Thomas L. Rosser

Thomas Lafayette Rosser
Nickname(s)	Tex
Born	(1836-10-15)October 15, 1836 Campbell County, Virginia
Died	March 29, 1910(1910-03-29)(aged 73) Charlottesville, Virginia
Allegiance	Confederate States of America United States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army United States Army
Years of service	1861–65 (CSA) 1898 (USA)
Rank	Major General(CSA) Brigadier General(USA)
Commands	5th Virginia Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War First Battle of Manassas Seven Days Battles Battle of Beaver Dam Creek Second Battle of Manassas Battle of South Mountain Battle of Sharpsburg Battle of Kelly's Ford Battle of Hanover Battle of Gettysburg Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Trevilian Station Battle of Cedar Creek Battle of Tom's Brook Siege of Petersburg Appomattox Campaign Spanish–American War

Thomas Lafayette"Tex"Rosser(October 15, 1836 – March 29, 1910) was aConfederatemajor generalduring theAmerican Civil War,and later a railroad construction engineer and in 1898 abrigadier generalof volunteers in theUnited States Armyduring theSpanish–American War.

Early life and career

Rosser was born on a farm called "Catalpa Hill", inCampbell County, Virginia,the son of John and Martha Melvina (Johnson) Rosser. In 1849, the family relocated to a 640-acre (2.6 km²) farm inPanola County, Texas,some forty miles west ofShreveport, Louisiana.The 13-year-old Tom Rosser led thewagon trainbearing his mother and younger siblings westward, as business considerations compelled his father to remain inVirginiafor a short time. Texas CongressmanLemuel D. Evansappointed Rosser to theUnited States Military Academyin 1856. However, Rosser did not complete the required five-year course of study, as Rosser, a supporter of Texassecession,resigned when Texas left the Union on April 22, 1861, two weeks before the scheduled graduation. Rosser traveled toMontgomery, Alabama,to enlist in theConfederate States Army.Thomas Rosser's roommate at the academy,George Armstrong Custerwas a close friend and despite being on opposing sides this friendship continued both during and after the Civil War ended. He was known for his "hit and run" raids.

Civil War

Confederate Cavalry Major General Thomas L. Rosser

Rosser was commissioned afirst lieutenantand became an instructor to the famed "Washington Artillery"ofNew Orleans.He commanded its Second Company at theFirst Battle of Manassasin July 1861. He was noted for shooting down one ofGeorge B. McClellan'sobservation balloons,a feat that won him promotion tocaptain.He commanded his battery during theSeven Days Battlesof thePeninsula Campaign,and was severely wounded atMechanicsville.Rosser was promoted tolieutenant colonelof artillery, and a few days later tocolonelof the5th Virginia Cavalry.

He commanded the advance ofJ.E.B. Stuart's expedition to Catlett's Station, and was notable in theSecond Battle of Manassas,where captured Union commanderJohn Pope's orderly and horses. During the fighting at Crampton's Gap at theBattle of South Mountain,his cavalry delayed the advance ofWilliam B. Franklin'sVI Corpswith help fromJohn Pelham's artillery. AtAntietam,his men screenedRobert E. Lee's left flank. He temporarily assumed command ofFitzhugh Lee's brigade during the subsequent fighting againstAlfred Pleasonton.

He was again badly wounded at theBattle of Kelly's Ford,where "the gallant" Pelham was killed. Rosser was disabled until theGettysburg Campaign,where he commanded his regiment in the fighting atHanoverand theEast Cavalry FieldatGettysburg.He was promoted tobrigadier generalof the "Laurel Brigade," which had gained fame underTurner Ashby.He was distinguished again in the 1864Overland Campaign,driving back a large force of Union cavalry and artillery at theBattle of the Wilderness.

Rosser was yet again wounded atTrevilian Station,where his brigade captured a number ofprisonersfrom former West Point classmate and close personal friendGeorge Armstrong Custer.His brigade later gallantly fought againstPhilip Sheridanin theShenandoah Valley,and he efficiently commanded Fitzhugh Lee's division atCedar Creek.A rare defeat where Custer overran Rosser's troops at theBattle of Tom's Brookallowed Custer to repay Rosser for Trevilian Station. For no tactical reason, Custer chased Rosser's troops for over 10 miles and the action became known as the "Woodstock Races" in Union accounts. Custer had also captured Rosser's private wardrobe wagon at Tom's Brook, and Rosser immediately messaged him.

Dear Fanny,

You may have made me take a few steps back today, but I will be even with you tomorrow. Please accept my good wishes and this little gift—a pair of your draws captured at Trevillian Station.

