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On this day in 1831, Union General John Rawlins is born in Galena, Illinois. Rawlins was a close personal aide to General Ulysses S. Grant and was reported to have kept Grant from drinking heavily during the war.
Rawlins’ family was originally from Virginia but had settled in Illinois shortly before Rawlins’ birth. When Rawlins was a teenager, his father abandoned the family and headed for the gold fields of California. The younger Rawlins received little formal education, but was admitted to the bar inIllinoisin 1854 and went on to practice law and involve himself in state politics.
When the Civil War started, Rawlins became the aide-de-camp to Grant. He was Grant’s principal staff officer throughout the war, and Grant said that Rawlins was nearly indispensable. Grant was known to be a heavy drinker when he served on the frontier in the 1850s, and it appears Rawlinswas instrumental in keeping the general from excessive imbibingthroughout theCivil War.
After the war, Rawlins served in the West. He helped General Greenville Dodge survey the route for the Union Pacific Railroad, which later became part of the first transcontinental line. For his efforts, the town of Rawlins, Wyoming, was named after him. When Grant became U.S. president in 1869, he made Rawlinssecretary of war. However, Rawlins’ health declined after taking office, andthe 38-year-olddied in September 1869.Hewas buriedat Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Rawlins’ family was originally from Virginia but had settled in Illinois shortly before Rawlins’ birth. When Rawlins was a teenager, his father abandoned the family and headed for the gold fields of California. The younger Rawlins received little formal education, but was admitted to the bar inIllinoisin 1854 and went on to practice law and involve himself in state politics.
When the Civil War started, Rawlins became the aide-de-camp to Grant. He was Grant’s principal staff officer throughout the war, and Grant said that Rawlins was nearly indispensable. Grant was known to be a heavy drinker when he served on the frontier in the 1850s, and it appears Rawlinswas instrumental in keeping the general from excessive imbibingthroughout theCivil War.
After the war, Rawlins served in the West. He helped General Greenville Dodge survey the route for the Union Pacific Railroad, which later became part of the first transcontinental line. For his efforts, the town of Rawlins, Wyoming, was named after him. When Grant became U.S. president in 1869, he made Rawlinssecretary of war. However, Rawlins’ health declined after taking office, andthe 38-year-olddied in September 1869.Hewas buriedat Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
John Rawlins born - Feb 13, 1831 - HISTORY.com
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Thanks TSgt Joe C. for letting us know that February 13 is the anniversary of the birth of future Union General John Aaron Rawlins.
While his family was from Virginia, John Rawlins was born in Galena, Illinois.
Image: Major General John Aaron Rawlins; 1862 Union Brigadier General John Aaron Rawlins
Rest in peace John Aaron Rawlins.
Grant asked him to become his aide-de-camp, and on August 30, 1861, he was commissioned a Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of Grant, who was then a Brigadier General. From that time until the end of his brief life, he was Grant's alter ego, discharging with objectivity the duties and responsibilities of intimate friend, military and political adviser, editor, and, on perhaps a few occasions, apostle of sobriety, although it would seem that he played this role far less than is popularly believed. In any event, Grant referred to him a the most nearly indispensable man he had around him.
As Grant attained fame and promotion, he secured for him advances in grade. He was made Major on May 14, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel, November 1, 1862; Brigadier General of Volunteers, August 11, 1863; Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Chief of Staff, with rank from March 3, 1865, the last appointment of Brigadier General in the Regular Army made during the Civil War. He was breveted Major General in both the Volunteer Service and the Regular Service.
His first wife had died of tuberculosis in 1861, and it was determined that he was suffering from the disease as well. The recommended travel on the high plains over the proposed route of the Union Pacific Railroad failed to improve his health, and when Grant made him Secretary of War in March 1869, he had only five months to live.
He died in Washington on September 6, 1869 and was originally buried in a friend's vault in Congressional Cemetery in Washington. He was subsequently moved to Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.
RAWLINS, JOHN A
MAJOR GEN US ARMY
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
DATE OF DEATH: 09/06/1869
DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE LOT 1007
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jrawlins.htm
FYILTC Bill Koski CW5 (Join to see) MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 John Miller SP5 Robert Ruck SPC (Join to see) PO3 Steven Sherrill SN Greg Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey ~170028:Cpl Joshua Caldwell] SGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SPC Margaret Higgins
While his family was from Virginia, John Rawlins was born in Galena, Illinois.
Image: Major General John Aaron Rawlins; 1862 Union Brigadier General John Aaron Rawlins
Rest in peace John Aaron Rawlins.
Grant asked him to become his aide-de-camp, and on August 30, 1861, he was commissioned a Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on the staff of Grant, who was then a Brigadier General. From that time until the end of his brief life, he was Grant's alter ego, discharging with objectivity the duties and responsibilities of intimate friend, military and political adviser, editor, and, on perhaps a few occasions, apostle of sobriety, although it would seem that he played this role far less than is popularly believed. In any event, Grant referred to him a the most nearly indispensable man he had around him.
As Grant attained fame and promotion, he secured for him advances in grade. He was made Major on May 14, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel, November 1, 1862; Brigadier General of Volunteers, August 11, 1863; Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Chief of Staff, with rank from March 3, 1865, the last appointment of Brigadier General in the Regular Army made during the Civil War. He was breveted Major General in both the Volunteer Service and the Regular Service.
His first wife had died of tuberculosis in 1861, and it was determined that he was suffering from the disease as well. The recommended travel on the high plains over the proposed route of the Union Pacific Railroad failed to improve his health, and when Grant made him Secretary of War in March 1869, he had only five months to live.
He died in Washington on September 6, 1869 and was originally buried in a friend's vault in Congressional Cemetery in Washington. He was subsequently moved to Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.
RAWLINS, JOHN A
MAJOR GEN US ARMY
VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown
DATE OF DEATH: 09/06/1869
DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE LOT 1007
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jrawlins.htm
FYILTC Bill Koski CW5 (Join to see) MSG Brad Sand SGM Steve Wettstein SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SP5 Mark Kuzinski SrA Christopher Wright PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO1 John Miller SP5 Robert Ruck SPC (Join to see) PO3 Steven Sherrill SN Greg Wright Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey ~170028:Cpl Joshua Caldwell] SGT Michael Thorin SP5 Dave (Shotgun) Shockley SPC Margaret Higgins
John Aaron Rawlins, Major General, United States Army
Biography of General Rawlins
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SSgt (Join to see) SSG Warren Swan LTC Greg Henning SFC Stephen King SFC Anthony Beck SFC Mark Merino SGT Brian Nile MSG (Join to see) SSgt (Join to see) Alan K. Maj Marty Hogan SGT Robert George SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SrA (Join to see) AB (Join to see) SGT Robert George SSgt Robert Marx PFC Christopher Prentice SFC Shirley Whitfield MSG Mark Million Christine C Cullinan
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Thank you for sharing the great story about General John Rawlins.
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