BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
OF
GENERAL LAURENCE SULLIVAN ROSS.
and dead. Their splendid services are the inestimable
legacies of the past and present, to the future. Of the
latter, it is the high prerogative of the State to embalm
their names and memories as perpetual exemplars to
excite the generous emulation of the Texan youth to the
latest posterity. Of the former, it is our pleasant
province to accord them those honors which their services, in
so eminent a degree, entitle them to receive.
Few lands, since the days of the "Scottish
Chiefs," have furnished material upon which to predicate a
the personal combat, were regulated, together with the
knight’s armorial trappings, to the musty archives of
"Tower" and "Pantheon," until the
Comanche Bedouins of the Texan plains tendered, in bold defiance, the
savage gauntlet to the pioneer knights of progress and
civilization. And, though her heraldic roll glows with
the names of a Houston, a Rusk, Lamar, McCulloch, Hayes, Chevallie, which illumine the pages of her
history with an effulgence of glory,
devotion, of more loyal patriotism, or indomitable will to do
and dare, than the subject of this brief sketch.
Laurence Sullivan Ross was born in the town of
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight. His father, Captain
S. P. Ross, removed to
his fortunes with the pioneers who were blazing the
pathway of civilization into the wilds of a terra
incognita, as
implacable savages, who made frequent incursions into the
settlements. The duty of repelling these forays
usually devolved upon Captain Ross and his neighbors, and,
for many years, his company constituted the
only bulwark of safety between the feeble colonists and
the scalping-knife. The rapacity and treachery of his
Comanche and Kiowa foes demanded of Captain Ross
sleepless vigilance, acute sagacity, and a will that
brooked no obstacle or danger. It was in the performance of
this ardous duty that he slew, in single combat,
"Big Foot," a Comanche chief of great
prowess, and who was for many years the scourge of the early
frontier. The services of Captain S. P. Ross are still held in
grateful remembrance by the descendants of his
compatriots, and his memory will never be suffered to pass away
while Texans feel a pride in the sterling
worth of the pioneers who laid the foundation of
The following incident, as illustrative of the
character and spirit of the man and times, is given:
"Captain Ross, who had been visiting a neighbor,
was returning home, afoot, accompanied by his little son
‘Sul,’ as the General was
familiarly called. When within a half mile of his house, he was surrounded by
fifteen or twenty mounted Comanche warriors, who commenced an
immediate attack. The Captain, athletic
and swift of foot, threw his son on his back, and out-ran
their ponies to the house unhurt amid a perfect
shower of arrows."
Such were among the daily experiences of the child,
and with such impressions stamped upon the
infantile mind, it was but natural that the enthusiastic spirit
of the ardent youth should lead him to seek
adventures upon the "war-path," similar to those that
had signalized his honored father’s prowess upon so
many occasions. Hence, we find "Sul"
Ross, during vacation from his studies at Florence Wesleyan
University,
with the
Major Earl Van Dorn led an expedition against the
hostiles in the
the hotly-contested battle of the
"Sul" Ross, led by
their intrepid young white chief, performed prodigies of valor, and to the
sagacity, skill,
and bravery of Ross was the complete annihilation of the
hostiles, in a great measure, atributable. In the
moment of victory, Ross was felled to the earth by receiving
two dangerous wounds, by a rifle-shot which
pierced his arm and side, and was borne from the field on the
shields of his faithful and brave Indian
retainers. In the heart of the engagement, and before being
shot down, Ross discovered a little white girl, a
captive, among the Indians. Immediately upon her discovery
was her rescue determined upon, and, a
murderous melee, was effected. For the particulars of which, as
well as of the fortune of "Lizzie Ross," vide
the concluding pages of this memoir. For conspicuous
gallantry on this occasion, Major Van Dorn, upon the
field of battle, drew up a recommendation, which was signed
by all the officers of the gallant old Second
United States Cavalry, addressed to the Secretary of
War, asking the promotion of Captain Ross, and his
assignment to duty in the regular army. The venerable General
Winfield Scott, Commander of the United
States Army, wrote an autograph letter to the wounded
young leader, complimenting, in the highest terms,
the noble qualities displayed on that trying occasion,
and tendered him his friendship and assistance.
