Smyrna times., 1869-09-15
IN MEMORY OF GEN. RAwLINs.

John A. Rawllns was in every sense of the
Term an extraordinary man. Born in the hum.
bleSt walks OF lite, and surrounded in his bow.
hood by the most adverse circumstances, he
Surmounted all obstacles, educated himself
earned an honorable position in one of the
learned professions, did noble services for his
country, and has left record which is part of
heT history OF which any man milht be proud
Ills father was charcoal burner in one of
Ihe northern counties of Illinois, a very poor
man, made much poorer by his intemperate
habits. Thus poverty and paternal nrglect
Were the early Inheritance Of the deceased Sec.
retary OF War. But he had that within him
which neither obscure birth, nor poverty. nor
the neglect OF his parent, could keen down.
lie resolved that he would have an education.
ana that he would not be the victim of strong
uilhS IN his own person. In the intervals of
his hard work, at the charcoal stack and an
the farm, he took such books as were at banJ
and with these he prepared himself for two or
three years OF instruction at the neighborinp
schools, and tor few months of academicaI
study at the Rock River Seminary. Mount
Morris ILL., This brought him to his 22d wear
Wnen he read law at Galena, Illinois; was adj
mltted TO practice IN 1854 went into law
partnership, and was doing fair business when
the rebellion broke out. in 1861. Politically
he had always been Democrat, and as sncb
was on the Douglass Electoral ticket in 1870
but following his political leader, he gave his
services TO the country in the suppression of
the rebeIllon. lie assisted in raising the
Lead Mine Regiment of Illinois volunteers
out subsequently joined the army in Septem
Der, 1861, as one of Gen. Grants staff and
served with him throughout the war His an.
polntment by General Grant was upsoueht and
unexpected, being due entirely to Grant :
lK:nowiedge OF and confidence in the man. Raw
ilhgs having been counsel for the establishment
IN GaIena with which q ant was then connect.
ed During his military services he was made
chleJ OF stan to General Grant in the West.
was chlet OF staf also when he commanded iii
the armies, and was promoted throngb all tho
ranks until he was brevetted Major General of
the United States Army, March 18th. 1865.
Many man, however, reached all these
promotions during the recent war. without inst
CAIN or merit. But it was not SO with Gener.
al rawlings. He was a man of rare CAPACITIES
ana ab'lItles for military administration and
command. General Grant depended upOn him
as upon rock, and said in a letter urGino his
promotion that General Rawlings came the
nearest. to being indispensable to him of anv
oincer IN the service. All these qualities he
took with HIM into the administration of the
w ar department, and there can be no room
Ior IIo1r ooubt that since the 18th of March that
department. mas been managed with ability
economy, integrity and fidelity to the public
interest. F--
The domestic life of General Rawlins has
oeen cl0aded by mOmnful circumstances His
irst wife died of consumption in 1861, in the
interval between his efforts to raise the Lead
Mine regiment, and his joining the staff ofl
General Grant. He now falls victim to the
same fell disease, in his early manhood. hav-
ng contracted the germs of the disease while in
he army, leaving a second wife so III that If |
vas impossible for her to join her dying hus.
1andi lie leaves several children fatherless--
Try l3, 1881, and was appointed Secretary Of
March ii, 1869. He dies one of those
new men, of great and commanding talent
Who abound in the humber walks of Gfe
u this country, and who only need opportuni-
TO place themselves consplcuously end hon