Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-24
THE LATE GEN. JAMES e. RAINS.

AllnOuEu lne nOtASc given III tIAts paper
Of the dead of Tennessee, who fell in battle
on the Southern side in the recent civil war,
has provoked critical animadvers from
certain quarters, we do not perceive the
improperly, nor do we intend TO be di-
verted from paying the just tribute Of re-
spect to the memory of men who served
with honor cause, their fidelity to which
was proved by the sacrifice Of their lives.
We have confidence that, though the mean
and narrow-Ininded who mingle vindictive
feeling with whatever their judgments can
not approve, and the soulless partisan
who, ghoul-like, grabbles in the grave for
the matters he feeds on, may except, that
the great and liberal heart of the people
appreciates the motive which prompts
the chronicler, and that generous opponents
are willing that friends should make record
Of the deeds and the virtues which they
claim for those who have passed from the
stage of action, and whom neither praise nor
blame can touch further" This much in
preface Of few remarks about one who bore
the name at the head Of this article.
JAMES Z. RAINS was born April 10th,
1888, in Wilson county, Tennessee, and fell
at the head of his brigade at the battle Of
Murfreesboro, December 3lst, 1862, his last
words being the order to charge, and word
of cheer to his men to follow. By permits
sion Of the commander of the Federal forces,
few days thereafter his body was brought
by his family to this city, and accompanied
by few friends, was deposited in the vault.
From thence, few months since, quietly
and unostentatiously, in the presence of his
immediate kindred and sufficient number
of his fellow-soldiers to perform the neces-
sary labor it was removed to its final rest
ing place.
Circumstances early forced GEN. RAINS
to rely upon himself and while others of his
age were enjoying the advantages Of school
and college, he was at work supporting him
self and assisting in the support of
younger members of his fathers fam
lily. But the sacred thirst for knowl-
edge az means Of distinction led him
to leave the bench, and by his own effort,
he had scarcely passed twenty-one years of
age, when he bore away from Yale College
a diploma given TO one, than whom none
ranked higher in his class. He returned to
Tennessee, taking charge soon after of an
academy, and at the same time pursuing the
study of the law. In 1857, he entered the
practice Of his profession, and in a few
months was made City Attorney. During
the time he held this office, he was also as
sociate editor Of the Republican Banner Of
this city. In 1860, he was elected Attorney
General for this District, which Office he
held at the outbreak of the war. Upon the
issue Of The call for troops, he enlisted as a
private-and was made lieutenant-captain
and colonel of the 11th Tennessee, all in
quick succession. n the Summer of 1862
he was commissioned Brigadier General, and
in the discharge of the duties of that office
he fell.
He was fervid and enthusiastic in his
temperament, entering with his whole soul
upon whatever he undertook; he wis tai
ented, and felt in every fibre of his frame
the spur of high ambition; he was unset
fish, generous, and chivalrous; he was cour-
ageous under all circumstances, and physi-
cally so to the degree of hardihood; a du-
tiful and devoted son, and an afiectionate
husband and father. Young as he was
these qualities had given him high charac-
ter, and indicated a future of honor in
civil life. His career as a soldier was an
uninterrupted success, and there is little
doubt but for his untimely taking of" he
would have attained even greater promo
ton. He met his fate in the first great con-
flict in which he participated, though he
had borne well his part in several minor
engagements in some of which he command
ed In battle, JIM RAINS was on fire with
enthusiasm, and the gaudium certGmiHis
glowed in every feature of his face.
His headlong bravery cost him his life,
and though he had much to live for, and in
his visions, had thought to tread the dazzling
and sapphire battlemontsto which Ambition
beckons, no one, on either side, laid down
his life more thoroughly in earnest, or more
willingly in sacrifice than he Early in the
contest, rejecting the counsel of those whom
he was accustomed TO consult, he went
straight on, believing he was right. He
sealed his faith in his blood, and his memo
ry is precious, as an example of self
reliance, and heroic energy of
character. 1t is for other times and
calmer judgments on the scenes in which he
moved than men now have, to pronounce
whether he, and others who felt and fell
as he did, were criminals or martyrs, for the
man who dies in earnest for n cause deserves
to have no prejudiced tribunal to sit upon
his conduct