Captain Ross made no attempt to use the recommendation
of the
soon as his wounds admitted of travel, he returned to
college, and graduated in 1859.
Immediately upon his return home, Captain Ross was
placed in command of the rangers on the
frontier, by appointment of Governor Sam Houston, and repaired
forthwith to his post of duty. In
December, 1860, at the head of sixty rangers, Captain
Ross followed the trial of a large body of
Comanches, who had raided through Parker county, to their
village on the head-waters of Pease river.
Though proverbial for vigilance and cunning, Captain
Ross succeeded in effecting a complete surprise, and
in the desperate encounter of "war to the
knife" that ensued, nearly all the warriors bit the dust. So signal a
victory had never before been gained over the fierce and
warlike Comanches, and ever since that fatal
December day, in 1860, the dispirited Comanche
"brave" dates the dissipation of that wand of invincibility
which it seemed the "Great Spirit" had thrown
around them. The blow was as sudden, and as irresistible, as
a thunder-bolt from a cloudless sky, and as crushing
and remorseless as the hand of fate itself. Ross, sword
in hand, led the furious charge of the rangers, and Peta Nocona, chief of the tribe, arose from his last sleep
on earth, aroused by the demoniacal saturnalia in the
midst of which his warriors were melting away like
snow-flakes on the river’s brink, to strike, at least, an
avenging blow ere the night of death had drawn its
sable curtains around and above his devoted tribe. Singling
out Ross, as the most conspicuous of his
assailants, with eyes flashing and nerves steeled by the crisis
of fate, Peta Nocona rushed on the wings of
the wind to this revel of death. The eagle eyes of the
young ranger took in the situation at a glance, and he
welcomed the redoubtable chief to the contest with a smile. Desperate
was this hand-to-hand grapple, for
there was no alternative but victory or death. Peta Nocona fell covered with wounds at the feet of his
conqueror, and his last sigh was taken up in mournful wailings
by the fugitives fleeing from this village of
blood and death. Many of these latter perished on the
inhospitable plains, in a fruitless endeavor to reach
their friends and allies on the head-waters of the
450 horses and all their accumulated
winter supplies. But the
subsequent results are not to be computed on
the basis of dollars and cents. The spirit of the
Comanche was here broken, and to this crushing defeat is to
be attributed the pacific conduct of these hitherto
implacable foes of the white race during the civil war—a
been to
It was in this engagement that Captain Ross rescued
"Cynthia Ann Parker," after a captivity of
twenty-five years, or since the capture of "Parker’s
Fort," in 1830 (see Thrall’s History of Texas, page 455,)
near the site of the town of
Thrall, to the effect that Cynthia Ann Parker was dressed in male attire, nor was there much doubt as to
her
identity, as in conversing with her, through the medium of his
Mexican servant, who had also been a captive
to the Comanches and perfectly
conversant with their language, there was but little doubt on the part of
Ross as to who his captive really was; and he
dispatched a special messenger for her uncle, Colonel Parker.
In the meantime, sending Cynthia Ann to
Lieutenant-General) N. G. Evans could properly attend
to her necessities.
After the carnage had ceased, Captain Ross discovered
a little Indian boy lying concealed in the tall
grass, expecting, in conformity to the savage customs of
his own race, to be killed immediately upon
discovery. Ross, with kind words, placed the little fellow upon
his horse behind himself, and took him to
camp. The little captive was named "Pease," in
honor of Governor E. M. Pease. Captain Ross took "Pease"
home, and properly cared for him, and he is now with his
benefactor, a full-blooded Comanche Indian,
though a civilized and educated gentleman.
Captain Ross sent the shield, bow, and lance of Peta Nocona to Governor Houston, who placed them
in the archives at
recognizing the great service rendered the State by Captain Ross
in dealing the Indians this crushing blow,
Governor Houston says: "Your success in
protecting the frontier gives me great satisfaction. I am satisfied
that, with the same opportunities, you would rival, if not
excel, the greatest exploits of McCulloch or Jack
Hays. Continue to repel, pursue, and punish every body of
Indians coming into the state, and the people will
not withhold their praise."
