ROSECRANS, ro're-kranz, Starke, American soldier: b. Kingston, Ohio, 6 Sept. 1819; d. near Redondo, Cal., 11 March 1898. He was graduated at West Point, enter ing the army as 2d lieutenant of engineers in 1842, but in 1844 returned to West Point as assistant professor of engineering. From 1847 to 1854 he superintended the repair of various harbors on the eastern coast, but resigned his commission in the last-named year and retired to private life in Cincinnati, where he became a consulting engineer and architect. He en tered upon his career in the Civil War in the volunteer army, his first service being the organ ization of the Ohio troops. From colonel of the 23d Ohio Volunteers he was promoted briga dier-general, United States Volunteers, in May 1861, and 23 June was placed in command of three brigades under McClellan in the campaign of western Virginia, where he was victor in the battles of Rich Mountain and Carnifax Ferry. He served in the Department of West ern Virginia until he succeeded General Pope in command of the Army of the Mississippi. After successfully defending Corinth in western Ten nessee during the siege of 11 June 1862, he was put in command of that district by General Grant, with headquarters at Jackson. Tenn.
His memorable career as commander of the Army of the Cumberland began in October 1862, and in June 1863 he moved upon the Con federate army under General Bragg, whose forces he had been holding in intrenchment dur ing the Northern victory at Vicksburg, causing Bragg's retreat over the Cumberland Moun tains to Chattanooga. In the battle of Chick amauga, 19-20 Sept. 1863. Rosecrans was badly defeated. He was soon after transferred to the Department of the Missouri. and in 1864 re lieved of his command. He retired to Cincin nati, where he remained until 1868, when he was appointed Minister to Mexico. In 1865 he was brevetted major-general in the United States army. In 1881-85 he represented Cali fornia in Congress. From 1885 to 1893 he was Register of the United States Treasury and his beautiful signature is to be seen on the treasury notes of that period. He was restored to the rank of brigadier-general and placed on the re tired list of army officers in 1898. Consult Bickhork,