Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-09-28
Con. Neutrality-suspicious. Remlniacenee.

Gen. WRwIiis-s-P Personal RefnAnfbccnces
-
"A Washington correspondent of the Gin.
cinnati Commercial gives the following per
sonal "reminiscences Of the late Secretary |
Rawlns
There are but few anecdotes current
about Rawlins, and most OF them relate TO
the quiet energy and persistence with which
he pursued his duties A hiend who COM
,nanded gunboat in Pnrier's fleet before
yickshurg, tells me of finding Rawlins so
constantly at his desk or other duties as TO
make one wonder when he found time ne
cessary lor sleep. Another officer, who
served on The staff there declares that II was
common for the Adjutant TO use 19 or 20
hours ont of the "a In his labor. He was
man of unbending will. tits affirmed that at
Cairo. soon after the service, there was
good deal too much carelessness manifested
in the matter Of drinking, which, 1t became
evident might impair the usefulness OF men
since renowned. Rawlins at once, as a mat
ter of example to others, became q Total an
simmer. and so hbided until his death. Ho
was specially careful 10 give no counlenance
TO the idea That Grant was, in amy manner,
other than Tor the legitimate counsel &e., he
was entitled To offer, unduly indebted 10
John A, Rawlins for any portion of the lame
which came TO hlm.
remember having, last summer, been
brought into contact with the Chief OF stan
| while engaged in the preparation OF some
poliIical documents which Involved the eN-
animation of portions OF Gen. Grants earlier
, orders. and official correspondence, and how
careful Gen. Rawlins was TO point out, here
nnl there, as the drift Of the conversation
and INQUIRY brought them up, that General
Grant himself either dictated or wrote sen.
:, fences which, for picturesque ierseness and
vinor. have since become historic. Among
, such phrases was that of Fort Donelson, VI
= uropose to move Immediately ou youl
works." tue order of cOngratulalion allel
= Shiloh; the famous congratulatory order al
9 Ter Mission Ridge, the direction TO Sheridan
e 10 make the Shenandoah Valley so bare thai
u "a crow flying over il would have TO carry
his own rations, and n hundred more bol(
l. md cranhic sentences. This trait illustrates
! Rawlins' sincerity
= A Young officer who served as an aid il
n the Wilderness campaign tells an incident o
~ a different stamp. 1t was On the 18th o
~ May, 1864, in the bittle of Sp, ttsylvanm.
n, Early in the day Gen. Wright, OF tue SiAtl
% Corps, rode up To Grant and asked permits
~ sion to make charge Will the whoie @
~ his cnrns, which 0ccul led the right OF ou
line II was the famous "Ffghtlhg SKIN,
|, "Sedpwick's Gamec0Cks," ai they wer
- somtimcs called and Wright was anxious
~ keep up The corps rep" He urged his d'
II sire with great persisiency. Grant, alwaS
Z helieying in direct momentum ana clos
av quarters, was ready to yield. hawllns' nov
dr ever, who was appealed to, resisted wight
NJ wish wil,l MS great earneslness as II W.
ny urged, pointing out that the Rebel posluo
a was loo strong, and nothing but waste
4 lile would follow. Wright went away az
m. returned again, Grant then gave Tue 0rue
10 though reluctantly. Rawllns declared th
liz il was useless. The commander ana sli
,nl we're on a slight emiuence, from wnlch u
i, movement could be seen. Presently the loi
orI line formed, the waving standards, ihe wa
,ne ing lines of bayonets CLEANED, anu Inc ua
,a mass moved forward steadily, aud at IL
20 with n great shout and rush. In lew MI
,yo MES they came tumbling back, repulsed
'nG in considerable disorder. Grant looked
re md sail nothing except 10 give an order
an aid, who galloped away; but ha@ll.
who Ind been annoyed at MIighl's persl
ency, broke oul with voley OF oaihs as
nh corps fell back, almost shouted as he sno
'4" his fiat in the direction of the General
gagged In reforming his command u GU
1m. got your belly full; you would 40 u, ua
and yon: that's the way you throw lives ava.
WITH sundry oaths more lorcible than pol
81, Ile seemed 10 have been angrier al what
roy ueemeu , Leoh;es9 s;e, ,ho sennlse gaye 10
u" whole of our line. Several hhes ~
course of the next hour, looking over III
ner, direction oil Wright who was pegg
v TO away" 10 recover his position, Raw
would again swear nj the reckless disreg
,,,o, oil human life that had been eNh'plleu'