But the tempest of sectional hate, that had so long
been distracting the country, was now culminating
into a seething, whirling cyclone of war, and such a
spirit as Ross could not remain confined to the mere
border foray, when armed legions were mustering for the titantic strife; he, therefore, tendered his
resignation to Governor Houston, who, in recognition of the
services rendered by Ross, had appointed him
his aide-de-camp, with the rank of Colonel. Ross’
resignation drew from Governor Houston the following
letter, than which a more gratifying testimonial of his
worth and services could not be tendered a young man
of scarce twenty-three years of age:
"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
"
"CAPTAIN L. S. ROSS,
"Commanding
"Sir—Your letter of the
13th, tendering your resignation as Captain in the ranging service of
has been received. The Executive regrets that you should
think of resigning your position, as the state of the
frontier requires good and efficient officers. He is,
therefore, unwilling to accept your resignation. * * * The
Executive has always had confidence in your capacity
as an officer; and your deportment, as a soldier and
gentleman, has met with his entire approval. It is his desire
that you at once increase your command to
eighty-three, rank and file, and take the field again.
"Very respectfully,
"[Signed]
"SAM HOUSTON."
Captain Ross called Governor Clarke’s attention to the
necessity of entering into treaty stipulations
with the Indians on our frontier; and Major Van Dorn also
urged the same measure upon the Governor, and
suggested Captain Ross as the most proper person to conduct the
negotiation on the part of the state, as it
was well known he had the full confidence of the
"Texas Indians," whom he commanded in the
campaign. In response to these suggestions, Governor Clarke
wrote Captain Ross as follows:
"
"CAPTAIN L. S. ROSS:
"Dear Sir—When you were
here, a few days ago, you spoke to me of the disposition of the Indians to
treat with the people of
give to the subject the consideration its importance
demanded. I, nevertheless, concluded and determined to
adopt and carry out your suggestions. I would be pleased
for you to inform me whether it may now be in
time to accomplish the objects you spoke of, and, if so,
whether you would be willing to undertake its
execution. You mentioned, I believe, that a day was fixed by
the Indians for the interview, but that you
informed them that by that time
"Very respectfully,
"[Signed]
"ERWARD CLARKE."
In pursuance of this programme,
Captain Ross received his credentials from the Governor, and,
taking with him Mr. Downs, of the Waco Examiner, and
two or three more young friends, set out for the
plains. Arriving at Gainsville,
Ross met an Indian trader, whom he knew, named Shirley, whose brother was
an interpreter, and both of whom lived in the Indian
country. He was about to engage the assistance and cooperation
of these men, when he learned that General Pike had been
commissioned, and was then en route
to
Captain Ross, deeming that the interests of
expense and responsibility was obviated, did not attend the
interview; nor, indeed, did he allow to transpire
the nature of his business in that section, at all
though, through the medium of Shirley, Jones, Bickle,
and
one or two other white men living with the Indians, all
of whom were well known to Ross, the Indians were
fully prepared and anxious to enter into friendly relations
with the South; so, that when General Pike arrived
the ground lay fair before him, and he found no
difficulty in arranging the terms. Captain Ross, who had
been in correspondence with the above-named white
residents of the Indian section, realized the importance
of prompt action on the part of the South, before
commissioners of the
opportunities for seducing the Indians from their natural friends.
