John

A. Broß

COL. JOHN A.BROSS.

ENGRAVED EXPRESSLY FUR PATRIOTISM OF ILLINOIS' CLARKE & CO. PUBLISHERS.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN BUFORD, THE CAVALRY MARSHAL-COLONEL JOHN A. BROSS— COLORED TROOPS-IN THE CEDARS--THE 29TH U. S. C. T.-OBEY ORDERS-THE MINE-LIEUT. DE WOLF-LIEUT. SKINNER-YOUNG DURHAM.

LLINOIS hath her honored dead among the graves of soldiers of

the Republic, in the burial places of our south-eastern armies. Among the first in honor is that of Major-General John Buford. He was a native of Kentucky, but his home was in Illinois. He was a graduate of the military academy at West Point. He was commissioned Brigadier-General of volunteers, July 27, 1862, and was assigned to a cavalry brigade under General Pope. His fitness for this arm of the service soon attracted the attention of his superiors, and he was assigned to the command of the separate cavalry brigade of the entire army of the Potomac.

His genius shone brilliantly, and he was soon recognized as the first cavalry officer of the country. He could deal with masses of horsemen, and with companies and persons. He could restrain the fiery impatience of subordinates, until the right moment, and then launch his troops like resistless thunderbolts upon the foe.

When the cavalry was organized into three divisions, he was assigned the first. He kept near him, as much as possible, the 8th and 12th, with the New York 2d, for he knew their mettle. In the eventful campaigns of 1863, he was almost constantly in the saddle. At Gettysburg, a portion of his command met the brunt of the first onset, and stayed the sweeping, crushing avalanche, and when the retreat came, his men hung upon the flanks and rear of the retreat

ing force of Lee. He proved himself such a cavalry marshal as the service had not yet developed.

In view of important movements pending in that department, he had been ordered, a few days before his death, to the command of the cavalry forces of the army of the Cumberland. Could he have reached it and assumed command, and directed the movements of the Western horsemen, some painful chapters might have been differently written.

But his exposure and overwork broke down his sinewy strength. He was prostrated with typhoid fever, and died in the city of Washington, December 15, 1863, aged forty years. Shortly before his death, he was made Major-General of volunteers, his commission dating from July 4th, or the victory of Gettysburg. His funeral was a magnificent pageant, for he was honored above many. General Buford was brave. He dared all perils if they were in the way of the necessary victory. At the same time he was careful of the lives of his men, and never sent them into death headlong. They never questioned his orders. At his word they would have rode against walls of mason-work or lines of steel.

"He could," said a returned captain who long served under him, "preserve the dignity of the commander, and yet be the soldier's friend. Any one might approach him. He had a smile and cheerful word for the private as well as the officer." No wonder he was an idol with the bold troopers of the Potomac.

He seems to have been among the first to comprehend the true power of a strong cavalry force, and its place in a great army. It is not infantry, is not to do the work of infantry, but to hover upon the flanks and rear of a foe, to cut his communications, cut off his advance, turn the retreat into a route, or at the decisive moment, by a bold charge, decide the fortunes of the day. And in the painful history of waiting and pausing; of politely giving our enemy time to entrench and secure his communications before assailing him, it is refreshing to turn to the chronicles of Buford's cavalry. It is like reading the annals of romance. Now their shout is heard from the hillsides, and now the ringing of their sabers is echoing in the valley. Now they ride defiantly within sight of the spires of Richmond, and discuss the propriety of breakfasting with the "Mrs. President'

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of the confederacy. Now they confront superior forces and dash them back until the army of the Union is in position, and the Union is saved at Gettysburg.

There were other brave men and gallant officers there—men seamed with scars and wearing well-worn honors, but no injustice is done them when we write that much of the glory of the brave cavalry of the army of the Potomac is due General John Buford of Illinois.

COLONEL JOHN A. BROSS.-It became early evident that colored men could not be kept out of the war, and by degrees the Northern mind was educated to consent to their enlistment. From various causes, the work of raising a regiment in Illinois was difficult. The black laws had thwarted the coming of men of color into the State, and increased prejudice against them. In addition, many of this class had left the State and enlisted elsewhere-nearly two full companies having entered the Massachusetts 59th. Yet it was decided to enlist the 29th U. S. colored troops in Illinois.

To undertake the work of recruiting, and then of drilling such a regiment, Capt. John A. Bross, of Company A, 88th Illinois infantry, was selected. This gentleman was born in Milford, Penn. His father, Deacon Moses Bross, now resides in Morris, Illinois, while his brother William, widely known as one of the editors of the Chicago Tribune, is now Lieut.-Governor of the State. He received an academic education and entered the profession of the law. Democratic in politics, he served as assistant U. S. Marshal under Mr. Pierce, and held the office of U. S. Commissioner until his death. He entered heartily into the work of aiding the government in suppressing rebellion, and in the summer of 1862, raised two companies, one of which entered the 75th infantry. The other went into the 88th, and he was chosen its captain.

In his first engagement, that of Perryville, it was seen that he was a soldier, brave and true. He was in the battle of Stone River, where the 88th covered itself with glory, enduring at one time the assault of a whole brigade. After the battle he was introduced to Major-General Negley. As that officer looked at him, a pleased beam of recognition came over his face, and he said: "Ah! I saw you in the Cedars," and he gave the Captain's hand a

hearty clasp. He was with his command through the long and severe campaign terminated by the hard-fought and bloody battle of Chickamauga.

He assumed the formation and discipline of the 27th U. S. colored troops from conviction of duty. He was in the direct line of promotion in the 88th. He felt God called him to the work he took in hand. His headquarters were established at Quincy. He entered upon the work of recruiting and drilling his men with all his accustomed industry. From the first he decided that his treatment of his troops should be such as became them as men; and the result was that he soon established himself fully in their confidence and affections. The undertaking in his hands was at once a success, so far as the proficiency of the troops in their ordiuary duties was concerned. The filling up of the regiment, owing to the causes alluded to, was not rapid. Having raised six companies, he was commissioned as Lieut.-Colonel, April 7, 1864. He was ordered to join the 9th army corps (Burnside's), then moving from Annapolis to the field. He passed through Chicago with his regiment on the 27th of May, 1864. His troops were provided with refreshments at the "Soldiers' Rest," and a number of friends presented the Colonel with a fine horse and equipments, as a token of their high appreciation of his steadfast devotion to the cause of liberty. The presentation address was made by Col. F. A. Eastman, and was briefly replied to by the recipient of the gift. His response being entirely extempore, was not preserved, but a sentence or two is remembered by those who heard it. "When I lead these men into battle, we shall remember Fort Pillow, and shall not ask for quarter. I leave a home and friends as dear as can be found on earth, but if it is the will of Providence that I do not return, I ask no nobler epitaph than that I fell for my country at the head of this black and blue regiment."

The 9th army corps had left Annapolis before the 29th could arrive, and an order was received directing it to proceed to Alexandria. General Casey was in command at Washington, and had issued an order for the regiment to report at his headquarters, near Long Bridge. For some reason the order failed to reach Col. Bross, and and he marched directly past General Casey's office through to Alexandria, and encamped, in ignorance of the General's directions. An