The War's Almost Over: USA Brig. Gen. Leonard F. Ross

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Leonard F. Ross (b. 1823, d. 1901) Neither hostile action nor disciplinary action caused Leonard Fulton Ross to leave the U.S. Army. Rather, business reasons and “believing that the war was near its close,” Ross left the Army July 22, 1863, and did not return. Born in Lewistown, Illinois, July 18, 1823, Ross belonged to a family of early Illinois settlers. He attended Jacksonville College for a year. He then read law and was admitted to the bar in 1845. When the Mexican War broke out, Ross joined the 4th Illinois Volunteers as a lieutenant. After the war, he got into politics. He was probate judge of Fulton County, county clerk and a local Democratic party leader. He also got into breeding livestock and earned a positive reputation in that field as well. At the start of the Civil War, Ross was named colonel of the 17th Illinois. He was commissioned to rank from May 25, 1861. During the summer of 1861, the 17th Illinois was assigned to Missouri and Kentucky and saw a number of small skirmishes. In October, the unit was sent to Fredericktown, Missouri. After being stationed at Fort Holt, Kentucky, Ross and his men were assigned to the forces sent to capture river forts in northern Tennessee in February of 1862. During the siege of Fort Donelson, Ross commanded the 3rd Brigade of McClernard’s division, which absorbed the attack out of the fort Feb. 15, 1862. The brigade suffered 150 killed, wounded or missing in that attack. Ross was not at Shiloh, but returned soon after that battle. He was promoted to brigadier general April 26, 1862. After taking part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, Ross was detailed to command a force stationed at Bolivar, Tennessee, to protect the Mississippi Central Railroad and surrounding areas from partisan activities. In December of 1862, Ross commanded a division under Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant in action in Mississippi. In the Vicksburg Campaign, Ross commanded the infantry forces in the Yazoo Pass Expedition, Grant’s third attempt to push forces to the rear of the Vicksburg defenses from above the town. After that, he was assigned to Helena, Arkansas. Ross was there when he resigned his commission July 22, 1863. After the war, Ross operated farms in Avon, Illinois, and Iowa City, Iowa, earning a reputation as a breeder and importer of fine livestock. He enjoyed a position of prominence in the agricultural community, serving on many boards. In 1867, he served as collector of internal revenue for the 9th Illinois District. He was selected a delegate to the Republican national convention three times. In 1868 and 1872, he lost bids for congressional seats. Ross died in Lewistown, Illinois, Jan. 17, 1901. He was buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Lewistown.

[Gil R.]

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