Finding that the Confederacy was moving
to the accomplishment of the same object, Ross possessed
too much sagacity to invite a conflict of authority
between
the sovereign prerogative of the States; and, while
saving
responsibility in the matter, silently contributed to the
accomplishment of General Pike’s mission. The value
of this treaty to the South can not well be
overestimated. It not only obviated the necessity for the presence
of a considerable force on the frontier which was
required elsewhere, but it actually contributed to the
augmentation of the Confederate ranks. This great service rendered
frontier, was wholly unselfish and gratuitous, and it is
believed the true statement of the case, now, for the
first time, finds itself in print. Seeing the consummation
of this important affair well under way, Ross
returned to
company was, with others, consolidated into the Sixth
Regiment of Texas Cavalry, at the city of
regiment, ex-Governor J. W. Throckmorton was Captain of
Company "K," and John S. Griffith Lieutenant-
Colonel, Colonel B. Warren Stone
being the Colonel. The regiment
immediately took up the line of march
for General Ben McCulloch’s army in
(Creek Nation) with distinguished gallantry, December,
1861, and in the three days’ battle at Elk Horn, or
head of a detachment of about 300 men, composed of
companies of the Third and Sixth Texas Cavalry, in
the enemy’s rear. This delicate expedition, demanding the
consummate address of a prompt and decisive
commander, was attended with eminent success, General Ross
capturing numbers of prisoners and
destroying immense quantities of quartermaster and commissary
stores.
The "Army of the West," composed of the
division of the lamented McCulloch and General Price,
were transferred to the Cis-Mississippi
Department to re-enforce General Beauregard at
other cavalry regiments, was dismounted, and their horses
sent to
engaged in a number of outpost affairs until in May, when the
first year’s service having expired, the
regiment was reorganized, and Major L S. Ross was elected
Colonel. Immediately upon his election he was
assigned to the command of the brigade in which his regiment
was incorporated, in the following order from
division head-quarters:
"HEAD-QUARTERS JONES’ DIVISION,
"Special Orders No. II—Extract.
"I. Colonel Laurence S. Ross will immediately
assume command of Roane’s Brigade, Jones’
Division, Army of the West.
"By command of
"L. JONES, Major-General,
"CHARLES S. STRINGFELLOW, A. A. G."
Colonel Ross, with his characteristic modesty,
declined the honor, and prevailed with General Jones
to allow him to remain in command of his own regiment,
and General Phifer was subsequently placed in
command of the brigade. The summer of 1862 was spent in the
camp at
principally employed in drilling the regiments, in the case of
the dismounted Texans in transforming natural
troopers into unwilling infantrymen. The next engagement of
importance was the storming of
the struggle at
elucidation of the part borne by Ross and his men, on those two
trying occasions, the following letters from
General Dabney H. Maury and
General Pryor are adduced:
"HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
"
"MY DEAR COLONEL:
"General Jackson asked me to have some colors
made for his division. Please send me, at once, the
names of the battles in which my old
I wish to have them placed on their colors. I always
think of the behavior of the Texans at
the
war. It does not seem to be generally known, but it is a
fact, that the fragment of my shattered division
withstood the attack of Ord’s corps,
and successfully checked it until the whole train of the army had
changed its line of march. For about an hour the remnant of Phifer’s Brigade, commanded by Colonel L. S.
Ross, held the
came up, and the fight was maintained exclusively by my
division until we were ordered to retire, which
was done in a deliberate and soldierly manner. I often
reflect, with satisfaction, on that fight as one of the
most creditable to the troops engaged of which I have any
knowledge, and I do not believe any thing is
known of it outside of the division. No regiment can have a
more honorable name upon its flag than
"
colors than the Sixth Texas Cavalry.
"With kind regards, Colonel, I am truly yours,
"[Signed]
"DABNEY H. MAURY."
