Major General William S. Rosecrans Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

A successful Union General in the Civil War, Rosecrans (1819-1898) graduated West Point in 1842 and entered the Army Corps of Engineers. He left the Army in 1854 and worked as a civil engineer and architect, but volunteered for duty when the Civil War broke out. Rosecrans was commissioned a Brigadier General in June 1861 and became Commander for Western Virginia. His first victory, at Rich Mountain in July 1861, helped create the state of West Virginia. Rosecrans' skills in fortifications, troop movement and supply lines led to success in 1862, but in September 1863 he met defeat at Chickamauga. Rosecrans, popular with troops and fondly called "Old Rosy", was relieved of command after Chickamauga, and he resigned from the Army in March 1867. His engineering expertise led to a post as Minister to Mexico. Rosecrans later served as U.S. Congressman from California (1881-1885) and Registrar of the U.S. Treasury (1885-1893).