The National tribune., 1903-05-21

scores of thousands. MyrladS OF unpameo
soldiers gave up their lives on the firing
line. were buried in unknown" graves
and live to-day only in the memories OF
surviving comrades and relatives-a mar
row and narrowing circle that will soon be
Ob.iterated by the ineXorable hand OF time
Others of higher rank, who were then
credited with some brilliant achievement,
have long since lost their identity on the
roll of conspicuous service, and Their
names have faded into the undistinguish-
able mass, only to be recalled by an oc-
casiOnal chance allusion. This is the fate
of war and one of the ''revenges of his
tory"
But there was one case of long, Illus
trious, invaluable military service by an
officer who attained high rank, which has
always seemed to me specially pathetic
and absolutely ineXcusab!e in the lack OF
recognition and doom of comparative for
getfulness to which it has been consigned
the case of Gen. John A. Rawlins.
Among all the voluminoI:s war histories
you may search in vain for more than the
most casual mention of his name. In the
numerous personal memoirs of war expe-
riences we seldom find Rawlins referred
to, except in those of Sherman, Sheridan
and Grant. 1t is asserted that in the en-
tire 10 volumes of Nicolay & Hays in
comparable Life of Abraham Lincoln
the name of Rawlins does not once ap-
pear.
Related reparation is due. We should
neglect no opportunity to freshen in our
own minds and proclaim to the rising gen.
erations a recollection of the life and char
acter and deeds of one who wrought most
worthily and usefu!ly. even when unseen,
on an exalted plane. in n momentous era ;
one who with continuous, tireless deyo-
ton. toling in the shadow. but toiling
terribly, through years of mortal peril,
filed to overflowing measure patriot s
obligation to the land of his nativity.
A NOTABLE AND UNIQUE CAREER.
The career of Rawlins was one unique
in many respects. At the beginning of
the war he had never read a military
book or seen company of uniformed
men. At its close he had risen by sue
cessive promotions from Captain to Ma
jOr General; his escutcheon bore shin
ing list of victories reaching from Bel
mont to AppomattOX; he had helped to
organize and lead the mightiest armies
the world had ever known. He exercised
no Independent command, yet his was a
sphere of pre-eminent usefulness. He was
supremely executive, versatile, self-polsed
and reliable, steadfast citadel of
strength to his trusting chief. He was
thus a type of the American volunteer,
and the unerrins law by which such men
step out from the body of our intelligent
citizenship when emergencies demand
them, is one of the unimpeac chable safe
guards of the Republic While we can
rely on that se,f-preserving, self-perpetu-
ating principle, we may feel sure that
government by the people will not perish
from the earth.
John Aaron Rawlins was born in East
Galena, in the County of 10 Daviess and
State of Illinois. on Feb. IL, 1881. He
was of Scotch-Irish extraction, noble
stock. His birthplace was on the from
tier; his parentage was humble; his edu-
cational advantages were limited; he was
nurtured in poverty-not abject and squal-
i'd. but clean, honorable and self-respect-
ing He died Secretary of War of the
United States. Sept. 6, 1869, at the early
age of 80 years.
His father, James D. Rawlins, had re-
moved from Kentucky to Missouri. and
thence to Illinois, acquiring and living
upon farm near Galena. John passed
his early years or the farm, and attended
the district school in Winter. He assist
ed in burning charcoal and hauling it to
the market town. Having an aspiring
spirit. the drudgery of his work became
irksome as he approached manhood, and
after eXhausting the limited educational
facilities within reach, he attended for
one or more terms the Mount Morris Sem
mary in Ogle County. Illinois, paying his
own way out of his small earnings. His
money giving out, he resumed for time
the occupation of charcoal burning. Hav-
ing thus replenished his exchequer, he
planned to return to the seminary, but for
some reason he abandoned that design,
and entered as student the law Office
of Isaac =. Stevens, then prominent at
torney of Galena.
AT THE BAR AND IN POLITICS.
The grandeur of the mighty West en-
tered into his spirit and possessed him.
III r%,, hxx- n,Vrt.,
trious, studious youth. In October, 1854,
he was admitted to the bar and received
into partnership with Mr.. Stevens. In
1855, when Mr.. Stevens retired from prac-
tice, young Rawlins assumed and con-
Quoted the large business. Subsequently
David Sheean, boyhood friend of his,
who had grown up with him, and became
later the leading lawyer of Northwestern
Illinois, entered his Office as a student.
Upon being admitted to practice, they be-
came associated, and the firm of Rawlins
& Sheean maintained very large prac-
tice until the outbreak Of the civil war.
AS lawyer, Rawlins was very strong
and able. While in those earlier years
his learning could not, in the nature of
things, have been so profound as that of
older practitioners, his salient point is re-
nembered to have been a transparent in
tegrity of mind and character, which in
spired confidence with courts and jurors.
in politics Mr.. RaWIlnS was by birth OF
Democratic affiliations. In 1850 he was
nominated as an elector on the Douglas
ticket. During the campaign he held joint
discussions with Allen G. Fuller, the Re-
publican candidate, a prominent political
orator and afterward Adjutant General to
Richard Yates, the War Governor. In
these discussions Rawlins added greatly
TO his reputation as a debater. His in
stincts and opinions were such as to make
him prominent opponent of slavery, but
he looked upon it as au evil protected
within certain limits by the guarantees of
the Constitution of the United States.
Love for the union of the States was,
however, the controlling sentiment of his
nature; and when in the Spring of 1861
Fort Sumter was fired upon, there was no
hesitancy upon his part in declaring for
coercion by force of arms.
PREPARING FOR THE WAR.
When the news of President Lincoln's
call for 1000 men reached Galena, a
mass-meeting was held which is notable
for several rrGsons, among thousands OF
similar assemElages throughout the aroused
and patriotic North. Three men were
present in that little courtroom who were
destined to play leading parts in the en-.
/ suing conflict - Elihu 3. Washburne
! Ulysses S. Grant and John A. Rawlins
J 1sawlins was called upon to speak. Many
of his political associates hoped he would
deprecate war for the preservat tiOn OF