Colonel Julius Garesché Collection of Personal Effects, Civil War, Rosecrans

  
Colonel Julius Garesché Collection of Personal Effects. Includes a Commission letter boldly signed Julius P. Garesche, Ass't Adjutant General dated July 15, 1862 from Adjutant General's Office, Washington. Collection includes his personal Civil War portrait painting, his spyglass and flask. Frame measures 5" x 4", flask 8 3/4" and scope 12" when open and 7 when closed. Miniature watercolor on paper is identified on wooden backing, powder flask has initials scratched in. All three items were acquired at the same time. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General on July 17, 1862, and was made chief of staff to Major General William S. In this capacity, he participated in the operations of the Army of the Cumberland at the Battle of Stones River on December 31, 1862. Riding with General Rosecrans toward the Round Forest, Garesché was decapitated by a cannonball.

The battle was his first combat during the Civil War. Hazen soon afterward happened upon the lifeless body and removed Garesché's West Point ring and personal Bible. Colonel Garesché was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D. Julius Peter Garesché, who served as Rosecrans's chief of staff, was the highest ranking Hispanic officer killed at the Battle of Stone's River. Born near Havana, Cuba, in 1821, Garesché graduated from West Point in 1841 and fought in the Mexican War.

Garesché later became a leading U. Based Catholic scholar, and in 1851 was decorated by Pope Pius IX. In 1861 Garesché turned down a general's commission, preferring to earn that rank on the battlefield. In the fall of 1862, he was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland at Rosecrans's request. Late on the afternoon of December 31, Rosecrans, Garesché and the Army of the Cumberland's senior commanders and staff watched Breckinridge's final charge from a knoll in full view of both sides.

Rosecrans spurred his horse toward the Round Forest, his staff following. Suddenly, a Confederate shell whistled past Rosecrans's head and decapitated Garesché. The headless body continued on horseback for another 20 paces, before slumping to the ground, his blood spattering on Rosecrans. General Sheridan recalled this horrible public death stunned us all, and a momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at such time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued his course with an appearance of indifference.

Rosecrans saved the buttons from his coat in an envelope marked Buttons I wore the day Garesché was killed. Garesché's son later published a biography of his father, which has recently been re-issued online. I have been a private collector of Civil War, Western Americana and History books, art and ephemera for about 30 years. I have recently decided to reduce the size of my library. I will be posting many, many Civil War, Western Americana and History books and other items in the coming months. Many of the items are very scarce. - Odylmac Military Books and Art. Key words- book, diary, biography, campaign, army, civil war, Indian war, cavalry, infantry, regiment, brigade, Potomac, division, corps, medal, war, officer, cdv, military, American, soldier, navy, gun, gunboat, blockade, autograph, veteran, photograph, union, confederate, collectable, original, period, item, artillery, memorabilia, Antique, militaria, Virginia, Sherman, Grant, Lee, Jackson, Mollus, Commandery, Loyal Legion, Custer, Gettysburg, Lincoln, Davis, Colt, Spencer, Ames, Stanton, Farragut, Porter, ANV, Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, railroad, Everest, GAR.