BRIGADIER-GENERAL RANSOM.

487 In his peculiar personal magnetism and the influence he possesses over men, he resembles the lamented Douglas. His eye is commanding and piercing; his voice strong, yet musical and sympathetic and his utterances rapid but distinct. Few men so trouble the fast pens of the phonographers as he. As his nature is passionate and vehement, so is his speech, and when warmed up with the occasion, he is master of all the powers of logic and argument, appeal and invective. There is not a more courageous heart or fearless arm now defending the country than John A. Logan's.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL T. E. G. RANSOM.

Young, heroic and handsome, brave, enthusiastic and manly, courageous as a lion and tender as a woman, no man so completely recalls the best qualities of the days of chivalry as Thomas Edwin Greenfield Ransom. No braver heart has been laid upon the country's altar, no clearer head has bowed before the great destroyer, no more unsullied sword has been hung upon the wall. Yielding up his life in the very flower of his youth, he will remain in memory ever young.

General Ransom was born at Norwich, Madison county, Vermont, on the 29th of November, 1834. His father, Col. Trueman B. Ransom, was born in Woodstock, Vt., in 1803, and was for sometime President of the Norwich University in that State In this school the military element was made prominent. The students were trained in the manual of arms, and during an extended tour in the summer of 1845, in which the cadets attracted great attention, young Ransom accompanied them. The military element of the school made a deep impression upon him. His father at that time was a major-general of militia of the State of Vermont. On the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was appointed colonel of the 9th U. S. Infantry. After participating in several battles and winning for himself a national fame, he fell at the storming of Chepultepec, in September, 1847. His death created a deep impression, for his careerhad been brilliant and brave. During the Mexican war, young Ransom was taught engineering under the tuition of his cousin, B. F. Marsh, on the Rutland and Burlington Railroad. After his father's death he returned to the military school, and continued there until

the spring of 1851, at which time he removed to Peru, Lasalle Co., Illinois, to engage in the practice of the engineering profession. In 1854, he embarked in the real estate business with his uncle, under the name of Gilson, Ransom & Co. In the latter part of 1855, the firm removed to Chicago, and became largely engaged in real estate operations under the name of A. J. Galloway & Co. He afterward carried on the same business in the firm of Bell & Ransom. Mr. Gilson having died in September, 1856, he then removed to Fayette County, Illinois, and while engaged in trade, acted as agent for the Illinois Central Railroad Company. He was there when the war broke out. He threw himself into the Union cause with all the ardor of his nature. He raised a company in that county, and arrived at Camp Yates, April 24, 1861. This company was organized into the 11th Illinois regiment, and on an election for field officers, he was elected Major. The regiment was ordered at once to Villa Ridge near Cairo, and there remained in camp of instruction until June, when it was ordered to Bird's Point, Mo.

On July 30th, the regiment was mustered out of the three months' service and a large majority of the regiment went into the three years' service. On the reorganization, Major Ransom was elected Lieutenant-Colonel. The Colonel of the regiment was most of the time commanding either the post or a brigade, and thus the command and discipline devolved almost entirely upon the young Lieut.Colonel. He gave his time and attention to his men, and conscientiously and gradually brought them to that pitch of military perfection which subsequently rendered the regiment famous.

On the 22d of August, he led his regiment against a large force of rebels under Major Hunter, concentrated at Charleston, Mo. The regiment made a most gallant fight and captured fifty horses and men. Col. Ransom was wounded in the shoulder by a mounted rebel, who pretended to surrender, but fired upon him as he approached to take his arms. Col. R. immediately fired upon the traitor and killed him. At Fort Donelson the conduct of Col. Ransom was gallant in the extreme. He was again shot in the shoulder but he refused to leave the field until the fight was ended. His clothes were pierced by six or eight bullet holes and his horse was killed under him. Fatigue, cold, wounds and exposures, brought on

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a long sickness, but still he was devoted to his men, and when they moved from place to place he was carried in an ambulance. For his bravery and skill in this battle he was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment.

At Shiloh he was the bravest of the brave. He led his regiment through the thickest of the bloody fight, and though wounded in the head, still clung to his regiment. He assisted General McClernand in rallying an Ohio regiment that was falling back, and compelled them to move forward with his own command upon a rebel battery. In the official report of this battle General McClernand spoke of him at a critical moment "performing prodigies of valor, though reeling in his saddle and streaming with blood from a serious wound.” The following evidence of the gallantry of his regiment is taken from a private letter:

"It was nearly half a mile from our encampment to the position where the enemy had attacked us. The order for 'double quick' was given, and we were soon on the field of action. We had not to wait long, for soon in front of us was seen-not three hundred yards distant the enemy, five regiments deep, advancing steadily. It was a glorious but a terrible sight. The order was, 'The whites of their eyes, boys, and then give it to them,' and the 11th was again engaged. Never, never in my life have I seen, or in the annals of history have I read of such a death-struggle.

"Our men fought well at Fort Donelson, but never did they fight as they fought on the 6th of April. The enemy were repulsed; they stood for a moment seemingly thunderstruck, and then broke their ranks and started to fly. The officers rallied them, and then, under a most galling fire, commenced retrieving their lost ground. Our regiment being badly cut up-Col. Ransom shot in the head (not mortally), Capt. Carter dead, Capt. Coats mortally wounded, five or six of our lieutenants down, and no reserve coming to our assistance -the order was given to fall back. We gradually, but obstinately, fell back. We were soon cheered by the assistance of several regiments coming up, who filed in our front, and we were for a time relieved. We fell back-and what a sight! Not one hundred men remained in the 11th! It was an awful sight to look at that little band, besmeared with blood and dirt, with their trusty guns in their

hands, looking along the line to see how many of their beloved companions were left to them. It was a sight I never wish to see again. But there was little time to lose, and no time to complain. General McClernand came up, and asked if that was all that was left of the 11th. Yes,' was the reply. Well, my men,' he said, 'we must win this day, or all will be lost. Will you try it again?' 'We will, General,' was the response. The boys called on me to lead them. I formed the regiment (or company, as it was) on the left of the 70th Ohio regiment, and was again ordered to take our position in front. Ten minutes' time and we were again engaged."

In the spring of 1863 he was promoted to the rank of BrigadierGeneral, to date from November 29 (his birthday), 1862, for distinguished service on the field of Shiloh and at the siege of Corinth. Many of his gallant actions during the siege of Vicksburg we have already recorded, especially the heroic part he took in the disastrous assaults of May 22d. In the equally disastrous Red River expedition, his coolness and bravery at the battle of Pleasant Hill undoubtedly saved the detachment of the 13th army corps which he commanded from overwhelming defeat and ruin.

Gen. Ransom was four times wounded. At Charleston, Missouri, August 19, 1861; at Fort Donelson, February 15, 1862; at Shiloh, April 6, 1862; and at Pleasant Hill, La., April 8, 1864. His wound at the latter place was very severe, and he returned to Chicago for rest. He had been in continual active service almost from the outbreak of the war without any relaxation; but even before his wound was quite well, feeling that his presence was needed in Georgia, he removed to the front. Through the remainder of the summer he was in good health, and took a prominent part in the campaign which gave us Atlanta.

In the early part of October he was taken sick with dysentery. As his command had been ordered to Rome, he started with it, although his disease was continually weakening him. Sometimes he rode in an ambulance, but always at the head of his troops, and sometimes took the saddle as the advance guard became engaged with the enemy. Generals Sherman and Howard and the medical directors begged him to allow himself to be reported sick, but his decision was unalterable. "I will stay with my command until I