Evening star., 1869-09-06

time is q traitor" At the same moment Raw
lins entered the hall, aud loud cries called him
TO the stand. He advanced and made peech
lasting half an hour, ending with these word:
~ have been q Democrat all my life; bat this
is no lon. er a question of politics. 1t is simply
country or no coIntry. / have lvored every
bon: ah'e comp iomise: but the day OF COM
cor Sc is pas sed. Only one course rs II Z us.
We viii I'D by the flag OF our country and
appee, to the god o a-les."
A few evenings afterward Rawhus ana
Grant met al another war meeting, aud Rawlns
jestiDgly proposed to Grant that they should
get up company. "As you have seen servica
you shall be captain he said; land Rowley
and Will toss up TO see which shall be firs;
Lieutenant" On receipt of the news of the firs.
Bull Run disaster, he commenced in conjdnc-
ton with John f. Smith lsubsequep'Iy bleve
major general volunteers) and J. A. MsIlby, to
raise the Forty NTH or Lead mine regiment"
Illinois infantry volunteers; when in August,
he received from General Grant with whom
he had been acquainted from the time of his
settling in Galena, (and for whose house in
that place he was the Attorney with
out having sought il, the tender of a
position on his staff, which he accepted
The dangerous illness OF Mrs. Rawlins (who
had been long a sufferer from consumption,
and was then at her fathers, Mr.. Hiram smith,
at Goshen, New York, called b: N East where
he remained by her side until her decease. Au-
gust 3Uth. With this severe personal atftIction
resting upon him, he made arrangements for
the care of the three children that she left-a
son and two dsughters-the eldest Of whom
was In his fifth year. and Joined Gen. Grant
On the 18th of september, at Cairo, Ill, as his
assistant adIutant general, with the rank of
captain, having been appointed such the 3Oth
of the preceding month, and was with him from
that time, in all his battles ahd campaigns and
military operations in the field, unIil the sur
render OF the army Of Northern Virginia at
Appomattox Court HOuse, Va, except abou,
TWO months-from the 3!st of July, 1-6i, TO he
LIST OF October following-he was absent for the
treatment Of a severe bronchial affection he mad
contracted in the service.
The relations between General Grant and
General RawIins, personally and Off claIIy,
were always of the mos. n'imase, friendly
and confidential characte-. He was commis-
sIoned ma or and assistant ad 'ataut General, To
rank from the date o: the surrender OF Fort
Donelson; was assigned in orde as assistant
adiutant general and chief of staff, with he
rank OF lieutenant colonel, November [, ls62
was appointed a brigadier general of volun
teers 10 rank from August II, Is65; breveted
MAJOR general OF volunteers, tc rank f.um Feb
ruary "a, 1s65. March B. Io65, he was sppont.
ed chief OF staff TO the lie utenant general COM
handing. with the rank OF brig general in
the United States army; and was subseg uentIy
breveted MAJOR general United States army, to
rank from March IL, 1855. In le65 Congress
created the tli'e OF general which WAS be-
slowed on Lieutenant General Grant; ut the
same time General Rawlins WIS desie IA led as
chief OF staff 10 the general commanding the
armies.
The following letters show IN some degree
~ El.,,
OF Staff.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TRNNEs-
SIZE, NICKsBuRG, MISS, July 81, ls63 -''Brigd-
der General L. Thomas, AJjstdnt GenerG of
re nnsg i6s gallant ana m.ritotloas ssI
vices and for extreme fitness for commau nd cor
respond ding to the increased rank The folio wing
promotions, to-wlt'
Here follows the list OF officers recommended
for promotion, including Lieutenant CoIonei
Rawlins. He then adds
Lieutenant Colonel John A. Rawlins has
bee my. Assistant Ad lutant General from the
beginniDg of the rebelII No officer mas nos
1 think can safely say that he would make
good corps commander. This promotion I
would partic nilarly ask as reward Of merit.
l am, General, very respectfully your obe-
dIent SER ant. u. ). GRANT,
MAJOR General.
WARRINGTON, u. G., April 4, le64-Hon.
H.Hry Wilson, Chairman COmHaittes on HI,td,g
46GrS-SH: L would most respectfully bal
earnestly ask for the confirmation OF Brigadier
General John A. Rawlins by your honorable
body. General Rawlins has served win me
from The beginning OF the rebellion. L know
he has N ost richly earned his preseut position
He comes the nearest being indispensable To
me OF any ofneer In the service; but ii his
confirmation is dependent on his commanding
troops, he hall command troops at once There
is no department commander near where be
has served that would not most gladly give
him the very largest and most responsible
CONNIE nd bis rank would entItle him to- Be-
lieving a short letter on this subject more
acceptable Than long one, will only add
that 1t Is my earnest desire that General Ra-v.
Inns should he confirmed; that II he fai's
besides the loss IL will be to the service and 10
me pei sonally, / shall feel that by keeping
with me valuable officer because he made
himself valuable, L have worked HIM an IN.
Jury. With great respect, your obedient ser.
want, u. 5. GRANT, Lieut. Gen, u. "a.
HEADQ RS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
CITY POINT, Va, February %, Isa5.-Dear
Washburne: lncIosed l send you a letter lust
received from Colonel Duff, late of my STAFF 1
should he delighted II an act should pass Con-
gress giving the Commander of the army a
chief Of staff, with the rank of BrIgadIer Gene
raj in the regular army 1t IS necessary TO
have such an officer, and 1 see no reasoa why
the law should not give II. 1t would also re-
ward an ofIeer who has wun more deserved
reputation IN this war than any other who has
acted throughout purely as a staff Officer. 1
write TO you instead of Daft, knowing Your
present friendship for Rawlins, as we'll as nv
selt, and because you are III place to help the
thing along, you think Well of Il.
Us, GRANT,
Lieutenant General u. ). A
Al the close of the war General Rlwi.ns re-
manned upon the staff OF General Grant as
chief, and upon the inauguration OF General
Grant as President General Rawlins was
nominated for Secretary of War and immedi.
ately confirmed. He at once entered upon the
discharge Of his duties, relieving GenI. Scho.
field. As Secretary Of War he soon won the
confidence and esteem of all having business
with the department. He was an indefatgabIe
worker, constantly at his post and ever zealous
in the faithful discharge Of his duties. Being
thoroughly acq uainted with the reconstruction
laws, and having a practical knowledge Of the
requirements and conditions OF the people of
the South, he has worked hard to assist the
President in carrying into effect the pro visions
of the Congressional enactments looking TO the
restoration Of the southern States 10 the Union
With this experience he devoted himself ear.
nestly to the work Of reconstruction, and CON.
stantly urged the conciliatory policy recon-.
mended in General Grants letters and ON ciai
communications at the close OF the camraign
Later-3 p. m.-Secretary RaWlins il still
sinking, and his physicians think that he can.
not live much longer. He Is still conscious
and during the dag has frequently inquired II
the President had arrived. Secretary Cox,
Socrafa RnkorOu poa I'm safor