GENERAL LOVELL R. ROUSSEAU/COLONEL 3rd KENTUCKY VOLNTEER INFANTRY
Item #: CWB14212
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LOVELL HARRISON ROUSSEAU
Rousseau, Lovell H., major-general, was born in Stanford,
Lincoln county, Ky., Aug. 4, 1818, his father having emigrated
from Virginia. He received the ordinary school advantages
afforded the pioneer settlers of that early period and then
devoted his attention to the study of law. Subsequently he
removed to Bloomfield, Ind., and was admitted to the bar of
that state in 1841. He became an active political leader at
once, and was elected to the state assembly in 1844 and to the
state senate in 1847. He took part in the Mexican war as
captain of the 2nd Ind. regiment of volunteers, and received
special mention for his gallantry at Buena Vista, Feb. 22-23,
In 1849 he made Louisville, Ky., his home and there opened a
law office, where he soon attained prominence as a criminal
lawyer. He was elected to the Kentucky state senate in 1860,
being the choice of both parties. On the outbreak of the
Civil war in 1861, he used his earnest efforts to restrain
Kentucky from joining the Confederacy, and was especially
active in recruiting troops and providing for their proper
drill and equipment. He resigned from the legislature to
serve better the Federal cause, and to this end he proposed
and established Camp Joe Holt, near Louisville, which became a
prominent rendezvous for troops. He raised the 5th regiment,
Ky. volunteers, and was made colonel in Sept., 1861, becoming
brigadier-general on Oct. 6, following. He led the 4th
brigade of the 2nd division, Army of the Ohio, at the second
day's battle of Shiloh, and greatly distinguished himself by
retaking the headquarters abandoned by Gen. McClernand the day
before and otherwise contributing to the success of the
Federal army on that day. He again distinguished himself at
the battle of Perryville, Ky., on Oct. 8, and that day gained
his promotion to major-general of volunteers. He was next in
the field at Stone's river on Dec. 31, and from Nov., 1863, to
the close of the war, was in command of the districts of
Tennessee. He led an important and successful raid into the
heart of Alabama in 1864 and defended Fort Rosecrans during
the siege of Nashville. He resigned from the army on Nov. 30,
1865, and four days later took his seat in the Thirty-ninth
Congress, to which he had been elected as a Republican
representative from Kentucky. In June, 1866, Gen. Rousseau
made a personal assault on J. B. Grinnell of Iowa, for words
spoken in debate, and was, by resolution of the committee
appointed to investigate, recommended to be expelled. The
house, however, adopted the minority report to reprimand him,
whereupon he resigned his seat. He was re-elected during the
subsequent recess to the same Congress and served on the same
committees as in the first session. He was appointed on March
28, 1867, by President Johnson, a brigadier-general in the
regular army, being given on the same date the brevet rank of
major-general U. S. A., and he was assigned to duty in the new
territory of Alaska to receive that domain from the Russian
government and assume control of the territory. He succeeded
Gen. Sheridan in command of the Department of the Gulf, and
continued in that command with his headquarters at New Orleans
up to the time of his death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1869.
Shipping Weight:
1 lb
Item # CWB14212
$150.00 USD