Civil War Union Army Officer. He led his command in 40 hard-fought battles & was killed at the age of 22 with the flag of his regiment & country in his hands, standing before the enemy in the city of Atlanta, Georgia in the memorable fight of July 22, 1864.
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PHILO HISTORY, Chronicles and Biographies of the Philosophian Literary Society of McKendree College, Edited by Paul & Chester Farthing, Lebanon, Ill., Published for the Society in 1911
Lucien Greathouse was born June 7th, 1842, at Carlinville, Illinois. He lost his mother at an early age and for several years afterwards lived with relatives at Shelbyville, Kentucky. In 1856 he went to Greenville, Illinois, to live with a married sister, Mrs. William Smith. His collegiate education was obtained at McKendree College and at the State University in Indiana. Young Greathouse prepared himself for the bar, reading law in the office of an older brother, Judge Tevis Greathouse, at Vandalia, Illinois.
When the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, Lucien's brother John was living in Harlin County, Illinois, and the two organized a company for the Union Army. Lucien enlisted as a private but was elected Captain of the Company which a little later became part of the 48th Illinois Infantry. Captain Greathouse re-enlisted at the end of the three months' service and continued with the 35th Regiment, rising to the command of it when twenty-one years of age. It is said that he was the youngest colonel in the Union Army when promoted to the command of the 48th. After the battle of Atlanta, President Lincoln appointed Colonel Greathouse a Brigadier General, not knowing that the wound received by the gallant commander two days before had been fatal.
In the highest part of the old cemetery at Vandalia, Illinois stands the monument of this noble warrior; on three sides of the monument his life history has been written, together with such praises as these:
"His example was worth a thousand men."–W. T. Sherman.
"The bravest man in the Army of the Tennessee."—J. A. Logan.
"Colonel Lucien Greathouse, born at Carlinville, Illinois, on the seventh day of June, A.D., 1842, was killed at the head of his regiment before Atlanta, Georgia, on the twenty-second day of July, A.D. 1864, aged twenty-two years, one month, eighteen days. We cannot win him back. He led his command in forty-five hard-fought pitched battles and was killed with the flag of his regiment and country in hand, standing upon the breastworks of the enemy before the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in the memorable fight of July 22d, 1864. May his God and country deal justly by him. Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Jackson, Black River, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain and in all the battles of Sherman's camp from Chattanooga to the front of Atlanta."
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PHILO HISTORY, Chronicles and Biographies of the Philosophian Literary Society of McKendree College, Edited by Paul & Chester Farthing, Lebanon, Ill., Published for the Society in 1911
Lucien Greathouse was born June 7th, 1842, at Carlinville, Illinois. He lost his mother at an early age and for several years afterwards lived with relatives at Shelbyville, Kentucky. In 1856 he went to Greenville, Illinois, to live with a married sister, Mrs. William Smith. His collegiate education was obtained at McKendree College and at the State University in Indiana. Young Greathouse prepared himself for the bar, reading law in the office of an older brother, Judge Tevis Greathouse, at Vandalia, Illinois.
When the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, Lucien's brother John was living in Harlin County, Illinois, and the two organized a company for the Union Army. Lucien enlisted as a private but was elected Captain of the Company which a little later became part of the 48th Illinois Infantry. Captain Greathouse re-enlisted at the end of the three months' service and continued with the 35th Regiment, rising to the command of it when twenty-one years of age. It is said that he was the youngest colonel in the Union Army when promoted to the command of the 48th. After the battle of Atlanta, President Lincoln appointed Colonel Greathouse a Brigadier General, not knowing that the wound received by the gallant commander two days before had been fatal.
In the highest part of the old cemetery at Vandalia, Illinois stands the monument of this noble warrior; on three sides of the monument his life history has been written, together with such praises as these:
"His example was worth a thousand men."–W. T. Sherman.
"The bravest man in the Army of the Tennessee."—J. A. Logan.
"Colonel Lucien Greathouse, born at Carlinville, Illinois, on the seventh day of June, A.D., 1842, was killed at the head of his regiment before Atlanta, Georgia, on the twenty-second day of July, A.D. 1864, aged twenty-two years, one month, eighteen days. We cannot win him back. He led his command in forty-five hard-fought pitched battles and was killed with the flag of his regiment and country in hand, standing upon the breastworks of the enemy before the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in the memorable fight of July 22d, 1864. May his God and country deal justly by him. Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Jackson, Black River, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain and in all the battles of Sherman's camp from Chattanooga to the front of Atlanta."
Civil War Union Army Officer. He led his command in 40 hard-fought battles & was killed at the age of 22 with the flag of his regiment & country in his hands, standing before the enemy in the city of Atlanta, Georgia in the memorable fight of July 22, 1864.