Tex,

Custer shipped Rosser's gold-laced Confederate grey coat to his wife with a reply.

Dear friend,

Thanks for setting me up in so many new things, but would you please direct your tailor to make the coat tails of your next uniform a trifle shorter.

Best regards, G.A.C.

Rosser became known in the Southern press as the "Saviour of the Valley," and was promoted tomajor generalin November 1864. He conducted a successful raid on New Creek, West Virginia, taking hundreds of prisoners and seizing much need quantities of supplies. In January 1865, he took 300 men, crossed the mountains in deep snow and bitter cold, and surprised and captured two infantry regiments in their works atBeverly, West Virginia,taking 580 prisoners. Most of the men in Rosser's command were recruits from West Virginia.

Rosser commanded a cavalry division during theSiege of Petersburgin the spring, fighting nearFive Forks.It was here that Rosser hosted the "infamous"shadbake (fish feast) 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the battle lines preceding and during the primary Federal assault. Guests at this small affair includedGeorge PickettandFitzhugh Lee.Shelby Foote states that "Pickett only made it back to his division after over half his troops had been shot or captured..". It is said that Lee never forgave Pickett for his absence from his post when the Federals broke the Confederate lines and carried the day at Five Forks.

Rosser was conspicuous during theAppomattox Campaign,capturing a Union general,John Irvin Gregg,and rescuing a wagon train near Farmville. He led a daring early morning charge atAppomattox Court Houseon April 9, 1865, and escaped with his command as Lee surrendered the bulk of theArmy of Northern Virginia.Under orders from the secretary of war, he began reorganizing the scattered remnants of Lee's army in a vain attempt to joinJoseph E. Johnston's army inNorth Carolina.However, he surrendered atStaunton, Virginia,on May 4 and was paroled shortly afterwards.

Postbellum activities

Rosser was superintendent of the National Express Company, working for fellow ex-Confederate generalJoe Johnston.He resigned to become assistantengineerduring the construction of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad. He became chief engineer of the eastern division of theNorthern Pacific Railroad.Later he was chief engineer of theCanadian Pacific.He worked for the C.P.R. for less than a year before being fired for corruption. Using his position in the C.P.R., Rosser had amassed on the side a fortune of more than $130,000 through speculation and other questionable means.Rosser was believed to have altered the preliminary survey of the line in Saskatchewan to bring it through Regina where he had money invested.

Rosser engaged in efforts to honor the Confederacy after the war. He worked to have Confederate monuments constructed despite having been explicitly discouraged from doing so in a now famous 1866 personal letter from Robert E. Lee.When Custer was defeated at the Battle of Little Bighorn, Rosser wrote an article in the Chicago Tribune placing the blame on Custer's subordinates. Rosser later retracted his claims when Major Reno threatened a lawsuit.

In 1886, he bought a plantation nearCharlottesville, Virginia,and became a gentleman farmer. On June 10, 1898, PresidentWilliam McKinleyappointed Rosser a brigadier general of United States volunteers during theSpanish–American War.His first task was training young cavalry recruits in a camp near the old Civil War battlefield ofChickamaugain northernGeorgia.He was honorably discharged on October 31, 1898, and returned home. He died at Charlottesville and is buried atRiverview Cemetery, Charlottesville.Biographers describe Rosser as a man driven by a desire for financial gain, and a person who could be “arrogant, aggressive, racist, and proud to a fault.”

Rosser Avenue inBrandon, Manitobais named in his honor, as well as the village and Rural Municipality of Rosser near Winnipeg.There is also a Rosser Avenue inBismarck, North Dakota.This was platted before Custer's arrival in the area, and so likely is related to Rosser's time with the railroad (Northern Pacific) rather than his friendship with Custer, or his military career. There is also a Rosser Avenue inWaynesboro, Virginia.InCharlottesville, Virginiathere are both Rosser Avenue and Rosser Lane.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)

References

• Eicher, John H., andDavid J. Eicher,Civil War High Commands.Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.ISBN978-0-8047-3641-1.
• Rosser, Major Thomas L. and Keller, S. Roger (editor),Riding with Rosser: Memoirs of Gen. Thomas L. Rosser, C.S.A.,Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press, 1997.ISBN1-57249-066-7
• Sifakis, Stewart.Who Was Who in the Civil War.New York: Facts On File, 1988.ISBN978-0-8160-1055-4.
• Warner, Ezra J.Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959.ISBN978-0-8071-0823-9.
• Manitoba Historical Society: Thomas Lafayette Rosser (1836–1910)