One of the bravest generals in the American Civil War, born on the 29th of November 1834, at Norwich, VT. He was educated in that city at the military institute, conducted by his father, Col. Truman B. Ransom, who was killed in the Mexican war. The son afterwards went to Illinois and became a civil engineer and real estate agent. On the outbreak of the war he raised a company of volunteers and was appointed major of the 11th Illinois Regiment. After gallant service in Missouri he was engaged in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson. Though wounded at the latter, he took part in the battle of Shiloh six weeks later. In June 1862, Gen. McClernand appointed him chief of his staff and inspector-general of the Army of the Tennessee. He was appointed brigadier-general in November 1862, and his services in Mississippi in the next year called forth high commendations. In his Personal Memoirs Gen. Grant speaks of Ransom as a “most gallant and intelligent volunteer officer,” and says that after the siege of Vicksburg he was well qualified to command a corps. Ransom was in Banks’s Red River campaign, and for a time had command of McClernand’s corps. He was again wounded at Sabine Cross-Roads in April 1864, but he recovered in time to lead a division in the campaign against Atlanta. Here he succeeded to the command of the 17th corps. His ardor led him to overtask his body, enfeebled by illness, and he died at Rome, GA, on the 29th of October 1864. Throughout his brief career he was distinguished not only for military ability and energy but for the highest Christian character.