"
"GENERAL L. S. ROSS,
"
"My Dear Sir—I am requested by General Forrest,
who is completely immersed in business
connected with a large railroad contract in
favor of the 21st ult., and to
return his, and my own, sincere thanks for your report. You may very well
suppose I took great interest in, not only reading your
summary of operations while with Forrest, but also in
seeing, for the first time, the high testimony General Maury
bears to your old regiment at
For, you will remember, I was with you, on your staff,
on that occasion, and have always taken some little
credit to myself for the assistance I was so fortunate as to
be able to render to your brigade that day. I was
the first to discover that
command (Whitfield’s Legion, I think), had both been
scattered, or destroyed as organizations, and that
your small brigade, of less than 700 men, was about to be
assailed by Hulburt’s whole army. I remember
that I gained this information from General Moore, whom I
accidentally met retiring from the front, all
alone on the bank of the river, and immediately
communicated to you, with the request of Gen. Moore that
you should ‘fall back’ across the stream, or you would
be overwhelmed in ten minutes, or less time, by a
force of at least 8,000 men; I remember that you refused,
at first, to comply with
Captain D. R. Gurley and myself to General Maury for
orders, who, upon ascertaining the facts,
immediately dispatched you the order to retire. Then, at ‘common
time,’ the brigade was moved by the left
flank to the road leading to the bridge (without letting
the men know, at first, that they were falling back),
when the order to ‘file left’ was given, and the command
brought off in good order, quietly and safely, with
the exception of a portion of the extreme right, which,
misunderstanding the first order, moved by the ‘right
flank’ instead of the left, and so became separated, and
near a hundred of them captured. Withdrawing to
the east bank of the
the brigade there made the gallant stand for several
hours, to which General Maury so complimentarily
alludes. With best regards to my friend Gurley, whom I shall
always remember as one of the best truest, and
most efficient of men I ever knew,
"I remain, my dear sir, very truly yours,
"[Signed]
"J. A. PRYOR."
But as the foregoing pages of this narrative deals
with the services of Ross in the Confederate army, it
would be a useless repetition to repeat what has already
been said, unless having a direct bearing upon
General Ross individually, or tending to illustrate
some trait of character.
The defeated Confederate army retreated, via
place the four
forced Grant to retire to
Then the march to
enemy were captured. Then the long and tedious march to
services of Colonel Ross were fully appreciated by his
superiors in rank, and he was placed in command of
a brigade composed of the First Mississippi Cavalry and
the Sixth Texas, and dispatched to the
valley, conducting a brilliant campaign, against vastly
superior forces, by land and river. In testimony of the
high appreciation in which they held Colonel Ross, the
following testimonial of the officers of the First
Mississippi Cavalry is adduced:
"CAMP FIRST
"
"COLONEL L. S. ROSS:
"The officers of the First Mississippi Cavalry
desiring to express their appreciation of you as an
officer, have designated the undersigned as a committee to
communicate their feelings.
"It is with profound regret that they part with
you as their Brigade Commander, and will cherish, with
kind remembrance, your generous and courteous conduct
toward them, and the gallant bearing you have
ever displayed in leading them in battle. The service,
with all its hardships and privations, has been
rendered pleasant under your direction and leadership. They
deplore the circumstances which render it
necessary that they should be taken from your command, but feel
confident that, in whatever field you may
be called upon to serve, the country will know no better
or more efficient officer. Our regret is shared by all
the men of the regiment, and you carry with you their
best wishes for your continued success.
"In conclusion, allow us to say, we are proud to
have served under you, and with your gallant Texans,
and hope yours, and theirs, and our efforts in behalf of
our bleeding country, will at length be crowned with
success. Very respectfully,
"W. V. LESTER, Captain Company K.
"J. E. TURNER, Captain Company I.
"J. A. KING, Captain Company G."
Lieutenant-General Stephen D. Lee wrote Mr. Seddon, the Secretary of War,
"Colonel L. S. Ross is one of the best
disciplinarians in the army, and has distinguished himself on many
battle-fields, and his promotion and assignment will increase the
efficiency of the most reliable troops under
my command."
General D. H. Maury wrote from
Colonel L. S. Ross commanded his brigade, and evinced
such conspicuous gallantry, that, when called upon
to report to the War Department the name of the officer
who had been especially distinguished there, and at
the Confederate States Army."
Hon. F. R. Lubbock, while a member of the President’s
staff at
Ross: "I have learned, with pride and great
satisfaction, of the good behavior, and gallant conduct, and highbearing
of the
General W. H. Jackson, commanding Cavalry Division,
wrote the Secretary of War,
"I regard Colonel L. S. Ross as one the best
disciplinarians, and one of the most gallant officers, in the
Army of the West.’ "
General Joseph E. Johnston wrote the Secretary of War,
Colonel Ross.
