Leonard Fulton Ross

Leonard Fulton Ross (July 18, 1823-January 17, 1901) was an American soldier, lawyer and judge who served in the Mexican-American War and as a general during the American Civil War.

Biography
Ross was born in Lewistown, Illinois and became a lawyer after attending Jackson College. He volunteered in the 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Mexican–American War. After the war he became a probate judge and worked as a stockbreeder.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Ross was appointed colonel of the 17th Illinois Regiment and fought in this capacity at the battles of Fredericktown, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. On the first day of fighting at Fort Donelson, Colonel William Ralls Morrison was wounded and Ross assumed command of the brigade which he led for the remainder of the battle, participating in Lew Wallace's counterattack against the Confederate breakout attempt.

Ross was absent from the battle of Shiloh, where his brigade suffered heavy losses, but was nevertheless promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on April 25, 1862. He led his brigade during the siege of Corinth and for a while led the 1st Division of the Army of the Tennessee. After a variety of commands on garrison duty General Ross was placed in command of the 13th Division of the XIII Corps. He was placed in charge of the Yazoo Pass Expedition against the Confederate fortress of Fort Pemberton guarding Vicksburg from the north. Ross' expedition amounted to little more than an artillery duel against the fort before he decided to abandon the expedition. At roughly the same time reinforcements under General Isaac F. Quinby arrived and Quinby convinced Ross to renew the attack. He did with few results and eventually withdrew.

Ross resigned his commission on July 22, 1863 and returned to stock breeding. He died in his hometown on January 17, 1901.