Ross - -John W. (Capt)
Source: Crawfordsville Saturday Mercury 9 Sept 1876
Capt. John W. Ross, one of our old citizens, expired at the residence of his parents on Monday afternoon. The funeral took place on last Wednesday morning, the service being conducted by Rev. Lamong of the First Presbyterian Church. The arrangements for the funeral were taken in charge by the Montgomery Guards, of which organization he was a member. The funeral was one of the largest that has ever taken place in the city. The following is a sketch of the life of the deceased, written by Gen. Lew Wallace--
Capt. JW Ross was born in Belle Fountain, Ohio on the 28th of March 1839 and dying on the 4th of Sept 1876, he lived a few days over 37 years. His was not a long life, but one full of stirring events. It embraced all the years of the rebellion, in which he played a not unconspicuous part. From 1856 to 1861 he was a member of the Montgomery Guards, an organization renowned outside of Indiana - in fact, an historic corps. Availing himself of the opportunity he became a practical soldier. When the first gun was fired in 1861, he prepared to take part in the field. To such a man there could be no question touching the side to take. Th eold flag was in peril; that was enough. The Montgomery Guards entered the service almost unitedly as Company I, 11th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. Probably no regiment in the Union Army acquired a reputation more decidedly rational. Capt. Ross followed the company and was made its Capt. while at Paducah, Ky. Stirring service began almost immediately. The march to Ft. Henry was the initiatory movement. Without rest, Ft. Donelson was attacked and captured. Then up the Tenn in a fleet of steamboats, never anything more beautiful or exciting to Savanna; thence to Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh, memorable as the first decisive duel between the chivalry of the West and South.
Thence the 11th moved across to Memphis then down the Miss with Grant against Vicksburg. This was to participate in the great days of Port Hudson and Champion Hills, the preliminaries to the conquest of Vicksburg with its garrison of 30,000 rebels. In conclusion of years of marches and batltes, NO at last rec'd the weary regiment. Then there was a period of intolerable service ended in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana; at the end of which Capt. Ross with his entire regiment, veteranized and camea home on furlough by way of the sea. Round the Keys of Florida they sailed to NY; from thence they proceeded to Indianapolis in a triumphal march.
At the expiration of the furlough, the Capt. returned with the regiment to New Orleans - there they perfected their drill and were after which sent in hot haste once more round the Keys to Washington. There, under Sheridfan they pursued Jubal Early up the Shenandoah; participating in the bloody battle of Winchester, Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill, the latter the occasion of Sheridan's memorable ride. These victories concluded Capt. Ross's service. He resigned his commission and came home to civil life. There was no braver man. He did not know what fear was. His courage was only equalled by his love of country.
Source:
Crawfordsville Star 7 Sept 1876
A
well known citizen of this city died at his father's residence on West Street
in this city on Monday afternoon at about 1 o'clock of consumption. The deceased
had been in failing health for some time, but had been confined to the house
only a few weeks before his death. The funeral services took place at the house
on Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. Lamont of the
First Presbyterian Church, The funeral arrangements were in charge of the
Montgomery Guards of which organization Mr. Ross was one of the first members.
In the wake of the Mont Guards band and a large number of surviving soldiers
and comrades of the late war, a large procession of citizens wended their way
to the Masonic cemetery to pay their last sad tribute of respect to one of
their number who had passed through all the vicissitudes of camp life only to
fall a prey to disease at home. The following sketch of the life of the
deceased was prepared by Gen Lew Wallace:
Capt.
JW Ross was born in Belle Fountain, Ohio on the 28th of March 1839 and dying on
the 4th of Sept 1876, he lived a few days over 37 years. His was not a long
life, but one full of stirring events. It embraced all the years of the
rebellion, in which he played a not unconspicuous part. From 1856 to 1861 he was a member of the
Montgomery Guards, an organization renowned outside of Indiana - in fact, an
historic corps. Availing himself of the opportunity he became a practical
soldier. When the first gun was fired in 1861, he prepared to take part in the
field. To such a man there could be no question touching the side to take. Th
eold flag was in peril; that was enough. The Montgomery Guards entered the
service almost unitedly as Company I, 11th Regiment Indiana Volunteers.
Probably no regiment in the Union Army acquired a reputation more decidedly
rational. Capt. Ross followed the company and was made its Capt. while at
Paducah, Ky. Stirring service began almost immediately. The march to Ft. Henry
was the initiatory movement. Without rest, Ft. Donelson was attacked and
captured. Then up the Tenn in a fleet of steamboats, never anything more
beautiful or exciting to Savanna; thence to Pittsburg Landing and Shiloh,
memorable as the first decisive duel between the chivalry of the West and
South.
Thence
the 11th moved across to Memphis then down the Miss with Grant against
Vicksburg. This was to participate in the great days of Port Hudson and
Champion Hills, the preliminaries to the conquest of Vicksburg with its
garrison of 30,000 rebels. In conclusion of years of marches and batltes, NO at
last rec'd the weary regiment. Then there was a period of intolerable service
ended in the swamps and bayous of Louisiana; at the end of which Capt. Ross
with his entire regiment, veteranized and came home on furlough by way of the
sea. Round the Keys of Florida they sailed to NY; from thence they proceeded to
Indianapolis in a triumphal march.
At
the expiration of the furlough, the Capt. returned with the regiment to New Orleans
- there they perfected their drill and were after which sent in hot haste once
more round the Keys to Washington. There, under Sheridan they pursued Jubal
Early up the Shenandoah; participating in the bloody battle of Winchester,
Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill, the latter the occasion of Sheridan's memorable
ride. These victories concluded Capt. Ross's service. He resigned his
commission and came home to civil life. There was no braver man. He did not
know what fear was. His courage was only equaled by his love of country. - typed by kbz