Meeting "Old Rosey": General Rosecrans Reviews His New Command

On October 26, 1862, newly promoted Major General William S. Rosecrans departed Corinth, Mississippi under orders to report to Cincinnati, Ohio. Rumors had been rampant for weeks that President Lincoln had desired removing General Don Carlos Buell from command of the Army of Ohio, and now it was clear that Rosecrans would be Buell’s successor. The War Department’s handling of the removal of Buell is worthy of a story in its own, but today’s post will examine how Rosecrans introduced himself to his men.

General Rosecrans atop "Boney" leads a contingent of staff officers and leading generals of the Army of the Cumberland in this watercolor painting by William Travis. 


The differences between the leadership styles of Buell and Rosecrans could hardly be more pronounced. Buell, despite his competence and recognized ability at organization, came across to his volunteer soldiers as a haughty, stiff, humorless West Pointer, unapproachable, and unpopular. Rosecrans, as the following accounts will show, made a point of holding reviews of his troops so that he could see them firsthand and gauge their tenor and condition, but also so that he could infuse his spirit and energy into the ranks. Likewise, the men enjoyed being able to lay eyes on their commander, something that rarely if ever happened while Buell had command. Overall, the men came away liking Rosecrans; he was viewed as earnest, highly intelligent, chatty, and down to earth. And the Army of Ohio, surly after the less than spectacular results of the Kentucky campaign, was an army in need of morale boosting and in this respect Rosecrans, like George McClellan, truly excelled.

Charles W. Hills, Co. A, 41st OVI


Corporal Charles W. Hills of Co. A of the 41st Ohio was a bit unusual in that he entertained a favorable view of General Buell’s leadership, but readily fell under Rosecrans’ spell following a divisional review in December 1862. “I was prepared to see General Rosecrans as a stiff intensely military man, whose exterior should correspond with the rigid and uncompromising nature of his military policy, but was disappointed in his genial and familiar manner which was calculated to excite anything but awe or apprehension,” he wrote. “The Roman nose and massive brow betokened intellect, but I
saw nothing of the calm dignity and thoughtful manner of Buell. As he passed us, we listened for some sage remark that should remind us of the historical sayings of Napoleon. ‘Fighting is a trade,’ he said. ‘Three things must be learned by all who would practice it with success. First, the soldier must learn to eat well; second to sleep well; and third, to fight well. Failure in the first two things, he gives out, and soon falls to pieces like an old shackly wagon.’[1]

Ira Owens of the 74th Ohio recalled that when Rosecrans rode through the camp of his regiment, “he had something to say to each company. To my company he said, ‘Boys when you drill, drill like thunder. It’s not the number of bullets you shoot, but the accuracy of the aim that kills more men in battle.’ The object of his review was to ascertain what the men needed before going into battle. To an Irishman, he said, ‘Well Pat, what do you want?’ The Irishman replied, ‘If it’s all the same to you, General, I want a furlough.’ Rosecrans, turning away laughing, replied, ‘Well Pat, you’ll do.’” Anson McCook of the 2nd Ohio Infantry also came away favorably impressed with Rosecrans. “He was genial and good natured and a good deal of a talker, and although he had strict ideas of discipline, personally he was very democratic is his ways and manners. He also proved himself a strategist of no mean order. To the end, Old Rosey as the men called him, retained the respect and affection of his army,” he commented.

Marcus Woodcock of the 9th Kentucky remembered that Rosecrans impressed the men of Van Cleve’s division during their review on December 2, 1862. “Generals Rosecrans, Crittenden, Van Cleve, and their staffs rode to the right of the division and presently the smiling face of the commanding general was seen coming up the lines between the ranks, saying a word of kindness or instruction to almost every soldier he passed; asking one why he had no canteen, another ‘where is your haversack,’ and still another ‘have you no blanket?’ Thus, he proceeded along the lines creating a good opinion among the troops of his magnamity and careful consideration for those under his control,” he stated.

Private James E. Staley, Band of the 9th Indiana Infantry of Hazen's Brigade, Palmer's Division, Crittenden's Corps


First Lieutenant Wilbur F. Hinman of Co. E of the 65th Ohio left this lengthy and wonderful description of “Old Rosey” reviewing Wood’s division at Nashville on December 4, 1862:

Elaborate preparations were made for a grand review by General Rosecrans; such an event was unknown to our army. Arms were thoroughly cleaned and burnished, accoutrements rubbed up, and clothing and knapsacks put in the best possible condition. On December 4th, the division formed at 9 o’clock and marched to the field where the pageant was to take place. There was not room to extend the whole division in a single line, and the First and Second Brigades were formed in the front and the Third in the rear. All necessary dispositions having been made, arms were stacked and the men were permitted to rest at ease to await the coming of the general. Every soldier was fully equipped as far as possible with the meager supplies we had yet received. After the delay of an hour, a salute from one of the batteries announced the approach of General Rosecrans. The men sprang quickly to their places, all on the qui vive to catch a glimpse of our new commander, into whose hands had been confided the future of the Army of the Cumberland as it was now designated. The orders were given by brigade commanders and repeated by those of regiments and companies, “Prepare for review! To the rear open order-march!”

