Gen. John A. Rawlins

tmh10

Major
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Location
Pipestem,WV
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Original Caption: Gen. John A. Rawlins
U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 111-B-3221
From:: Series: Mathew Brady Photographs of Civil War-Era Personalities and Scenes, (Record Group 111)
Photographer: Brady, Mathew, 1823 (ca.) - 1896
Coverage Dates: ca. 1860 - ca. 1865
Subjects:
American Civil War, 1861-1865
Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (Washington, D.C.)
Persistent URL: arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=527405
Repository: Still Picture Records Section, Special Media Archives Services Division (NWCS-S), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001.
For information about ordering reproductions of photographs held by the Still Picture Unit, visit: www.archives.gov/research/order/still-pictures.html
Reproductions may be ordered via an independent vendor. NARA maintains a list of vendors at www.archives.gov/research/order/vendors-photos-maps-dc.html
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted

Born January 13, 1831 at Gelena, Illinois, his family originated in Virginia and came to Illinois by way of Kentucky. When his father went to California for the gold rush there in 1849, he maintained the family, at the same time obtaining a law education and admission to the State Bar in 1854. He served as city attorney in Galena in 1857 and like most of his midwestern contemporaries, he was a Douglas Democrat in 1860. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he was a successful politician with a passion for military life, and he teamed with an unassuming ex-Captain of the Army who clerked in his brother's leather store, Ulysses S. Grant. Within eight years Grant would be President and Rawlins his Secretary of War.

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.
 
Ted, the article stated that his first wife died in 1861, but does not mention a second wife. Did he marry again or was this a typo? It makes no difference to this informative article, but does raise a question.
 
Ted, the article stated that his first wife died in 1861, but does not mention a second wife. Did he marry again or was this a typo? It makes no difference to this informative article, but does raise a question.
Rawlings did get married again during the civil war to Mary Emma Hurlburt on December 23 1864. It's actually a sweet, if tragic story.

"During the famous "Siege of Vicksburg" Union Headquarters was stationed in the bottom floor of the home of Mary Hurlburt's family friends the Wm S. Lum family. Mary,though a northern girl from Danbury,had been living with the Lum's for several years as the governess/companion to their children (see 1860 census). The Lum family continued to live in the upper floor of their home and they sent sweet Mary down to Grant's officers to beg favors. The mostly married officers were seen by widowed Rawlins to be flirting with Mary and he spoke to General Grant against this. Grant calmly told him that he had every confidence that Rawlins could handle this situation. Rawlins made sure that all of Mary's requests were made directly to him from that day forward. Love blossomed amongst great trials. Rawlins arranged for Mary "Emma" as he called her, to be escorted back to her family in Danbury. He wrote her many letters over the next few months (Chicago Historical Society) declaring his feelings for her and begging her to become his wife and the mother of his orphaned children. He traveled to Danbury and married "Emma" in her family home on 24 Dec 1864.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery."

From:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14283969
 
Rawlings did get married again during the civil war to Mary Emma Hurlburt on December 23 1864. It's actually a sweet, if tragic story.

"During the famous "Siege of Vicksburg" Union Headquarters was stationed in the bottom floor of the home of Mary Hurlburt's family friends the Wm S. Lum family. Mary,though a northern girl from Danbury,had been living with the Lum's for several years as the governess/companion to their children (see 1860 census). The Lum family continued to live in the upper floor of their home and they sent sweet Mary down to Grant's officers to beg favors. The mostly married officers were seen by widowed Rawlins to be flirting with Mary and he spoke to General Grant against this. Grant calmly told him that he had every confidence that Rawlins could handle this situation. Rawlins made sure that all of Mary's requests were made directly to him from that day forward. Love blossomed amongst great trials. Rawlins arranged for Mary "Emma" as he called her, to be escorted back to her family in Danbury. He wrote her many letters over the next few months (Chicago Historical Society) declaring his feelings for her and begging her to become his wife and the mother of his orphaned children. He traveled to Danbury and married "Emma" in her family home on 24 Dec 1864.
After John Rawlins died of consumption 1869 (as Secretary of War in DC), Mary had joint custody with President Grant of John's children by his first marriage to Emily Smith. When she is re-married to a Charles F. Daniels (1844-1903) a musician in 29 Jan 1872 president Grant decided the children (Emily, Jennie and James) should be returned to live with their Maternal Grandparents in Goshen,NY. Mary died of Consumption in Cheyenne, Wyoming on a trip to "cure" her disease in 1874. She had traveled by train with her mother Sarah Peet Hurlburt. The three children Willie, Violet and Mary born to Mary and John all died young and are buried in the Wooster Cemetery."

From:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=14283969
What a lovely and sad story! Thanks for the information.
 
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