower by that time, he settled in Madison Parish, Louisiana, where he married a widow who had a large plantation. In 1880, he was elected parish sheriff. In 1886, he returned to Carlyle, Illinois, where he lived with a son. He died there Dec. 17, 1894, and was buried in the Carlyle City Cemetery.

[Gil R.]

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