HCR17: urging the posthumous promotion of Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross to brigadier general.

HCR 17 – FINAL VERSION

2004 SESSION

03-0508

09/01

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17

A RESOLUTION urging the posthumous promotion of Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross to brigadier general.

SPONSORS: Rep. Leone, Sull 21; Rep. L. Pratt, Coos 2; Rep. Letourneau, Rock 77; Rep. Packard, Rock 75; Rep. Heon, Straf 67; Sen. Gallus, Dist 1

COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

ANALYSIS

This bill urges the governor and federal government to take all procedural steps necessary to ensure the posthumous promotion of Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross, who was killed in 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg while in command of the 5th Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers.

03-0508

09/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Four

A RESOLUTION urging the posthumous promotion of Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross to brigadier general.

Whereas, Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, was named a colonel by the governor of New Hampshire in 1861 at the outbreak of the Civil War and was given command of the 5th Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers; and

Whereas, Colonel Cross valiantly led his regiment through many battles of the Civil War, including the battles of Fair Oaks, Glendale, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, and was wounded several times; and

Whereas, prior to Colonel Cross’s untimely death after suffering a wound by a sniper at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, he was informed by his division commander, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, that he was to be promoted to brigadier general; and

Whereas, a number of Civil War historians and enthusiasts have over the years made requests of New Hampshire’s governor and congressional delegation that Colonel Cross be promoted to brigadier general or brevet brigadier general; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the New Hampshire general court finds that Colonel Cross’s record of conduct, performance, and devotion to duty reflect his allegiance to the highest standards of the military profession and that, if not for his untimely death at Gettysburg, Colonel Cross would have received a promotion to brigadier general; and

That the New Hampshire general court urges the governor and the federal government to take the procedural steps necessary to posthumously promote New Hampshire native Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross to the rank of brigadier general; and

That copies of this resolution be sent by the house clerk to the governor, the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation.

Approved: April 1, 2004