Leonard F. Ross Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 69444-69447
Melissa Haley
The Huntington Library
October 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Leonard F. Ross papers
Creator:
Ross, Leonard F. (Leonard Fulton), 1823-1901
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 69444-69447
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1861-1863
Abstract: Collection contains four items relating to Leonard F. Ross' experiences in the U.S. Civil War, including two letters from
Ulysses S. Grant.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
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[Identification of item]. Leonard F. Ross papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Anne Lloyd Crotty, January 2006.
Leonard Fulton Ross (1823-1901) was born in Lewiston, Illinois. He studied law and began his legal practice in Vermont, Illinois.
In 1846, Ross enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Mexican-American War. In May 1861, he enlisted in the 17th Illinois
Regiment of the Union Army and was commissioned as a colonel; he was promoted to brigadier general in April 1862. During the
Civil War, Ross fought in the battles of Fredericktown, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and the Siege of Corinth, and was involved
in the 1863 Yazoo Pass Expedition. In December 1862, he was arrested for refusing to obey orders and was subsequently court-martialed
and reprimanded by General Ulysses S. Grant, then returned to his command. Ross resigned from the Union Army in July 1863.
Following the war, he was active in the Republican Party. Ross died in Galesburg, Illinois at age 77.
This collection consists of four items relating to Leonard F. Ross' Civil War career, including two communications from Ulysses
S. Grant. Grant's autograph letter signed dated 1861 December 4 (HM 69444) discusses confiscations from Missouri citizens
and instructions for dealing with marauding Confederates; the contemporary copy of his 1862 October 5 letter (HM 69445) recaps
a dispatch from General William S. Rosecrans detailing the movement of federal troops during the pursuit of Confederate General
Earl Van Dorn's forces at Corinth, Chewalla and Ripley, Mississippi on 1862 October 3-4. Also present is a receipt from Henry
P. Noble to Ross for a payment for a horse, 1863 April 28 (HM 69446), and an undated copy of "Foraging Parties Instructions,"
with Ross' note "Please read to the guards" (HM 69447).
This finding aid was created in 2022 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project with enhanced description
of the presidential material present.
Collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Corinth, Battle of, Corinth, Miss., 1862
Mississippi -- Corinth
Mississippi -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Missouri -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Sources
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Military records -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Rosecrans, William S. (William Starke), 1819-1898
Van Dorn, Earl, 1820-1863
United States. Army. Corps, 13th
United States. Army. District of Corinth
United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 17th (1861-1866)
Box Main file 88, Folder 30
Leonard F. Ross papers 1861-1863