George A. Ross

In the Summer of 1862, George resided in Detroit. His occupation was listed as "student", although what school he was attending is not known. He enlisted in Company F on August 13, 1862 at Detroit. He was 19. He was mustered into service on August 15, 1862. He was given the rank of 2nd Corporal at the regiment's formation.

Despite his young age he was an able soldier, and had good leadership qualities. On September 29, 1862 he was promoted to 3rd Sergeant. This was the first of many promotions.

He was promoted to Company First Sergeant effective July 1, 1863. The details of what happened to George Ross at Gettysburg have not yet been located. He was, however, one of the lucky few who escape the battle unscathed.

The severe casualties at Gettysburg left many Vacant places in the ranks of the 24th. George Ross sent on recruiting duty in Michigan from January 4 to April 25, 1864 in order to help fill some of those vacancies. When he returned from recruiting duty, George Ross was commissioned as the First Lieutenant on April 13, 1864. He was mustered at that rank on April 28, 1864. In order to accept this promotion, George had to leave his old Company F comrades behind and transfer to Company I.

The battle of North Anna was very inauspicious for the remaining fragments of the proud Twenty-fourth. After being struck in the flank by a confederate counter attack, the once mighty Iron Brigade fled. Captain Dodsley along with Lieutenants E. B. Welton and George A. Ross, Sergeants C. H. Chope and Robert E. Bolger, and Captain Wood, the A. A. G. of the Iron Brigade, rallied some 50 men around a battery of artillery and helped stop the on-rushing confederates. (Curtis p. 251).

The captaincy of Company F had been vacant since the promotion of Albert Edwards, and George Ross was selected to fill it. He was commissioned as the Captain of his old Company F on October 17, 1864. He was mustered at this new rank on October 26, 1864.

He was given a leave of absence from January 20 to February 10, 1865. He later served on a General Court Martial at Springfield, Illinois from June 14 to June 17, 1865.

George Ross mustered out with the regiment at Detroit on June 30, 1865.

During his service, George Ross was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Fitzhugh Crossing, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, the Salient at Spottsylvania, Jericho Ford, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor), the Assault on Petersburg, the Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, and Hatcher's Run. He also participated in the Mud March, the Port Royal and Westmoreland expeditions, the Campaign of Maneuvers, Mine Run, the Reconnaissances to Yellow Tavern and Vaughn Road, and the Raid to the Meherrin River.

George Ross died at Detroit on July 28, 1885. He was only 42.

The image above is from the State Archives of Michigan. Used with Permission