Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Rosecrans, William Starke 1819-

Military officer; born in Kingston, O., Sept. 6, 1819; graduated at West Point in 1842;

William Starke Rosecrans.

entered the engineer corps; was assistant professor in the Military Academy in 1843-47; and resigned on account of illhealth in 1854. In May, 1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general. He commanded a division at the siege of Corinth in May, 1862; commanded the Army of the Mississippi until October, defeating Price at Iuka (see Iuka Springs, battle near), and Van Dorn and Price at Corinth in October. As commander of the Army of the Cumberland, in December, 1862, he won the battle of Stone River. In September, 1863, he was defeated at Chickamauga. In 1864 he commanded the Department of Missouri, and defeated the object of Price's raid. In 1865 he was brevetted major-general. He resigned in 1867; was minister to Mexico in 1868; member of Congress from California in 1881-85; register of the United States treasury in 1885-93. He was restored to the rank of brigadier-general, and retired in 1889. He died near Redondo, Cal., March 11, 1898.