Leonard Fulton Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leonard Fulton Ross
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| Born | July 18, 1823 Lewistown, Illinois |
| Died | January 17, 1901 (aged 77) Galesburg, Illinois |
| Place of burial |
Oak Hill Cemetery, Lewistown, Illinois
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1847 (Mexican-American War) 1861–1863 (American Civil War) |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Spouse(s) | Catharine Mary Simms Mary Elizabeth Warren |
| Other work | Lawyer, judge, stock raiser |
| Signature |  |
Leonard Fulton Ross (born July 18, 1823 – died January 17, 1901) was an important American. He was a lawyer and a judge. He also raised farm animals. Leonard Ross was a soldier in two big wars. He fought in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. During the Civil War, he became a high-ranking general.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning
Leonard F. Ross was born in Lewistown, Illinois, on July 7, 1823. He was the fifth child of Ossian M. Ross and Mary Winans. When he was young, Leonard moved to Havana, Illinois, with his family. He did not go to school much. Instead, he worked in his father's store. He also helped run his father's ferry boat service.
After his father died in 1837, Leonard moved to Canton, Illinois. There, he got help preparing for college. He studied with students from Illinois College. Leonard went to Illinois College for one year, from 1841 to 1842. After college, he traveled to collect money owed to his father's estate. This was hard because of a money crisis in 1837.
Later, Ross studied law in Canton, Illinois. He became a lawyer in December 1844. He then opened his own law office in Vermont, Illinois. He worked as a lawyer until he joined the army for the Mexican–American War.
Family Life
On November 13, 1845, Leonard Ross married Catharine Mary "Kitty" Simms. Kitty's sister was married to Leonard's brother, Lewis W. Ross. Leonard and Catharine had seven children together. Catharine Ross died on March 10, 1862. This happened while her husband was fighting in the American Civil War.
On January 10, 1865, Ross married Mary Elizabeth Warren. They had four children.
Military Service and Battles
During the Mexican–American War, Leonard Ross joined the 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He signed up in June 1846. He started as a private. Then, on September 4, 1846, he became a first lieutenant. His older brother, Captain Lewis W. Ross, was his commanding officer. His brother thought Leonard would be a good officer.
Leonard Ross fought in important battles. These included the Siege of Veracruz and the Battle of Cerro Gordo. He left the war early, but his resignation was not officially accepted.
When the American Civil War began, Ross joined the 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He signed up on May 25, 1861. He was chosen as a Colonel. He led his troops in battles like Fredericktown, Fort Henry, and Fort Donelson. At Fort Donelson, he took command of a larger group of soldiers. He helped lead a counterattack against the enemy.
Ross missed the Battle of Shiloh. He had to go home to Lewistown, Illinois, because his wife died. When he returned to the war, he was promoted. On April 25, 1862, he became a brigadier general.
General Ross led his soldiers during the Siege of Corinth. He also led a division of the Army of the Tennessee for a while. Later, he was put in charge of the 13th Division. In December 1862, Ross was arrested. He had refused an order from another general. He was found guilty but was not punished severely. General Ulysses S. Grant said Ross acted on impulse. Grant returned him to his command.
Ross was then put in charge of the Yazoo Pass expedition. This mission was to attack Fort Pemberton, a Confederate fort. The expedition mostly involved cannons firing at the fort. Ross decided to stop the attack. Another general arrived and convinced him to try again. But there were still few results, and Ross eventually pulled back.
Ross left the army on July 22, 1863. He believed the war was almost over. He wanted to take care of his personal business.
Public Service and Politics
After the Mexican-American War, Ross was elected as a judge in Fulton County. He held this job from 1847 to 1849. Then, he became the county clerk for four years (1849-1853). During this time, he also bought and sold land. He raised farm animals and worked on other business projects.
Ross was a delegate at the Democratic National Conventions in 1852 and 1856. He supported Stephen A. Douglas for president. After the Civil War, President Andrew Johnson appointed Ross to collect internal revenue. This was a tax collection job, which he held from 1867 to 1869.
In 1868, Ross ran for Congress as a Republican. But he lost because the Democrats were very strong in his area. In 1872, he was a delegate at the Republican National Convention. This is where President Ulysses S. Grant was nominated for his second term.
Ross ran for Congress again in 1874. This time, he ran as an independent candidate. He was unhappy about a scandal called the Star route scandal. He lost the election by a small number of votes.
Political Beliefs
Like his older brother Lewis, Leonard Ross strongly supported Stephen A. Douglas. Leonard was the first Douglas Democrat to lead an Illinois army group in the Civil War. However, his brother Lewis was a "Peace Democrat" who did not support the war. Leonard, though, volunteered for the Union Army and supported the war effort.
After the war, Leonard Ross joined the Republican Party. He ran for Congress as a Republican, but he was not successful. He also supported all Republican candidates for president from Grant to McKinley. Still, Leonard Ross could be seen as an independent thinker in politics. He did not always follow one party's ideas. He even ran for Congress as an independent.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Ross focused on raising farm animals and farming. He had land near Avon, Illinois. He raised many prize-winning cattle. He was also a leader in the Fulton County Agricultural Society. Ross was a member of the Freemasons, a social group.
In 1882, Ross moved to land near Iowa City, Iowa. Here, he continued to raise animals and dairy farm. He became president of the Red Polled Cattle Club of America. He also wrote two books about red polled cattle.
Leonard Ross returned to Lewistown, Illinois, in 1894. He helped start and manage the Lewistown National Bank with his brother Lewis. From 1884 to 1898, Ross traveled a lot. He visited places like England, Scotland, California, Cuba, and Mexico.
Death and Remembrance
Leonard F. Ross died from pneumonia on January 17, 1901. He passed away in a hospital in Galesburg, Illinois. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown, Illinois. His two wives and four of his children are buried near him.
Before he died, Ross wrote a long letter to his children and grandchildren. He shared his ideas about life and gave them advice. He told them that hard work was important. He also advised them to avoid using tobacco. Ross also wrote that even though the 20th century might be peaceful, young men should still learn about being a soldier.
Leonard Ross's service in the Civil War is remembered. There is a monument for him at Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee. It is a pyramid of cannonballs with "Ross" written on the base. This monument shows where General Ross's headquarters were during the war.
Some of Leonard Ross's family members also became notable. His son, Frank F. Ross, received a Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Philippine–American War. His granddaughter, Betty Ross Clarke, became an American actress in movies and on stage.
Original letters and papers about Leonard F. Ross are kept at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois. This collection also has documents about other members of the Ross family.
