Julius P. Garesch茅
Lt. Col. Julius Peter Garesch茅, who served as Rosecrans's chief of staff, was the highest ranking Hispanic officer killed at the Battle of Stones River. Born near Havana, Cuba, in 1821, Garesch茅 graduated from West Point in 1841 and fought in the Mexican War. Garesch茅 later became a leading U.S.-based Catholic scholar, and in 1851 was decorated by Pope Pius IX.
In 1861 Garesch茅 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鈥檚 request.
Late on the afternoon of December 31, Rosecrans, Garesch茅 and the Army of the Cumberland鈥檚 senior commanders and staff watched Breckinridge鈥檚 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鈥檚 head and decapitated Garesch茅. 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 鈥渟tunned us all, and a momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans鈥檚 face; but at such time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued his course with an appearance of indifference.鈥
That night a detail recovered Garesch茅鈥檚 body and shipped it to Washington, D.C., for burial. Rosecrans saved the buttons from his coat in an envelope marked 鈥淏uttons I wore the day Garesch茅 was killed.鈥 Garesch茅鈥檚 son later published a biography of his father, which has recently been re-issued online.
This article appeared in the Winter 2012 Hallowed Ground Magazine as an inset to the feature article I Will Die Right Here: The Army of the Cumberland at Stones River 禄
