RANSOM
RANSOM
May 24, 1861, to join the Confederate States
army as captain of cavalry. He was promoted
colonel of the 1st North Carolina cavalry (9th
N.C. troops) the same year; brigadier-general,
Marcli 6. 1862, and major-general, May 26. 1863.
He defended his native state against the Federal
army under Burnside early in 1862 ; was trans-
ferred to the defence of Richmond, and in the
seven days' battles ending July 1, 1862, com-
manded a brigade in Holmes's division, Ma-
gruder's command. "When Lee's army made the
first movement into Maryland, his brigade in the
division of Gen. Jolin G. Walker was ordered to
co-operate with Gen. T. J. Jackson in the capture
of Harper's Ferry. He commanded a division in
Longstreet's corps at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec.
13. 1862. and lield the line on Marj-e's Heights
and the rock wall below it, his division being
actively engaged in the defence throughout the
entire battle. He commanded the troops with
Gen. D. H. Hill, left to defend Richmond during
Lee's Pennsylvania campaign in 1863 ; com-
manded the department of Southwest Virginia
in November, 1863 ; took part in the defence of
Drewry's Blufif, May 16, 1864, where his infantry,
cavalry and artillery made the successful assault
on Butler's right, on the 16th, President Davis, in
his "Rise and Fall of the Confederacy," credit-
ing him with having saved Petersburg and Rich-
mond. The war department then ordered his
division to the defence of Richmond on May 17,
and in June, 1864, in the command of the
cavalry he was with Early and Breckinridge in
the expedition to capture Washington, D.C. He
was subsequently given command of the depart-
ment including South Carolina, Georgia and
Florida. He was express agent and city marshal
of Wilmington, N.C, 1866-67; a salesman of
railroad supplies through the southern states,
1868-74 ; a farmer in Virginia, 1874-78, and a
civil engineer employed by the U.S. government
in various river and harbor improvements in
North and South Carolina, 1878-92. He is the
author of: Ransom's Division at Fredericksburg,
in " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" (Vol.
HL). He died in Newberne, N.C. Jan. 14, 1893.
RANSOM, Thomas Edward Greenfield, soldier,
was born in Norwich, Vt., Nov. 29, 1834 : son of
Col. Truman Bishop (q.v.) and Margaretta Mor-
rison (Greenfield) Ransom. He was educated at
Newbury seminary and at Norwich university,
1848-51, completing the course in civil engineer-
ing. He worked for some time with his cousin,
Benjamin F. Marsh (a graduate of Norwich,
1837), on the Rutland and Burlington railroad,
and removed to Peru, 111., in 1851, where he was
a civil engineer, 1851-54, and in the real estate
business. 1854-50. subsequently engaging in the
latter business in Chicago and in Fayette county,
Illinois. He recruited a company for the 11th
Illinois I'egimeiit early in 1861 ; was commissioned
captain, April 26 ; major, in May, by a vote of
the company officers ; lieutenant-colonel, July
30; was wounded while leading a charge at
Charleston, Mo., Aug. 20 ; took part in the capture
of Fort Henry and in the assault upon Fort
Donelson, where he was again wounded ; was
appointed colonel to succeed W. H. L. Wallace ;
promoted brigadier-general, Feb. 15, 1862. and
though wounded in the head, he led his regiment
at Shiloh. He became chief of staflf to Gen. J.
A. McClernand, and inspector-general of the
Army of the Tennessee in June, 1862. He was
appointed brigadier-general in January, 1863, and
commanded the 2d brigade, 6th division, 17th
corps in tiie Vicksburg campaign, his .services in
rebuilding the bridge across the Big Black River
and his energy during the entire siege being
especially commended by General Grant. He
commanded a detachment of the 13th corps in
the expedition to the mouth of the Rio Grande,
Oct. 26. 1863 ; captured Fort Esperanza com-
manding the entrance to Matagorda bay, Dec. 30,
and in the Red river campaign was seriously
wounded at Sabine Cross Roads (Mansfield),
April 8, 1864. He commanded the 4th division,
and succeeded Gen. G. M. Dodge to the com-
mand of the 16th corps in tlie operations about
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 19, 1864. General Dodge hav-
ing been released from the command of the corps
by reason of wounds received that da}'. He was
brevetted major-general of volunteers, Sept. 1.
1864 ; continued in command of the 16th corps
until the divisions making it up were merged into
the 15th and 17th corps when he with his division
went with the 17th corps and in the absence of
Gen. Frank P. Blair assumed command about
Sept. 27. He led the corps in the pursuit of
Hood's army, part of the time in an ambulance,
and then on a stretcher until his fatal illness,
brought on by the overwork and exposure, forced
him to relinquish his command at Gaylesville,
Ala., and while being carried on a stretcher to
Rome, Ga., he died at a comfortable farm house in
which he was resting. He was buried in Rose Hill
cemetery, Chicago, 111., and shortly afterward his
mother received from President Lincoln his com-
mission as major-general of volunteers, which had
been signed before his death, but was awaiting
the action of congress. He was unmarried. He
was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and took a leading part in the religious
services held in connection with the army. Gen-
eral Howard in General Field orders No. 21, issued
from Cedartown, Ga., Nov. 1, 1864, bore testi-
mony to his noble record, pure and elevated char-
acter and enthusiasm in his country's cause. He
died near Rome, Ga., Oct. 29, 1864.
