Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/189

 ROSS

ROSSER

national conventions of 1853 and 1856, and the Republican national convention of 1872. He died in Lewistown, 111., Jan. 17, 1901.

ROSS, Lewis Winans, representative, was born in Seneca Falls, N.Y., Dec. 8, 1812 ; son of Ossian M. and Mary (Winans) Ross : grandson of Joseph and Abagail Ross, and a descendant of Zebulon Ross, who came from Scotland early in the eighteenth century. He removed to Illinois with his parents, attended Illinois college, 1837, and became a la%vyer. He was married, June 13, 1839, to Frances M., daughter of Reuben C. and Frances (Graves) Simms of Virginia. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1840, 1841, 1844 and 1845 ; member of the state consti- tutional conventions, 1861 and 1870 ; and a Demo- cratic representative from Illinois in the 38th, 39th and 40th congresses, 1863-69, He died in Lewistown. 111.. Oct. 29, 1895.

ROSS, William Henry Harrison, governor of Delaware, was born in Laurel, Sussex county, Del., June 2, 1814 ; son of Caleb and Letitia (Lof- land) Ross. He attended the common schools and Claremont academy in Pennsylvania. He visited Great Britain and Ireland, 1836 ; was estab- lished in business in Adams county, 111., 1837 ; in Laurel, 1837-45 ; removed to Seaford, Del., in the latter year, and was in command of a regi- ment of cavalry in the Mexi- can war, 1846-47. He was married, June 7, 1840, to Elizabeth E., daughter of George K. Hall of Middletown, Del., and they had three sons and four daughters. He was a delegate from Dela- ware to th'i Democratic national conventions of 1844, 1848, 1856 and 1860; governor of Delaware, 1851-55, and subsequently again went abroad, traveling extensively on the continent. He died in Philadelphia. Pa.. June ?n, 1887.

ROSSER, Tliomas Lafayette, soldier and engineer, was born in Campbell county, Va., Oct. 15, 1836 ; son of John and Martha Melvina (.Johnson) Rosser ; grandson of Thomas and Nancy (Twedy) Rosser and of Jonathan and Mahalah (Hargrave) Johnson, and a descendant from John Rosser, a Huguenot, and on tlie Johnson side from English, Danish and Scandinavian ancestors. In 1849 he removed with his parents to Texas and entered the U.S. Military academy in 1856. He was to graduate in 1861, but the entire class was ordered into the army on the attack on Fort Sumt-r. April 12, 1861, before being graduated, and Rosser resigned to join the Confederate army. He was commissioned 1st lieutenant of artillery, was in the battle of Bull Run. Julv 21, 1861, and was promoted captain in the Washington artillery of New Orleans imme- IX. — 12

diately after the battle. He fought in the Penin- sular campaign ; was wounded at Mechanicsville, Va., June 26, 1862, and was promoted lieutenant- colonel. He was transferred to the cavalry ; pro- moted colonel and given command of the 5th Virginia cavalry of Fitzhugh Lee's bri- gade under J. E. B Stuart. During Gen T. J. Jackson's ma- noeuvres on Pope's left, Colonel Rosser protected one flank ; was engaged at the second Bull Run, and at South Mountain, where he was sent by General Stuart to seize Fox's Gap on Braddock road, and after the death of ^^ General Garland he

assumed command of the brigade of infantry. He was engaged in the operations around Fredericks- burg and Charlottesville : fought at Gettysburg, and on Oct. 15, 1863, was promoted brigadier-gen- eral and given command of the second brigade in Wade Hampton's division. He was engaged in the cavalry operations in the Wilderness and around Richmond, fighting desperately at Trevillian sta- tion, where he was badly wounded in the leg. He was promoted major-general, Sept. 12, 1864 ; joined General Early in the Shenandoah valley on Oct. 5, and took command of Fitzhugh Lee's di- vision, that oflicer having been incapacitated from wounds received at the battle of Vrinchester. Rosser skirmished successfully on Or:. 8 ; was de- feated at Tom's Brook by Sheridan the following day, and on Oct. 17 attacked Custer in the rear of his picket line. At Cedar Creek, Oct. 19. 1864, he led the attack on the Federal right ; was met by a superior force, and with di^'.culty held his own, but during the retreat of Early's army his command retired in good order, and was left at Fisher's Hill to act as a rear-guard. He held this position until the following da.y and then fell back to Stony Creek. He captured the strong- hold at New Creek with 8 pieces of artillery. 2000 prisoners, large quantities of military stores, horses, and commissary supplies, September, 1864, and did great damage to the B. & O. R. R.. burn- ing the round house and shops at Piedmont. In February, 1865, he crossed thn Great North Moun- tain in a severe snow stonn (still on crutches and suffering from wounds received at Trevillian station), captured Beverly with its garrison of 900 men, large stores and many cattle, and brought them all back to Staunton, losing only one officer (Colonel Cook), and five men. He