This cache is located along the Galena River Trail. Please read the cache listing for GC12W8G Galena River Trail for information on the trail.
Brevet Major General John Aaron Rawlins was born in East Galena Township on February 13, 1831. His family moved to Guilford, a township just east of Galena, in 1834. In his youth Rawlins assisted his father, James, who burned charcoal for the lead smelters. John started studying law in September 1853. He was admitted to the bar in 1854 and formed a partnership with Galena attorney, Isaac Stevens. In June of 1856, Rawlins married Emily Smith of Goshen, New York. Smith was the niece of Bradner and Mary Smith of Galena. Rawlins and his new wife took residence at 517 Hill Street and had three children. In 1857, Rawlins served as city attorney and in 1858 formed a partnership with attorney David Sheean. At this time, Rawlins became active in politics.
At the start of the Civil War, Rawlins attended the first war meeting in Galena and gave a well-received speech. Due to his wife’s failing health, he was unable to join the cause. His wife died in August of 1861, and was buried in Goshen, New York. After his wife’s death, Rawlins accepted an offer from then Brigadier General Grant to an appointment on his military staff. He served under Grant for the remainder of the Civil War. While serving in Vicksburg, Mississippi he made the acquaintance of Mary Hurlbut of Danbury, Connecticut. The two wed in December of 1863. In 1864, Rawlins’ health was deteriorating because of tuberculosis. On March 3, 1865 he was appointed Brigadier General in the regular army and Chief of Staff to Grant. He was brevetted Major General upon the surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865.
Rawlins had a profound effect on Grant and was one of Grant’s greatest friends and aides during the war. “He verified, rearranged and re-wrote, when necessary, all the statements of Grant’s official reports, adhering as closely as possible to Grant’s original drafts, but making them conform to the facts as they were understood at headquarters.” Rawlins, at least on one occasion, was an apostle of sobriety for Grant, who had a tarnished reputation as a drinker. Rawlins confirmed that Grant’s abstention from alcohol was adhered to during the major parts of the war. Rawlins and his family visited Galena shortly following the war, but Rawlins divided his time between duties in Washington, D.C. and his family in Danbury. He visited Galena again in 1867 and 1868, but his health was ever worsening. Rawlins went to Wyoming for his health in 1867. A spring and subsequently a town were named after him.
When he took office in March of 1869, President Grant appointed Rawlins Secretary of War, which he accepted, despite doctors’ suggestions he should move out west. Rawlins served Grant until he died of tuberculoses on Sept. 6, 1869. It is of note that there was a slight falling out between Rawlins and Grant. Grant was not present at Rawlins’ deathbed, and in Grant’s memoirs, Rawlins is only mentioned twice.