All this was done positively without the solicitation
of Colonel Loss, and, in point of fact, without his
knowledge and consent. The first intimation that Ross had the
honor to be conferred upon him, was the
reception of his commission as a Brigadier-General, in the
presence of the enemy, before
appointment sought the man, and there was no one amid all that
galaxy of glory, who wore the "wreathed
stars" during the stormy period of the war, more
deserving the honor than Laurence Sullivan Ross.
We may merely mention the most salient features of the
campaigns, henceforth, which, like the
rounds of a ladder, bear us, step by step, to the end.
in front, rear, and flank incessantly, and retarded the
Federal advance until the defeat of Smith’s corps, by
Gen. Forrest, near
subsequently did to
stream a Federal flotilla was ascending, accompanied by a
land force of 3,500 men.
The spirited battles of "
complete victory for Ross, who drove the Federals on board
their transports, and, though protected by
ironclad gun-boats, drove them down the
The following testimonial of the citizens of
volume in itself:
"
"GENERAL L. S. ROSS:
"We the undersigned, citizens of
heartfelt thanks for the noble manner in which you have
repelled the enemy, though far superior in numbers,
thus saving us from the insults and other indignities
which they would have heaped upon us.
"[Signed]: W. H. Mangum, John M. Clark, S. H.
Wilson, Alex. Smith, James P. Thomas, Jr., M. P.
Dent, R. M. Grail, H. B. Kidd, Mark Berry, S. D.
Hightower, F. M. Cassels, John Smith, D. Kearney, R.
C.
Shepherd, W. L. Stamford, S. C. Goosey, Richard
Stephens, S. T. Pierse, F. Barksdale, F. G. Stewart,—
Gibbs, Louis Franklin, J. W. Barnett, C.
Hollingsworth, Louis Rosenthral, A. Asher, M. L. Enlich, John
Hagman, Jacob Hagman, A. H.
Montgomery, Captain O. T. Plummer (Volunteer and Conscript Bureau),
Captain W. J. Blackburn (Volunteer
and Conscript Bureau) B. J. Harris, James Schmitt, W. Ragster,
R. B.
Powell, R. R. Callahan, J. O. Dwyer, J. Bradley, C.
Swann, Joseph Carr, J. W. Campton, Samuel Goodwin,
J. S. Wallace, Fred, Knabke,
John S. Murphy,—Murphy, J. Mozer, John Reilly, James
Carter, James P.
O’Reilley, H. C. Tyler, Thomas R. Smith, Hiram Harrison."
The brigade was ordered from the
constituted a portion of the Confederate line in front of
repelling, fighting, and capturing Federal raiders in the rear
of General Johnston’s army. In the advance to
absolutely saved the army from annihilation. But, as has been
aptly said, the tide of Confederate success
reached its greatest height in Pickett’s charge upon
were but the spasmodic efforts that precede final
dissolution. The end came; and the commencement of the
end dates from the day that General Johnston inaugurated
his ignoble retreat by retiring from
that befell it.
It is not pleasant to contemplate these heroic men
struggling against an iliad of woes. They had borne
their banners on the highest waves of victory, and stood as
conquerors on the
weary, ragged, famished, after nine-tenths of their numbers
had been offered as sacrifices upon the altar of
duty, they stood contemplating the inevitable. The rest is
known of all.
General Ross returned to his home, near
honorable life of a farmer. Since his twentieth year, he had
shared all the vicissitudes of a soldier’s life. The
golden morning of life had been spent, without the hope of
fee or reward, in the arduous duties and dangers
of the battle field. He now sought repose, content to remain
on
"The Sabine farm, amid contiguous hills,
Remote from honors and their kindred ills,
But, in 1873, his friends called him from retirement
by electing him Sheriff of McLennan county. In
this position he remained several years, and so efficient
were his services, that he was styled, by those who
had opportunities for judging, "The model Sheriff of
Texas!" Voluntarily retiring from office, he again
sought the privacy of his country home. In 1875, he was
elected a member of the Constitutional Convention
that framed the present organic law of
General Ross, and the
policies advocated by him in the prosecution of this grave duty, a few extracts
are
reproduced from the leading journals of the time. The
rather hostile review of the Constitution, and especially of
Article V. (the Judiciary), says:
"Judge Ballinger and General Ross protested
against their action (the "Rutabagas"), but were
overslaughed. * * * Our readers will remember the unanswerable
argument of General Ross against the
reduction of the judges, salaries, and judicial districts,
against which the "Rutabagas" opposed—not their
arguments, but their votes."
