{⋆★⋆} MG Rosser, Thomas L.

Thomas Lafayette Rosser

:CSA1stNat:
Major General Rosser.jpg


Born: October 15, 1836

Birth Place: Catalpa Hill Plantation, Campbell County, Virginia

Father: Colonel John “Jack” Rosser 1793 – 1876
(Buried: Prairie Grove Cemetery, Prairie Grove, Arkansas)​

Mother: Martha Melvina Johnson 1803 – 1859
(Buried: Cremated)​

Wife: Betty Barbara “Betty” Winston 1844 – 1915
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia)​

Children:

Sarah Overton Rosser Cochran 1864 – 1923​
(Buried: Glencoe Cemetery, Big Stone Gap, Virginia)​
Thomas Lafayette Rosser Jr. 1867 – 1940​
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia)​
William Winston Rosser 1869 – 1884​
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia)​
John Pelham Rosser 1871 – 1872​
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia)​
Elizabeth Florence Rosser 1874 – 1886​
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia)​
Marguerite Rosser Elliott 1879 – 1966​
(Buried: Cremated)​

Education:

Attended West Point Military Academy, Resigned due to Secession​

Civil War Career:

1861: Instructor for Washington Artillery from New Orleans, Louisiana​
1861: Commander of 2nd Company of Washington Artillery, 1st Bull Run​
1861 – 1862: Captain in Washington Artillery 2nd Company​
1862: Lt. Colonel of Confederate Army, Artillery​
1862 – 1863: Colonel of 5th Virginia Cavalry​
1863: Wounded during the Battle of Kelly's Ford​
1863: Disabled until the Gettysburg Campaign​
1863 – 1864: Brigadier General of Confederate Army, Cavalry​
1864 – 1865: Major General of Confederate Army, Cavalry​
1865: Led a charge at Appomattox Court House, Appomattox, Virginia​
1865: Escaped the Surrender at Appomattox, Virginia​
1865: Helped reorganize the Scattered troops of Army of Northern Virginia
Thomas L. Rosser.jpg
1865: Surrendered at Staunton, Virginia​

Occupation after War:

Superintendent of National Express Company​
Assistant Engineer for Construction of Pittsburgh Railroad​
Chief Engineer for Eastern Division of Northern Pacific Railroad​
Chief Engineer for Canadian Pacific Railroad​
Gentleman Farmer in Charlottesville, Virginia​
1898: Brigadier General in the United States Army, Volunteers​

Died: March 29, 1910

Place of Death: Charlottesville, Virginia

Cause of Death: Not Known

Age at time of Death: 73 years old

Burial Place: Riverview Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia
 
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Thomas Lafayette Rosser:
:CSA1stNat:View attachment 377999
Born: October 15, 1836
Birth Place: Catalpa Hill Plantation Campbell County Virginia
Father: Colonel John “Jack” Rosser 1793 – 1876
(Buried: Prairie Grove Cemetery Prairie Grove Arkansas)
Mother: Martha Melvina Johnson 1803 – 1859
(Buried: Cremated)
Wife: Betty Barbara “Betty” Winston 1844 – 1915
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia)
Children:
Sarah Overton Rosser Cochran 1864 – 1923
(Buried: Glencoe Cemetery Big Stone Gap Virginia)
Thomas Lafayette Rosser Jr. 1867 – 1940
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia)
William Winston Rosser 1869 – 1884
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia)
John Pelham Rosser 1871 – 1872
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia)
Elizabeth Florence Rosser 1874 – 1886
(Buried: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia)
Marguerite Rosser Elliott 1879 – 1966
(Buried: Cremated)

Education:
Attended West Point Military Academy Resigned due to Secession

Civil War Career:
1861: Instructor for Washington Artillery from New Orleans Louisiana
1861: Commander of 2nd​ Company of Washington Artillery 1st​ Bull Run
1861 – 1862: Captain in Washington Artillery 2nd​ Company
1862: Lt. Colonel of Confederate Army Artillery
1862 – 1863: Colonel of 5th​ Virginia Cavalry
1863: Wounded during the Battle of Kelly's Ford
1863: Disabled until the Gettysburg Campaign
1863 – 1864: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Cavalry
1864 – 1865: Major General of Confederate Army Cavalry
1865: Led a charge at Appomattox Court House Appomattox Virginia
1865: Escaped the Surrender at Appomattox Virginia
1865: Helped reorganize the Scattered troops of Army of Northern VA.
1865: Surrendered at Staunton Virginia

Occupation after War:
Superintendent of National Express Company
Assistant Engineer for Construction of Pittsburgh Railroad
Chief Engineer for Eastern Division of Northern Pacific Railroad
Chief Engineer for Canadian Pacific Railroad
Gentleman Farmer in Charlottesville Virginia
1898: Brigadier General in the United States Army Volunteers


Died:
March 29, 1910
Place of Death: Charlottesville Virginia
Cause of Death: Not Known
Age at time of Death: 73 years old
Burial Place: Riverview Cemetery Charlottesville Virginia






View attachment 378002
Rosser was the roommate of George Custer at West Point. In one engagement in the Shenandoah Valley, Custer's men overran Rosser's camp and took possession of some personal belongings of Rosser's. Rosser wrote a letter to his former classmate, signed "Tex", requesting his belongings returned. This Custer obliged, sending them to Rosser's wife.
 
Rosser is probably best known for commanding the "Laurel Brigade", which he led in action through the Overland Campaign and in the Shenandoah Valley, where he became known as the "Savior of the Valley" for his daring hit and run raids following the Confederate defeat at Cedar Creek. However, his actions wouldn't save the Valley from Sheridan's torch.
He would return to Lee commanding a division of Valley Cavalry, taking part in the Appomattox Campaign. At Five Forks, he was involed in the infamous "Shad Bake" incident.
He would go on to command troops in the Spanish-American War, taking command of a training camp on the Chickamauga battlefield.
 
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