General Rosecrans

 

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Civil War Harper's Weekly, September 14, 1861

This 1861 Harper's Weekly newspaper contains a variety of important news of Civil War. The paper contains original woodcut illustrations created by eye-witnesses to these historic events. These pages allow you to see the events of the Civil War unfold, just as the people of the day saw them.

(Scroll Down to See entire page, Newspaper Thumbnails will take you to the page of interest)

 

Fort Hatteras

Fort Hatteras

Slave Proclamation

Fremont's Slave Proclamation

Martial Law

Martial Law in Missouri

General Rosecrans

General Rosecrans

Indiana Volunteers

22nd Indiana Volunteers

Southern Family Escaping North

Escaping Southern Family

French Regiment

101st French Regiment

Marines

Civil War Marines

Rebel Naval Battery

Rebel Naval Battery

Butler's Expedition

Butler's Southern Expedition

Cannons

Civil War Cannons

Summersville

Battle of Summersville

Abe Lincoln

Abe Lincoln Cartoon

 

 

 

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[SEPTEMBER 14, 1861.

580

BRIG.-GEN. ROSECRANS, U.S.A., COMMANDING UNITED STATES FORCES IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.
[PHOTOGRAPHED FOR "HARPER'S WEEKLY."]

BRIG.-GEN. ROSECRANS, U.S.A.

GENERAL WILLIAM STARKE ROSECRANS, whose portrait we give herewith, was born in the County of Delaware, State of Ohio, on the 6th of September, 1819. His ancestors on the father's side were originally from Amsterdam, and on the mother's of the family of the Pennsylvania Hopkinses, one of whom signed the Declaration of Independence. At the age of eighteen, on his own direct application to the Secretary of War (then Hon. Joel R. Poinsett), he was appointed cadet at West Point in the year 1837. He graduated among the Five, and became brevet lieutenant of engineers in 1842. His first military station was Fortress Monroe, where he remained one year first assistant to Colonel R. E. De Russy. In August, 1843, he married Miss Ann Eliza Hegeman, an accomplished and worthy representative of the old New York family of that name, and was ordered to West Point to act as Assistant Professor of Engineering and Natural Philosophy. After remaining four years at the Academy, he was transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, and made Engineer-in-chief of the fortifications at Fort Adams. During his stay there, from 1847 to 1853, he was charged with surveys of New Bedford harbor and Taunton River, Massachusetts, and plans of fortifications, which he executed to the satisfaction of the War Department. in 1853 he was made constructing engineer at the Navy-yard, Washington, District of Columbia. In November, 1853, he resigned his commission in the army, and engaged in civil engineering and architecture in the city of Cincinnati. In 1855 he accepted the superintendency of the Cannel Coal Company of Coal River, Kanawha Court House, Virginia, and Presidency of the Coal River Navigation Company, which he retained until April, 1857, when he removed to Cincinnati, and engaged in the manufacture of coal oil and prussiate of potash. This was his business when he was called by Major-General M'Clellan to act as chief engineer and aid-de-camp, and thence, shortly after, promoted to a Brigadier-Generalship in the regular army.

In all these various positions General Rosecrans has exhibited the most untiring industry, indomitable energy, and spotless integrity. None ever knew him whose respect and confidence he did not command ; and the writer of this sketch could not repress a smile when, among certain papers kindly submitted to his inspection by the amiable and accomplished Mrs. Rosecrans, he lit upon a letter dated Washington, August 14, 1854, testifying to " Mr. Rosecrans's high abilities, integrity, and energy," and signed "Jefferson Davis."

Socially, the General unites to the refinement of the gentleman the frank, free-spoken manner so taking among our Western population. In person he is little above the middle height, rather thin, and very erect, with no feature so striking as his broad forehead and clear gray eyes. General Rosecrans is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

THE WEST POINT FOUNDRY.

THESE Works, which we illustrate on page 588, are situated at Cold Spring, Putnam County, and were established in 1817, by Gouverneur Kemble,

Esq. They were originally intended for a cannon foundry ; but, from the irregular demand for ordnance, have been from time to time greatly enlarged, and adapted to the manufacture of steam-engines

and nearly all descriptions of heavy machinery. The engines of the steam-frigate Merrimac, and the pumping-engines of the Jersey City Water-works, at Bellville, and of the Dry-dock at

the Brooklyn Navy-yard, are from this establishment. At present the demand for cannon and projectiles gives full employment to most of the departments of the foundry; and a great variety of these warlike appliances can be observed, as well as the moulds and other preparations and facilities for casting and finishing them.

Among the specimens of ordnance of the " smooth bore" kind, are the Columbiads and sea-coast mortars of the army, and eleven and nine inch guns of the navy, of the pattern of Captain Dahlgren. The rifled cannon, however, hold a conspicuous place at the West Point Foundry. Among them are heavy cast iron blocks for 80-pounder guns, to be finished at the Washington Navy-yard. Preparations are made for a still larger casting of the same kind, denominated a 150-pounder. These guns are from plans furnished by Captain Dahlgren, and are for the naval service of the United States.

The manufacture of the "Parrott" rifled gun and projectiles is now very extensively carried on at the West Point Foundry. They are made from the designs of Mr. R. P. Parrott, the present head of the establishment, and are the result of some years of experiment and observation. We understand that although Mr. Parrott by no means assumes to be the originator of the idea of strengthening cast iron guns by hoops or bands of wrought iron, he claims to have laid down a certain rule of proportion of the parts of the two kinds of iron, as well as of the position of the wrought iron reinforce which he employs, and particularly a new and very important mode of uniting the reinforce to the body of the gun. These guns are denominated by the weight of their respective projectiles—10, 20, and 30 pounders ; and others will probably be made of larger power and dimensions.

Mr. Parrott's projectiles are of two kinds. In both, the portion which is engaged in the grooves is at the butt, or rear end of the projectile. For the 10-pounder this is of wrought iron, and the projectile so mounted is known as Read's patent. It has been perfected and fitted for service by improvements introduced and patented by Mr. Parrott. He uses, however, for the larger calibres a peculiar ring of softer metal—a plan of his own invention. This ring does not project beyond the body of the projectile in any direction, thus affording great facility in loading.

Shells or hollow projectiles are chiefly used, and can be exploded by the ordinary time or percussion fuse.

These rifled guns are now in process of manufacture both for the army and naval service. About twenty-five guns and seven thousand projectiles are made per week at this foundry.

PEACE.

PEACE with rebels? Peace with traitors?

Peace with pirates sword in hand? Not till right and wrong change natures;

Not till God 'forsakes our land.

Peace there is not for the wicked,
Save upon the bended knees:

When the South is soundly "lick-ed," Then 'twill do to prate of "peace!"

REBEL PRISONERS LEAVING BALTIMORE FOR FORTRESS MONROE.—[SEE PAGE 589.]

General Rosecrans
Rebel Prisoners

 

 

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