Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/44

 RANSOM

RANSOM

May 24, 1861, to join the Confederate States army as captain of cavalry. He was promoted colonel of the 1st North Carolina cavalry (9th N.C. troops) the same year; brigadier-general, Marcli 6. 1862, and major-general, May 26. 1863. He defended his native state against the Federal army under Burnside early in 1862 ; was trans- ferred to the defence of Richmond, and in the seven days' battles ending July 1, 1862, com- manded a brigade in Holmes's division, Ma- gruder's command. "When Lee's army made the first movement into Maryland, his brigade in the division of Gen. Jolin G. Walker was ordered to co-operate with Gen. T. J. Jackson in the capture of Harper's Ferry. He commanded a division in Longstreet's corps at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13. 1862. and lield the line on Marj-e's Heights and the rock wall below it, his division being actively engaged in the defence throughout the entire battle. He commanded the troops with Gen. D. H. Hill, left to defend Richmond during Lee's Pennsylvania campaign in 1863 ; com- manded the department of Southwest Virginia in November, 1863 ; took part in the defence of Drewry's Blufif, May 16, 1864, where his infantry, cavalry and artillery made the successful assault on Butler's right, on the 16th, President Davis, in his "Rise and Fall of the Confederacy," credit- ing him with having saved Petersburg and Rich- mond. The war department then ordered his division to the defence of Richmond on May 17, and in June, 1864, in the command of the cavalry he was with Early and Breckinridge in the expedition to capture Washington, D.C. He was subsequently given command of the depart- ment including South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He was express agent and city marshal of Wilmington, N.C, 1866-67; a salesman of railroad supplies through the southern states, 1868-74 ; a farmer in Virginia, 1874-78, and a civil engineer employed by the U.S. government in various river and harbor improvements in North and South Carolina, 1878-92. He is the author of: Ransom's Division at Fredericksburg, in " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" (Vol. HL). He died in Newberne, N.C. Jan. 14, 1893. RANSOM, Thomas Edward Greenfield, soldier, was born in Norwich, Vt., Nov. 29, 1834 : son of Col. Truman Bishop (q.v.) and Margaretta Mor- rison (Greenfield) Ransom. He was educated at Newbury seminary and at Norwich university, 1848-51, completing the course in civil engineer- ing. He worked for some time with his cousin, Benjamin F. Marsh (a graduate of Norwich, 1837), on the Rutland and Burlington railroad, and removed to Peru, 111., in 1851, where he was a civil engineer, 1851-54, and in the real estate business. 1854-50. subsequently engaging in the latter business in Chicago and in Fayette county,

Illinois. He recruited a company for the 11th Illinois I'egimeiit early in 1861 ; was commissioned captain, April 26 ; major, in May, by a vote of the company officers ; lieutenant-colonel, July 30; was wounded while leading a charge at Charleston, Mo., Aug. 20 ; took part in the capture of Fort Henry and in the assault upon Fort Donelson, where he was again wounded ; was appointed colonel to succeed W. H. L. Wallace ; promoted brigadier-general, Feb. 15, 1862. and though wounded in the head, he led his regiment at Shiloh. He became chief of staflf to Gen. J. A. McClernand, and inspector-general of the Army of the Tennessee in June, 1862. He was appointed brigadier-general in January, 1863, and commanded the 2d brigade, 6th division, 17th corps in tiie Vicksburg campaign, his .services in rebuilding the bridge across the Big Black River and his energy during the entire siege being especially commended by General Grant. He commanded a detachment of the 13th corps in the expedition to the mouth of the Rio Grande, Oct. 26. 1863 ; captured Fort Esperanza com- manding the entrance to Matagorda bay, Dec. 30, and in the Red river campaign was seriously wounded at Sabine Cross Roads (Mansfield), April 8, 1864. He commanded the 4th division, and succeeded Gen. G. M. Dodge to the com- mand of the 16th corps in tlie operations about Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 19, 1864. General Dodge hav- ing been released from the command of the corps by reason of wounds received that da}'. He was brevetted major-general of volunteers, Sept. 1. 1864 ; continued in command of the 16th corps until the divisions making it up were merged into the 15th and 17th corps when he with his division went with the 17th corps and in the absence of Gen. Frank P. Blair assumed command about Sept. 27. He led the corps in the pursuit of Hood's army, part of the time in an ambulance, and then on a stretcher until his fatal illness, brought on by the overwork and exposure, forced him to relinquish his command at Gaylesville, Ala., and while being carried on a stretcher to Rome, Ga., he died at a comfortable farm house in which he was resting. He was buried in Rose Hill cemetery, Chicago, 111., and shortly afterward his mother received from President Lincoln his com- mission as major-general of volunteers, which had been signed before his death, but was awaiting the action of congress. He was unmarried. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and took a leading part in the religious services held in connection with the army. Gen- eral Howard in General Field orders No. 21, issued from Cedartown, Ga., Nov. 1, 1864, bore testi- mony to his noble record, pure and elevated char- acter and enthusiasm in his country's cause. He died near Rome, Ga., Oct. 29, 1864.