Alfred Ross
Alfred Ross (1815-1861) was a Union soldier in the Civil War who, according to family legend, was forced into service. He and his son, Joel Ross, died of sickness during the war.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born July 3, 1815 in present-day Scott County, Alfred C. Ross was the son of Samuel Ross (1793-1852) and Margaret “Peggy” Gray (1798-1881). His siblings included Francis Peter Ross (1818-1906), James Coleman Ross (1822-1910), Alvin A. Ross (1824-1896), Catherine Emily Hampton (1828-1909), Amanda Dunaway (1831-1916), and William Henry Ross (1842-1932). Other children included Robert Ross (born about 1833) and Sarah Ross (born about 1836).
Alfred’s parents later moved to Missouri. That’s where they were living in 1850, along with their three youngest children. Some of their older children made the move, as well, including Alvin, Catherine and Amanda.
Alfred, however, remained in Scott County. He married Hannah “Honor” Chitwood (1817-1890) in 1837. She was the granddaughter of Revolutionary War veteran James Chitwood. Their children included Manerva Jane Stephens (1839-1921), Margaret Ann McPeters (1840-1892), Sarah “Sally” Smith (1842-1912), Mary “Polly” Ross (1842-1912), Katherine Emily Thomas (1846-1921) and Joel C. Ross (1847-1864).
Family historians believe Alfred may have been married and had a child prior to his marriage to Honor Chitwood. If so, that child, Newton Ross, moved to Missouri with the rest of the family and was raised by Alfred’s brother, Alvin. It is not known who Alfred’s first wife might have been, or what became of her.
Civil War
Ross and his only son, Joel Ross, joined the Union army together on Oct. 11, 1861. They enlisted in Co. G of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry.
Family history tells that the father and son were forced into service. According to a story that was handed down by Ross’s daughter, Mary, who would’ve been in her teens at the time, two Union soldiers rode up to the Ross house on horseback and told Ross and his son that they would have to join the service. When they refused, they were forced onto horses and ridden away to Camp Dick Robinson in Kentucky. “Neither was ever seen or heard from again,” Mary said.
Mary’s story was not included in Paul Roy’s Scott County in the Civil War, the foremost history of the county’s involvement in the Civil War.
Alfred Ross died just months later. He fell ill with measles and died in London, Ky. on Dec. 8, 1861. He is buried at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Ky.
Joel continued to serve in the war. He was captured, along with the rest of the 2nd Tennessee, at the Battle of Rogersville on Nov. 6, 1863. He was confined at Belle Isle in Richmond, Va. He was paroled at City Point, Va. on March 21, 1864 after falling ill. He died at a hospital in Annapolis, Mary. on May 9, 1864, of pneumonia. He is buried at Annapolis National Cemetery.
Aftermath
Honor Chitwood continued to live in the region, later moving to Whitley County, Ky. before returning to Scott County. She never remarried, and was buried at Winfield Baptist Church Cemetery in 1890.