Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-08-03
General Rufus r. Dawes.

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Rufus r. Dawes, born July 4, 1888,
at Malta. o., was the son of Henry and
Sarah Cutler Dawes. His early youth
was spent at the farm OF his uncle Hon.
VIM. P. Cutler, on the Ohio river, six
miles below Marietta. Here on the
old Cutler place. during the days of
the Mexican war, frequently could be
seen group of four children, two boys
and two girls, naming their pets after
the war heroes and playing at biv-
ouac and field. The two boys were lat
er to be known as Lieut.. Col b. c.
Dawes and Gen. r. R. Dawes.
II was not alone here that the boy
boreshadowed the coming man, Many
are the tales of manliness and kindly
succor of his college days at Marietta
College and at the University of Wis
consin. In both institutions his rec
ord in scholarship and athletic sports
is stnl cherished by the few college
mates that survive him.
A story may be here told we'll illus
tratlng the character of the man dur
ing his college days "a Marietta. One
day a student, who was a firm believer
in the doctrine of non-resistence, told
of the impositions of a fellow-student.
Without announcing his plans, young
Rufus hunted up the culprit, jumped
upon his back and ordered him to car
ry him up the four flights of stairs Of
the Dormitory, as he himself had done
to the victim. 1t was needless to say
that the punishment was effective
Years after, while in Congress, the
same manly trait OF standing for the
oppressed came to the front, when by
vote and speech General Dawes oppos-
ed the Chinese Exclusion Bill, and was
one of four among the Ohio delegation
to place principle above political IA
vor.
Genral Dawes had keen insight in
to whatever situation confronted him.
He was captain Of the company which
he raised in Wisconsin at the outbreak
OF the war, and rapidly rose to the
command OF the regiment. The story
of his first promotion, as told to me by
ex-senator Villas few weeks ago. is
both interesting and characteristic.
The young Captains comrades in arms
were almost to man for Dawes, but at
home, at the Badger Capital political
schemes were flying thick and fast.
The Governor had received numerous
deputatfons in favor of other aspir-
ants. Rufus Dawes sent his papers to
college friend, young Democratic
lawyer, who called upon the Governor
in his behalf When the subject was
broached, the Governor exclaimed:
"Oh, Mr. Villas. I'm tired to death of
that matter. l must hear from the
boys first" Hold on, Governor.
am on the other side of that question
and wish to talk about Dawes"
The upshot of the interview was that
VIM. M. Villas came away with Major
Dawes commission in his pocket.
General Dawes was a Colonel com
manding a regiment in the Iron Brig
ade at the age of twenty-five He had a
genius in handling men. Perhaps the
originality Of his methods is best
shown by his famous "whiskey and
quinine" order. 1t did not take the
young officer long to see that the ra-
ton Of whiskey allowed the men was
harmful both to discipline and health.
If whiskey was good, so was quinine,
and forthwith every allowance of
whiskey was mixed with one OF Qui-
nine. The effect was tonic to his own
regiment and was productive of wider
results.
General Dawes participated in TWEEN
ty-two battles. OF these the most
bloody was Gettysburg Here of
three hundred and thirty-eight men
composing the Sixth Wisconsin regi-
ment, one hundred and sixty-nine
were killed and wounded or taken
prisoners. In the rotunda of the Wis
consin State Capitol are treasured the
stained and battered banners, each
staff rlddled by bullets. These speak
more eloquently than words of the in
trepid bravery of his command.
The thrilling story of these years he
as embodied in his book, entitled
Service With The Sixth Wisconsin
Volunteers"
On the floor of Congress, where he
represented this district in 1880 and
1881, General Dawes was regarded as
one Of the best and most effective de-
baters, Though in Congress but one
term, his services were of National i'm
portance. Thus the history, as told
by himself, of the Establishment of
Diplomatic Relations With Persia"
reads like a novel, and the masterful
manner in which a difficult measure
was carried through both houses of
Congress showed that he WAS a Gen
eral in debate and parliamentary ma
neouver, no less than on the field of
battle. 1t was in recognition of his
regard and admiration OF this service
that in 1896 President Mckinley who
was his colleague in Congress in 1881,
itendered him the annnintmanf as Min