The State Gazette, Colonel John D. Elliott, editor,
said:
"We can never refer to the name of General Ross
without feeling an inspiration of admiration
scarcely ever equalled in our
experience of life. He is one of nature’s noblemen—as artless and
unostentatious as a child, as courageous and heroic as ever bore the
image of man, and as able as the ablest
of the land. His record in the Constitutional Convention
showed him as exalted a patriot and statesman as
the man of letters and thorough representative of the
people. He is eminently fitted for the highest trust of
the Commonwealth. We know of no citizen of the State who
would add greater luster in her chief
magistracy than General Sul
Ross."
The following letter is from the pen of Colonel John
Henry Brown, and appeared in the columns of
the
"Another
gallant boy Captain who rescued Cynthia Ann Parker after
twenty-five years captivity—a private soldier
winning his way up to a Brigadier-Generalship—the hero of
more than a hundred battles and fights—the
modest and educated gentleman—for five years the model
Sheriff of the State, and in the Constitutional
Convention displaying the highest qualities of
eloquence and enlightened statesmanship—why may not his
thousands of friends present his name for the position of Chief
Magistrate of the State he has so nobly, and
ably, and disinterestedly served since he was thirteen
years old? Why not? He has never intimated such a
wish; but his friends claim the right to mention his name.
Ask the people of the whole frontier—ask the
people of his large district—ask his neighbors—ask the
thirty thousand ex-soldiers who know his deeds,
and see what they all say. They will send up one grand
shout for Sul Ross."
All of which the Telephone endorsed in the following
language:
"General Ross’ sound, practical
abilities, are unquestioned, and few men are more justly esteemed.
We believe he would fill any position which he
consents to accept, with ability, faithfulness, and dignity.
We do not know, however, that he would consent to
become an aspirant, this time, for the gubernatorial
office. We do know, however, that he will never intrigue or
scheme for the position; and, if tendered the
nomination, it will be a voluntary offering by the State at
large, without reference to local or personal
predilections and efforts. Under those circumstances, General Ross
would make a governor equal to any
Such, in brief, is a hasty synopsis of the life of
General L. S. Ross. The foregoing pages of this
narrative attempt to elaborate some of the incidents in his
career that won for himself the confidence of his
superiors in rank, and for his brigade the ecomium
of all. Nothing like a complete history of Ross, or his
brigade, is claimed here. At this late day, in the absence of
all documentary material to use in the
construction, that desideratum is impossible of attainment; and,
with the conclusion drawing nigh, the
author feels like exclaiming: The half has not been told;
and the fragment here preserved falls far short of
doing the subject justice! Probably, no general officer who
commanded troops in the late war, drew them in
closer sympathy to himself than General Ross. Each man of
his brigade regarded his dashing young
chieftain as a personal friend. As Junot
was prompt to resent a fancied insult to Napoleon, so would the
troopers of Ross have drawn their sabers at any allusion
disparaging to their idolized leader. Brave unto
rashness himself—he had seven horses shot under him in the
course of the war—yet he was solicitous of the
welfare of his men, and all his plans of attack or defense
contained, in an eminent degree, the element of
prudence. Often, with his skeleton brigade, he seemed tempting
the wrath of the Fates, and as risking all
upon a single cast of the die; but no mission of danger
ever appalled his men, for, following his dashing and
seemingly reckless lead, they again and again plucked "the
flower safety from the nettle danger."
In the disastrous retreat of Hood from
palladiums of hope to the discomfited army; and had it not been
for their interposing shields, Hood’s army,
as an organization, would have ceased to exist ere a
passage of the
attained.
A characteristic letter from the General’s pen will
conclude this sketch of his life—a letter written in
the expectation that no eye save the author’s would ever
scan its pages—as tending to illustrate somewhat
those noble qualities of heart that so endeared him to his
men. The noble sentiments expressed are
characteristic of the man.
