Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/193

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ROUSSEAU


ROUXEL


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Ind.; was admitted to the bar in 1841, and was a representative in the state legislature, 1844-45. During the Mexican war, he raised a company of which he was commissioned captain, June 22, 1846, and distinguished himself for bravery at Buena Vista. He was mustered out, June 23, 1847; was an Indiana state sen- ator, 1847-49 ; re- moved to Louisville, Ky., in 1849, and was a Kentucky state senator, 1860-61. He recruited a brigade ; was commissioned colonel of the 5th Kentucky volunteers, Sept. 9, 1861,and cross- ing into Kentucky joined Sherman's

army. A few days later, he was ordered to advance to Nolin and select a position for a large force, and this induced Johnston to move from Columbus to Bowling Green. Rousseau was promoted brigadier-gen- eral, Oct. 1, 1861, and at Shiloh commanded the 4th brigade of McCook's division, General Buell's Army of the Ohio. He arrived by transport at daylight the second day (April 7. 1862), and rendered valuable service in supporting Mc- Clernand's division at a critical moment, moving down the Corinth road and sweeping everything before him. At Perry ville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, he commanded the 3d division, 1st corps, under Gen- eral McCook, and that same day was promoted major-general, and transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, having command of the 1st division of Thomas's corps. At Stone's river Rousseau was left in reserve intlie rear^ whereat daybreak of December 30, he gallantly repulsed General Wheeler. When in the course of the battle, Sheridan was compelled to fall back, Rous- seau brouglit up his reserves and maintained the old line until, for lack of support on his flank, he was obliged to fall back to where the Union line was re-forming. Here he held his own until night, when Bragg withdrew. He subsequently took part in the manoeuvres that forced Bragg ouc of Tennessee, and was given command, November, 1863, of the Department of Tennessee. After Sherman had started for Atlanta, Rousseau was stationed at Nashville, to protect his rear, and succeeded in keeping the Nashville and Chat- tanooga railroad intact, despite the raids of Gen. Joseph Wheeler. On July 10, 1864, he was order- ed to leave Decatur, Ala., and with two brigades of cavalry traveled 300 miles in nine days, came within 100 miles of Johnston's rear, destroyed


the railroad and supplies, and joined Sherman near Atlanta. He resigned his commission in the army, Nov. 3, 1865, to become a Republican re- presentative from Kentucky in the 30th congress, serving from Dec. 4, 1865, to July 12, 1866, when he resigned his seat because of a censure passed upon him by tiie house for assaulting Josiah B. Grinnell of Iowa. He returned to his slate, was re-elected and served to the end of the term. He was a member of the committee on military affairs, and was an official representative at tlie funeral of General Scott. He was commissioned brigadier-general, U.S.A.. March 28, 1867, and was sent to Alaska to receive that territory from Russia, and to assume couirol of it. Some indis- creet actions on his part at New Orleans, led Gen- eral Sheridan to complain of him, but he was not prevented from going to Alaska, whence he was shortly recalled to testify in the impeachment trial of President Johnson. He succeeded Gen. Sheridan in command of tiie Department of the Gulf, and died at New Orleans, La., Jan. 7, 1869.

ROUTT, John Long, governor of Colorado, was born in Eddy ville, Caldwell county, Ky., April 25, 1826 ; son of John Routt, and grandson of Daniel Routt, a veteran of the war of 1812. His father died when he was very young, and iu 1836 he removed with his mother to Bloomington, 111., where he attended the dis- trict schools, and in 18601 became sheriff of McLean county. In 1862 he was commissioned captain, 94th Illinois volunteers, fighting under Grant in the west, and performing danger- ous special service at Vicksburg ; and was mus- tered out in 1865. He was treasurer of McLean county, 1865-69, was U.S. marshal for the southern district of Illinois, 1865-69, and was second assist- ant postmaster-general, 1871-75. He was mar- ried, first, in 1845, to Hester Woodson, who died in 1872 ; and secondly, in 1875, to Eliza Franklin Pickerel. He was appointed governor of Colorado Territory in Februaiy, 1875, which position he held until Colorado was admitted to statehood in 1876, when he was chosen first governor of the state. He declined re-nomination and devoted his attention to business until, in 1883. he was elected mayor of Denver, and he was again gov- ernor of Colorado, 1890-92.

ROUXEL, Gustave Augustin, R.C. bishop, was born at Redon, lUe et Vilaine, France, Feb. 2, 1840 ; son of James Rouxel and Scolastique Brecha, his wife. He was graduated from the Grand Seminary, Rennes, France, and in 1863 came to the United States, where he was ordain- ed priest, Oct. 4, 1863. He was assistant priest at Opelousas, La., for six months ; pastor at La-