------------
PHILO HISTORY, Chronicles and Biographies of the Philosophian Literary Society of McKendree College, Edited by Paul & Chester Farthing, Lebanon, Ill., Published for the Society in 1911
Lucien Greathouse was born June 7th, 1842, at Carlinville, Illinois. He lost his mother at an early age and for several years afterwards lived with relatives at Shelbyville, Kentucky. In 1856 he went to Greenville, Illinois, to live with a married sister, Mrs. William Smith. His collegiate education was obtained at McKendree College and at the State University in Indiana. Young Greathouse prepared himself for the bar, reading law in the office of an older brother, Judge Tevis Greathouse, at Vandalia, Illinois.
When the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, Lucien's brother John was living in Harlin County, Illinois, and the two organized a company for the Union Army. Lucien enlisted as a private but was elected Captain of the Company which a little later became part of the 48th Illinois Infantry. Captain Greathouse re-enlisted at the end of the three months' service and continued with the 35th Regiment, rising to the command of it when twenty-one years of age. It is said that he was the youngest colonel in the Union Army when promoted to the command of the 48th. After the battle of Atlanta, President Lincoln appointed Colonel Greathouse a Brigadier General, not knowing that the wound received by the gallant commander two days before had been fatal.
In the highest part of the old cemetery at Vandalia, Illinois stands the monument of this noble warrior; on three sides of the monument his life history has been written, together with such praises as these:
"His example was worth a thousand men."–W. T. Sherman.
"The bravest man in the Army of the Tennessee."—J. A. Logan.
"Colonel Lucien Greathouse, born at Carlinville, Illinois, on the seventh day of June, A.D., 1842, was killed at the head of his regiment before Atlanta, Georgia, on the twenty-second day of July, A.D. 1864, aged twenty-two years, one month, eighteen days. We cannot win him back. He led his command in forty-five hard-fought pitched battles and was killed with the flag of his regiment and country in hand, standing upon the breastworks of the enemy before the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in the memorable fight of July 22d, 1864. May his God and country deal justly by him. Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Jackson, Black River, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain and in all the battles of Sherman's camp from Chattanooga to the front of Atlanta."
------------
PHILO HISTORY, Chronicles and Biographies of the Philosophian Literary Society of McKendree College, Edited by Paul & Chester Farthing, Lebanon, Ill., Published for the Society in 1911
Lucien Greathouse was born June 7th, 1842, at Carlinville, Illinois. He lost his mother at an early age and for several years afterwards lived with relatives at Shelbyville, Kentucky. In 1856 he went to Greenville, Illinois, to live with a married sister, Mrs. William Smith. His collegiate education was obtained at McKendree College and at the State University in Indiana. Young Greathouse prepared himself for the bar, reading law in the office of an older brother, Judge Tevis Greathouse, at Vandalia, Illinois.
When the Civil War broke out in the spring of 1861, Lucien's brother John was living in Harlin County, Illinois, and the two organized a company for the Union Army. Lucien enlisted as a private but was elected Captain of the Company which a little later became part of the 48th Illinois Infantry. Captain Greathouse re-enlisted at the end of the three months' service and continued with the 35th Regiment, rising to the command of it when twenty-one years of age. It is said that he was the youngest colonel in the Union Army when promoted to the command of the 48th. After the battle of Atlanta, President Lincoln appointed Colonel Greathouse a Brigadier General, not knowing that the wound received by the gallant commander two days before had been fatal.
In the highest part of the old cemetery at Vandalia, Illinois stands the monument of this noble warrior; on three sides of the monument his life history has been written, together with such praises as these:
"His example was worth a thousand men."–W. T. Sherman.
"The bravest man in the Army of the Tennessee."—J. A. Logan.
"Colonel Lucien Greathouse, born at Carlinville, Illinois, on the seventh day of June, A.D., 1842, was killed at the head of his regiment before Atlanta, Georgia, on the twenty-second day of July, A.D. 1864, aged twenty-two years, one month, eighteen days. We cannot win him back. He led his command in forty-five hard-fought pitched battles and was killed with the flag of his regiment and country in hand, standing upon the breastworks of the enemy before the city of Atlanta, Georgia, in the memorable fight of July 22d, 1864. May his God and country deal justly by him. Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Jackson, Black River, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Altoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain and in all the battles of Sherman's camp from Chattanooga to the front of Atlanta."
Family Members
Siblings
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Samuel Tevis Greathouse
1829–1871
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Elizabeth White "Lizzie" Greathouse Smith
1832–1903
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John Clarke Greathouse
1833–1916
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Mary Ellen Greathouse Blanchard
1835–1916
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Thomas S Greathouse
1840–1840
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Thomas Hervey Greathouse
1846–1861
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Robert William Greathouse
1847–1880
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Stull Waring Greathouse
1849–1860
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Isaac Ridgley Greathouse
1852–1935
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Charles Howard Greathouse
1857–1948
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