Illinois Civil War Muster and
Descriptive Rolls Database:
Rouse, George W. - Sgt -
Co H -
100 IL US INF
Residence, Joliet, Will Co, IL; Joined,
8Aug1862; Age, 28; Born, Clayton, Jefferson Co, NY
Height, 5' 8"; Hair, dark; Eyes, blue;
Complexion, light; Single; Grain Merchant
Promoted Adjutant and transferred to Field and
Staff (HQ) Aug 30, 1862 as 1 LT
Died Aug 3 1864 of wounds received in action
near Atlanta, GA
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Veterans of the Civil War):
Will County Illinois USGenWeb
Necrologist Reports (© 2002
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Headstone Reading,
Published Obituaries:
Additional Biographical Material:
Fifteen
Years Ago: or the Patriotism of Will County
George H. Woodruff
Among the many sacrifices that
our county was called upon to make
during the long years of the rebellion, none were more deeply felt
outside the
family circle, than that of Adjutant
Rouse. He was the son of Collins
Rouse, a well-known and highly
respected
citizen of Jefferson county, New York, and was born at Clayton in that county, March 21st, 1834. From his earliest years he was
the marked
child of the family, around whom gathered the warmest affections, and
the
fondest hopes of parents and friends. He
early manifested those qualities of mind and disposition which
characterized
his subsequent career and so would the confidence and respect of all
who knew
him. He received a good common school
and academic education, and thoroughly qualified himself for an active
business
life. He was always noted as a scholar,
and in his home life, for quiet and gentlemanly behavior, and at the
same time
for exactness and thoroughness in everything he undertook.
At
the age of sixteen, he connected himself with the Free Will Baptist
church, and always honored his profession with a pure and consistent
life. When twenty-two years old, he came
west, and
although an entire stranger, he found employment in a Chicago Banking House,
the day after his arrival in
that city. His business qualifications
soon secured him an increase of salary. After
remaining in Chicago
a year or so, he came to Joliet
and entered the banking house of Woodruff & Cagwin, and
subsequently
entered into the grain trade in company with O. H. Woodruff. In this business he was successfully engaged
when he felt it his duty to enter the ranks of the defenders of an
imperiled
country. He enlisted as private in the
100th regiment in August 1862, and on the full organization
of the
regiment, he was selected by Col.
Bartleson as his adjutant, a choice
which
gave universal satisfaction. This step
was taken after calm deliberation, and from a deep sense of duty, and
his
letters home and to his friends in Joliet during his army life, always
breathed
the spirit of a true patriot, ready to sacrifice life, if need be, for
the
salvation of the country. He shared the
varying fortunes of the regiment, until after the battle of
Chickamauga, when
he was selected as inspector, on the staff of the brigade commander,
and it was
in the discharge of his duty while inspecting the picket line before
Atlanta,
that he received the wound which proved mortal a few days after. He was struck by a solid shot below the knee,
which nearly severed the limb, and he seemed to bear the shock of the
wound and
the amputation, so well, that it was confidently expected that he would
recover. But these hopes were doomed to
disappointment. He died at 12 o’clock,
on the night of August 4th.
The
particulars of his dying moments are described by Lieut. Williams
who watched with him during the night. He
informed George that he probably would not live
longer than until
morning. He replied, “Do you really
think so? – well, I am ready. God has
been very good in sparing me so long, and I feel that he will for
Christ’s sake
save me at last.” He then asked Lieut.
Williams to pray with him, after which he sank into a serene sleep. After resting thus for a little time, he
aroused once more, and with eyes beaming with the light of the coming
glory, he
said, “It is all right, Christ can save me, and my country needed me. I have no regrets that my life has thus
ended. God bless my dear parents and
friends.” In a few moments, the gentle
grasp by which he held the hand of his friend, relaxed, and at the same
time he
let go his hold on earthly life, and entered upon the reward of a
christian
hero, sans peur et sans reproche.[without
fright and without disgrace]
Adjutant
Rouse was one of the best of our young men, - prepossessing in
personal appearance and manners, affable and courteous to all –
affectionate
and faithful to his intimate friends, and pf pure morals, and blameless
life. Without being anything of a fop, he
was
remarkable for neatness and good taste in dress, and all matters of
personal
appearance, and for his orderly and methodical business habits; and
these
qualities he carried with him into the service, and maintained under
the most
adverse circumstances. And he was as
clean of soul as of person. General
Newton, commanding the brigade, said at the time of his death that he
had lost
his best officer: Truly –
“The
good die first, Whilst we whose hearts are dry as summer’s dust,
Burn to the socket.”