Rosecrans, William Starke

Rosecrans, William Starke Rosecrans, William Starke roz ´kranz [key], 1819â€"98, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Kingston, Ohio. He served in the army from 1842 to 1854 and in Apr., 1861, rejoined as a volunteer. He became aide-de-camp to Gen. George B. McClellan and helped to organize the Ohio Home Guards. Made a brigadier general (May, 1861), he operated successfully against the Confederates in W Virginia (July, 1861â€"Apr., 1862). As commander of the Army of the Mississippi, he was victorious at Iuka and Corinth (Sept.â€"Oct., 1862). In Nov., 1862, Rosecrans succeeded to command of the Army of the Cumberland (formerly called the Army of the Ohio) and one month later opposed Braxton Bragg in the battle of Murfreesboro , which ended in a Confederate retreat. In the Chattanooga campaign , he ably outmaneuvered Bragg for a time, but the Confederates thoroughly defeated him at Chickamauga (Sept., 1863). Relieved of his command, Rosecrans for a time directed operations in Missouri. After resig ning from the army in 1867, he became minister to Mexico (1868â€"69), Congressman from California (1881â€"85), and register of the Treasury (1885â€"93). See biography by W. M. Lamers (1961). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies