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Lucien Phillip Greathouse
- Born: 7 Jun 1842, Carlinville, Illinois
- Marriage: Unknown
- Died: 22 Jul 1864, Troupe Hurtt House, , Gerogia at age 22
- Buried: Vandalia, , Illinois
 Notes:
Source: John D. Greathouse.
In 1855 Lucien went to live with his Aunt Elizabeth Wilson at Lebanon, IL.
Lucien Philip Greathouse, son of John Stull and Lucy Mills Clarke, graduated from Indiana University at the age of just sixteen years, was studying law with his brother Tevis Greathouse at Vandalia, Ill, when the Civil War started, entered at President Lincoln's first call, recruited most of the 48th Illinois Regiment, was on the siege line at Vicksburg, was with General Sherman's Army in his march to split the South in half, rose quickly to the rank of Colonel (youngest Col. in the Union Army), led his regiment in 41 fierce battles, at the battle of Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, at the Troupe Hurtt House, he was killed at barely 21 years old. His promotion to Brevet Brigidere General had been in the mail to him for three days when he was killed. General Sherman said of him. "He was the bravest man in the Army of the Tennessee" and "His example was worth a thousand men" are two of the inscriptions on his headstone where is buried in the cemetery at Vandalia, Illinois.
Colonel Lucien Phillip Greathouse
Information and photo provided by Theodore P. McMullen, Applegate, California, who wrote about his great-great-uncle:
Lucien Greathouse was born June 7, 1842 in Carlinville, Illinois, the sixth child and fourth son of John Stull Greathouse and Lucy Mills Clarke. At the time his father was a prominent attorney and was serving as States Attorney. In 1856 Lucien enrolled at McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois. He then entered Indiana University and graduated from that school in 1858 just after his sixteenth birthday.
Lucien began teaching school and studying law under the guidance of his brother Tevis Greathouse in Vandalia, Illinois. When the Civil War started and President Lincoln called for volunteers to preserve the Union, Lucien enlisted and assisted in recruiting Company C of the 48th Infantry Regiment. He quickly rose in rank and joined the regimental staff. Upon departing from Company C he was presented with an inlaid jeweled sword presented to him by members of his unit.
The 48th Illinois was part of Gen.Grant's army at the siege of Vicksburg. They also fought in forty battles before becoming part of General Sherman's march to the sea. At what was called the Battle of Atlanta, one of the rebel strongholds was a large brick home owned by Troupe Hurtt. The 48th engaged the enemy with Colonel Greathouse leading the charge.
He was astride a large claybank horse. With rebels in pursuit, one rebel yelled "Surrender, can't you see you are beaten?" Colonel Greathouse replied, "Beat hell, we've just come into the fight." Riding forward with his saber in his hand, he was struck in the chest by an enemy round and instantly killed. The charge turned the tide of battle and the stronghold was taken. Atlanta fell and General Sherman burned that great city to the ground. Lucien was killed on July 22, 1864 at the age of 22 years, one month and fifteen days. It has been reported that his promotion to Brevet Brig. General had been mailed two days prior.
Lucien married.
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