An unidentified Union sergeant attired like many soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland


This movement having been duly executed, General Rosecrans, resplendent in a gorgeous uniform topped with epaulettes followed by his numerous staff and the commanding officers and staff of each successive brigade, rode along the front of the line and returned, passing between the opened ranks. The general was then 43 years of age, stout and robust in appearance, and with a face so singularly pleasant that it seemed to wear a perpetual benediction. As he appeared at the head of each brigade, he was greeted with loud and prolonged cheers. He passed slowly down the line, carefully inspecting the equipment, clothing, physical condition, and soldierly bearing of the troops. He manifested a lively interest in the welfare of the men. His keen eye, glancing rapidly from one to another, seemed to detect the slightest deficiency in outfit. If a hat or blouse was worn and ragged, if a canteen or bayonet was wanting, the fact did not escape his notice and invariably called forth remark.

To one whose shoes had long since seen their best days, he said pleasantly, “My man, we shall have to march one of these days and you must have better shoes than those!” The soldier, saluting, replied that he had long been trying to get a new pair but without success. The general, turning quickly to his company commander, said, “Captain, why do you not keep your men better clothed? You know that you are responsible for their condition!” The captain replied respectfully that it had been utterly impossible for him to procure from the quartermaster the necessary supplies. The general made a similar inquiry of Colonel Harker, who assured him that no effort had been spared to provide for the needs of the soldiers of his brigade and promote their efficiency, but his quartermaster had as yet been unable to obtain sufficient clothing and equipment to make good the wear of the long months of hard campaigning through which the troops had just passed.



Rising in his stirrups and speaking in a decisive tone, General Rosecrans said, “There must be a thorough stirring up of this matter. The men must stir their captains, the captains must stir up their colonels, the colonels must stir up the generals, the generals must stir me up, and we must all stir up the quartermasters. There is clothing enough in Nashville and the men shall have it!” The boys wanted to cheer at this, but they feared it might not be the proper thing to do at that moment and restrained their enthusiasm until the review was over.

Observing one of our new drafted men who handled his gun very much as he would a hoe, the general said with a smile, “Ah, you are a recruit I see! We ought to have 20,000 just such men as you!” Thus, he passed in front of each rank throughout the long line, with a smile and an encouraging word for all. The general and his staff made an imposing appearance, with their profusion of brass buttons and gold lace and their well-fed and richly caparisoned horses. There were two or three ladies in the party who rode skillfully their spirited steeds. Probably their ears did not catch the half-whispered compliments which they elicited from the soldiers as they passed.

This inspection-which was so thorough as to occupy more than two hours- being finished, General Rosecrans and his staff took position in the center of the field and the division passed in review, marching in column by companies. The day was clear, the sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze gracefully waved the beautiful banners, and the scene was a most inspiring one. The long column executed the various evolutions with military precision. Ten thousand stalwart soldiers keeping step to the music of the bands; the lines of burnished arms at right shoulder shift, each company successively coming to a shoulder when passing the reviewing party- with bright bayonets shimmering in the sunlight and the national colors floating over all combined to form a pageant long remembered. It seemed like a grand holiday parade, had we not felt that soon the fierce storm of battle would sweep our ranks and lay low many a gallant form. It was our first review, and our last, until the Fourth Corps carried its tattered and victorious banners past the eye of grand old “Pap” Thomas at Nashville in 1865 after we had fired our last shot.

Rosecrans statue in the village square of Sunbury, Ohio, his birthplace


We returned to camp about 3 o’clock and were relieved from further duty that day. As the soldiers broke ranks, they appeared to be overcharged with enthusiasm, and there was loud cheering from one end of the camp to the other. The boys had “inspected” General Rosecrans and from the very outset he commanded their fullest confidence. “Ain’t he a daisy!” “Bully for Old Rosey!” they shouted in the free and easy army vernacular, this expressing the highest compliments. Although General Rosecrans passed into the shadow of an eclipse at Chickamauga, he never forfeited the affection, esteem, and confidence of his soldiers.


[1] “From the Forty-First Regiment,” Cleveland Morning Leader (Ohio), December 27, 1862, pg. 1

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