General Ross was recently elected to a seat in the
State Senate, distancing his competitor by an
unparalleled majority, and running two thousand votes ahead of his
own party ticket. Apropos to General
Ross’ opposition to the "Judical
Article" of the State Constitution, it is gratifying to his friends to know
that
five years of experience has demonstrated his wisdom in
pronouncing the article, on the floor of the
Convention, "wholly inadequate to meet the wants
of the great State of
prove in the end more expensive than the one sought to be
displaced." As the Democratic party in
convention at
particular want, a more emphatic and unqualified vindication of
General Ross’ course in the Constitutional
Convention could not be framed.
"
"VICTOR M. ROSE,
"
"My Dear Friend—Your
kind letter did not reach me promptly, but I hasten to assure you of my
approval of the commendable work you design. You will probably
remember that, during the war, Captain
Dunn, whose health had failed, detailed to write a
full and accurate history of the operations of the brigade,
and I furnished him with all necessary data—orders,
papers, etc.,—so as to render his duty of easy
compliance; but, unfortunately, he died in
that my trunk and papers entrusted to his care had fallen
into the hands of the enemy. In my trunk was found
twenty stands of colors and other trophies which we had
captured from the Federals. My memory is too
defective to be relied upon at this late day for much valuable
information, but such as I can trust, I will
gladly give you; and I feel warranted in saying, that
Captain Gurley, and others of our comrades, will aid
you in your noble work, which, I trust, you will not
delay for the endorsement of any one.
"I was glad to hear from you. Indeed, every few
days, by letters or calls from my noble, brave boys,
am I assured that they remember me kindly. No churchman
ever loved to tell his beads as I love to recount
their valor and their loyalty in the discharge of a
solemnly-conceived duty. Long after I was thoroughly
satisfied they knew they were being called upon to follow a
"will o’ the wisp" to their utter discomfiture—
naked, footsore, and famished as they were, yet, with
heroic devotion, they met every peril unflinchingly,
and encountered every hardship unmurmuringly.
I hope steps will be taken soon to bring about a happy
reunion of all those who are still living, and then we can
take steps to honor and embalm the memory of the
dead.
"I would be pleased to have suggestions from any,
or all, of our comrades everywhere, as to the
practicability of getting up some kind of an organization, and I am
ready to concur in any plan devised. My
health is not very good. I contracted a cold from exposure
in the
over those arms, and it eventually settled on my lungs,
and from that time I have suffered much from
bronchitis, and have often thought consumption would ensue. I am
farming, and making enough to provide
for the wants of myself and wife, and six children.
Happily, my early training upon the frontier, among the
early pioneers of
tell them that if we are never permitted to meet en masse
on this earth, when we "cross over the river" we
shall enjoy a grand and glorious reunion, and have a long,
long time to talk it all over.
"Very truly your friend,
"[Signed]
"L. S. ROSS."
FROM MINUTES OF 1898.
WHEREAS, since the last reunion of the survivors of
Ross’ Texas Brigade, we have been called to
mourn the death of many of our comrades, which we realize
as a constant reminder that we too must soon
cross over the river to join those comrades who have gone
before. Yet, while we remain on the lands where
we have fought life’s battle, ties of friendship bind
our hearts in memories that are sweet in the bitter past,
and our tears fall in sympathy with those bereaved.
Therefore, be it Resolved, That deep sympathy be
extended by this Association, to the relatives of our
departed comrades.
And that, in the death of our leader, Gen. L. S. Ross,
his family have lost a kindred endeared by all
the ties of a loving nature, his friends lose a pleasant
companion and
honored citizens, whose strong arm was ever ready to defend
her institutions and whose counsels have been
freely given in shaping her wisest and best policies. And
we, of the Ross Brigade, will mingle our tears with
those who weep for we realize that we have lost a brave
commander, a wise counselor, a true comrade, and
faithful friend, in the death of Gen. Laurance
Sulivan Ross.
Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/RR/fro81.html