Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff U. S. A: General Grant's Views in Harmony With Congress; Authentic Exposition of His Principles (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief...)
Excerpt from Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff U. S. A: General Grant's Views in Harmony With Congress; Authentic Exposition of His Principles
Upon the issues so clearly stated by Mr. V) Stephens war was made upon the United States, and for more than four years the Jawful authority of the Union was resisted.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff U. S. A: General Grant's Views in Harmony With Congress; Authentic Exposition of His Principles (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief...)
Excerpt from Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff U. S. A: General Grant's Views in Harmony With Congress; Authentic Exposition of His Principles
Upon the issues so clearly stated by Mr. V) Stephens war was made upon the United States, and for more than four years the Jawful authority of the Union was resisted.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
John Aaron Rawlins was a general officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a cabinet officer in the Grant administration.
Background
John Aaron Rawlins was born on February 13, 1831 at Galena, Illinois, the son of James Dawson and Lovisa (Collier) Rawlins. The family was Scotch-Irish, having settled originally in Culpeper County, Virginia. His father was born in Kentucky, and lived as a farmer in Missouri and later in Illinois.
In 1849 he joined the gold rush to California, and was absent three years, during which time the conduct of affairs at home devolved chiefly upon the son. The farm was largely in timber, and its principal income was from the sale of charcoal to the lead mines in the vicinity.
Education
John's early education was scanty. He attended local schools, and had a year and a half at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, Illinois. He then studied law in the office of Isaac P. Stevens of Galena.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1854, and practised in partnership with his instructor and later with a pupil of his own, David Sheean.
He rapidly gained prominence locally; was city attorney in 1857, and in 1860 was nominated for presidential elector on the Douglas ticket. After the fall of Fort Sumter, he came out unqualifiedly for armed defense of the Union. He took an active part in the organization of the 45th Illinois Infantry, and was designated to become a major in that regiment. Meanwhile, Grant, then a resident of Galena, had reentered the army as colonel of the 216t Illinois Infantry, and had been appointed brigadier-general of volunteers.
Early in August 1861, he asked Rawlins to take a commission as lieutenant, and to become his aide-de-camp. He accepted, and soon after, on August 30, was appointed captain and assistant adjutant-general of volunteers on Grant's staff. Just at this time his wife died of tuberculosis, after a long illness. He arranged for the care of his three children, reported to Grant at Cairo, Illinois, on September 14, and remained constantly with him from this time on as his principal staff officer and most intimate and influential adviser.
Like most officers of the new army, he was without military training, but in other respects he was admirably fitted for his position.
Grant fully appreciated him and his work, and once, in asking a promotion for him, called him "the most nearly indispensable" officer of his staff. It was Grant's custom personally to prepare outline drafts of important papers. These Rawlins verified, edited, and put in final form. This was no easy task, since Grant was often inclined to insist upon the original form, and to reject essential changes; but Rawlins showed both tact and persistence, and was generally able to prove his point.
His influence upon Grant in the matter of temperance was freely exercised, strong, and salutary, but the necessity for it has some times been greatly exaggerated. As Grant rose in rank and responsibility, Rawlins was promoted accordingly.
He became major on May 14, 1862; lieutenant-colonel, November 1, 1862; brigadier-general of volunteers, August 11, 1863; and brigadier-general and chief of staff of the army - a new permanent position created by act of Congress, March 3, 1865. He received the brevet ranks of major-general of volunteers on Feburary 24, 1865, and major-general in the regular army on April 9, 1865. Throughout the latter part of the war Rawlins had been suffering from an affection of the lungs, which finally proved to be tuberculosis, and, at the close of hostilities, he was unable to continue heavy work. In the hope that the dry air of the western plains might benefit him, he accompanied General Dodge, chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad, on a trip over the proposed route, traveling with a military escort as far as Salt Lake City, Utah.
The name Rawlins was later given by General Dodge to the town which grew up at one of their camp sites in Wyoming. He returned to Washington in the fall of 1867, having been absent four months, without material improvement in his health. Upon Grant's election to the presidency, he at first considered giving Rawlins a military command in the Southwest, for the benefit of his health, but later tendered him an appointment as secretary of war, which he accepted on March 11, 1869, resigning his commission in the army. His service in this office was brief, however, for he died in Washington five months later.
Achievements
Rawlins was known as Grant's Secretary of War. His brief tenure was controversial; he supported insurrection against Spanish rule in Cuba, established an anti-Mormon policy for the Utah Territory, and reduced the authority of General William Tecumseh Sherman, Grant's successor as commander of the Army.
(Excerpt from Speech of Major Gen'l John A. Rawlins, Chief...)
Personality
He possessed a keen, penetrating mind, a remarkably retentive memory, a good practical knowledge of business methods, high moral standards, a strict sense of justice, tireless energy, and a great enthusiasm for his cause. In personal appearance he was not striking; his voice was low and quiet, but on occasion his manner could be most impressive, his language forcible and even violent, and he spoke his mind earnestly and convincingly, to his chief as well as to subordinates.
Connections
He was married on June 5, 1856, to Emily, daughter of Hiram Smith of Goshen, New York.
On December 23, 1863, he had married Mary Hurlburt of Danbury, Connecticut, who, with two children of his first marriage, survived him.
